Cover Image: Live Life Deliciously with Tara Teaspoon

Live Life Deliciously with Tara Teaspoon

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I loved this cookbook! So many great recipes in one place! My favorites so far are the Little Italy Snack Board, the French Bistro Mushroom Burgers with Brie, and the Cocktails Lime Cookies.

I highly recommend this book!

Was this review helpful?

I received a free copy of this cookbook exchange for an honest review. I love that Trisha has huge full color pictures of each recipe. You know exactly what each food item is supposed to look like. I wish there was calorie information for the recipes, but I can figure it out with online calculators. It's just inconvenient. This cookbook is definitely a comfort food cookbook. If you are looking for healthy recipes, then this is not the right cookbook for you. Almost every recipe in this book is loaded with fat and calories, but looks delicious. I like how there's a personal story with each recipe. I love all the recipes, but I definitely wouldn't be using it all the time, since I am eating healthi.

Was this review helpful?

Solid cookbook with ample photos and thorough instructions! My favorite recipe is the Tomato and Roquefort Steak Flatbread, it looks and sounds delightful. My favorite feature of this cookbook are the "Tara's Tips' sprinkled throughout because when it comes to the kitchen one can never have too many tips to make life easier. I heartily recommend this book to all home cooks and those who love to look at cookbooks for the pictures alike.

Was this review helpful?

The recipes sound delicious and are well written with clear instructions. My issue is that I could never talk my husband into trying them. If you have adventurous eaters, this is an excellent resource. Picky eaters and folks who prefer simple food will be out of luck.

Was this review helpful?

Most people who have been cooking for a while don’t want a cookbook with basics; they are schooled in the basics and want a few mouthwatering recipes to make dinners fun and exciting. That’s why Live Life Deliciously With Tara Teaspoon: Recipes for Busy Weekdays and Leisurely Weekends by Tara Teaspoon is a great cookbook. It is jam-packed with showstopper recipes, mostly quite easy, that real people will actually want to cook.

Most of the recipes call for easy-to-find ingredients, and Teaspoon makes good use of trendy healthy foods such as avocados and chick peas. Teaspoon’s recipes utilize flavors from all over the world including Mexican, Moroccan, Asian, Thai, Italian, and Spanish. Some of the dishes are innovative such as the Savory Romesco and Almond Tart, Mexican-Spiced Black-Bean Hash Browns and Eggs, and Pistachio Cake with Yogurt and Citrus. She also includes recipes for sauces that can not only be used in the recipes in the book, but also in everyday cooking. You can’t go wrong with over a hundred recipes for appetizers, salads, soups, breads, main dishes, and desserts that are a little different and a cut above what you often find in standard cookbooks.

One of the best parts of this cookbook is that it has beautiful photographs of almost every dish. This makes it easy to see what the dish will look like, and will inspire cooks to make several of the recipes.

This is definitely a cookbook for anyone who loves to cook and wants to present beautiful dishes without having to spend hours in the kitchen. Highly recommended.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

I always enjoy venturing out and trying new flavors and foods. Some of my family members, not so much. So I have to find a good balance in my home meals. Food my family will eat but also food and flavors that I'll enjoy. My rule is that they have to try it. They can't declare they don't like it without even trying it. And I usually have them give it a couple bites to let the flavors ruminate in their mouth and mind before they decide. Sometimes it takes those couple of bites and sometimes it is an instant reaction of yes or no. Lol! But regardless they've realized that what they might initially not want to eat because of looks, becomes some of their favorite foods. Score for me! But for those family members who aren't so adventurous I have to not overwhelm them too often and stick with some of their favorites as well.

I enjoyed looking through this cookbook and getting some different ideas. Not just for food but for tools and pantry stocking and some other ideas. I like seeing what different cooks use for tools and what their staple pantry supplies are. Of course this doesn't always apply to everyone else looking at the cookbook. But I like that we can see and garner new ideas. Or take the plunge and buy an item that I've been debating about for a while and having seen several great uses for it, try it, and usually love that I took the plunge (I take a while to decide what I really want and if I'm really going to use it before purchasing).

The pictures in the book are beautiful and made my mouth water A LOT!!! Lol! So don't read this if you're hungry. Then again...read it when you're hungry because you'll want to try out the recipes. To be honest, I haven't tried any of the recipes. I had a lot of fun reading through the different sections of recipes and marking what ones I would want to try and enjoy. There are a lot of great ones in here that I'm looking forward to trying. Especially with my budding chefs at home. I love that aspect about cooking (not that it always happens but I try to make it happen), having time to cook and talk and teach and try new recipes with my kids. My husband is also great about finding different foods to cook with our kids. So being in the kitchen with kids and family is a constant in our house. I think I'm going to have each of my kids pick a couple of their favorites and make a meal with them trying out these new recipes.

There are several sections in the book. Here they are: Bites, Dips and Snacks. Salads, Bowls and Dressings. Side Love. Weeknight Routines. Flavor-Inspired Dinners. Meals for Gathering. Morning Glories. And the last one is Sweets to Share.

Yum! Just thinking about some of these recipes has me ready to dive in and eat them. Lol!

Content: Definitely clean ;-) It's a cookbook.

I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!! (and Eating!!!)

Was this review helpful?

A great book with lots of new ideas for entertaining family and friends. Fab recipes and some wonderful photos. Highly recommended

Was this review helpful?

What a perfect cookbook, filled with recipes for hectic weekdays as well as more complicated recipes for the weekend or whenever you have more time.

This book is loaded with appetizers, sides, salads (including dressings, the best addition to any salad in my opinion). All recipes include hands on time and total time, an important feature when you are trying to find a quick dinner.

The book is loaded with colorful, appetizing, well plated photos. So well done!

Thank you Shadow Martin Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Live Life Deliciously with Tara Teaspoon is an inspiring and stunning cookbook that is a nice addition to a collection. The instructions are easy to follow and there are many beautiful images to accompany them. It contains some great tips and equipment suggestions, however it might be a bit too detailed for those looking for a quick weeknight recipe.

I am not familiar with the author, but according to her bio, she is quite connected with the cooking community. There is an air of Martha Stewart in this book, but Tara has a more down-to-earth approach in her descriptions. The recipes definitely seem doable and there are some unique ideas to create.

The contents include:

New Pantry Staples
The Right Equipment
Bites, Dips, and Snacks
Salads, Bowls, and Dressings
Side Love
Weeknight Routines
Flavour Inspired Dinners
Meals for Gathering
Morning Glories
Sweets to Share

❀ EXTENSIVE EQUIPMENT LIST

What really stands out for me in the cookbook is actually the beginning of the book that provides an extensive list of items for a well-stocked pantry and a great list of essential equipment. These sections don’t call for many hard to find or expensive things, which I found very refreshing. It might not be useful for a seasoned home chef, but there were a couple of things that caught my eye for my own kitchen.

❀ PERFECT FOR A GET-TOGETHER

The recipes included here are definitely ones to try if you are making something for a get-together and are wanting to impress your guests. In my opinion, most of these recipes have a lot of steps that involve combining recipes from other pages. On a busy weeknight, quick and nutritious is the aim, and I just didn’t have the energy to create any of these recipes. I do have quite a few bookmarked for when I have some time to set aside, though.

❀ BEAUTIFUL AND DETAILED

If you enjoy a beautiful cookbook that has lots of detailed and interesting recipes for a crowd, Live Life Deliciously is definitely one to try. There are some fantastic ideas in this book that will impress your guests.

Was this review helpful?

Tara Teaspoon’s Live Life Deliciously with Tara Teaspoon is a well-designed and well-organized cookbook filled with a variety of delicious recipes and stunning full-colour pictures.

The book features brief and useful chapters on pantry staples (foods like bacon and baking soda to tahini and red curry paste are included) and gathering the right equipment like knives and skillets. There are also chapters on bites, dips, and snacks; salads, bowls, and dressings; side love; weeknight routines; flavor-inspired dinners; meals for gathering; morning glories; and sweets to share.

I love cookbooks and this will be a perfect addition to my collection! The book has your meals covered from breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and even salad dressings! There is a range of recipes for sandwiches, pastas, pies, sauces, salads, pancakes, and more. Learn to make delicious dishes like corn succotash, strawberry cheesecake ice cream with gingersnaps, bakery-style chocolate chunk cookies with a secret ingredient (cream cheese!), and peanut noodle and pork ‘satay’. Entertain a crowd with the ginormous never-ending party sub or have an indulgent brunch with the Spanish tortilla with mushrooms and bacon.

I like that many of the ingredients are familiar, mostly affordable, and fairly accessible. I also like that Teaspoon takes the time to explain specialty ingredients quickly but thoroughly. The recipes are easy-to-follow. Although the stunning dishes may look difficult at first, they are actually very doable.

Teaspoon’s writing is approachable and easy-to-read. I like her little stories and I really appreciate the fact that she keeps everything nicely succinct. I like the helpful “Tara’s Tip” that is included with many of the recipes. They offer great information to make your cooking adventures easier. I also like her “Looks Delicious” suggestions which helps aesthetic-minded cooks to make their dishes Instagram-ready.

I love the beautiful, bright, and clean full-page pictures. The food is so attractively presented that I was tempted to chomp the screen! I appreciate the abundance of pictures of the completed dishes. But, I do wish that the pictures were labelled. However, they are so clear and well-presented that you can easily figure out the dish.

Live Life Deliciously with Tara Teaspoon is a delicious cookbook with gorgeous pictures. It will be a perfect addition to any cook’s collection!




🥄 🥄 🥄 🥄 ½ out of 5 spoons!

Was this review helpful?

I would recommend this for any students to read if they were interested in learning some new recipes or tips/tricks about presentation. I would put a copy in a Family & Consumer Science classroom, but would not adopt it for the curriculum.

On a personal note - I'm excited for it to come out and to test out some of the recipes. There is a nice spin on some classics.

Was this review helpful?

This cookbook is filled with amazing recipes!! The pictures are beautiful and the descriptions make you want to run out, buy all the ingredients and get cooking! It's a perfect cookbook for an entertainer.

Was this review helpful?

This book made me hungry right away. It's filled with gorgeous pictures and an impressive array of recipes made with different ingredients. I know my patrons will like it and I'll probably buy a copy for my collection.

Was this review helpful?

**I received and voluntarily read an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

I've never heard of Tara Teaspoon, but I'll never turn down an opportunity to read and review a cookbook!

I wanted to like this book, but most of the recipes just don't work for me. One or two, but definitely not worth purchasing the book. Flavor wise, it's just a jumbled mess. Everything focuses on presentation rather than flavor.

I actually felt insulted by the opening of the book- I'm pretty sure that if I can read a book like this, I know how chapters work. There's nothing so bizarre in the chapter names that need an actual guide to figure out how to read the book.

Overall, I wish I could give less than 1 star, but since there were a couple that I might can modify, I can settle for 1/5 stars.

Was this review helpful?

Live Life Deliciously with Tara Teaspoon is a cooking and lifestyle guide with recipes developed by Tara Teaspoon. Due out 6th Oct 2020 from Shadow Mountain Publishing, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

The layout is appealing and unfussy - easy to understand and accessible. The introduction includes a simple pantry list along with a good basic equipment list for stocking a working home kitchen. The recipes are arranged by category: bites dips & snacks, salads bowls & dressings, sides, weeknight meals, flavor inspired dinners, meals for gathering, mornings, and sweets. The dishes are varied in complexity and taste (I didn't feel any of them were unachievable in my very basic home kitchen).

Ingredient measurements are supplied in American measurements only. There wasn't a conversion chart for metric measures included in the eARC provided for review. Nutritional information not included. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in sidebars with the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made with easily sourced ingredients. Many are very simple, none of them are overly complex. The book does include an index.

The photography is clear and abundant; most of the recipes are illustrated, and the photographs which are included are crisp and well done. Serving suggestions are attractive and appropriate.

This is a large collection of recipes and even allowing for the fact that some of them are similar to others in the same category, this will keep cooking fans going for ages. These range from simple "everyday" recipes to fancier dishes for social gatherings. We tried several dishes and all of them were tasty and well written. (We didn't try any of the dessert recipes, but I found no glaring errors with a quick read-through).

We're definitely going to try more of these. Well written book, tasty food.

Four stars. This is a solid recipe book which will be used. It would make a superlative housewarming gift to a friend or family member - college student, new graduate, newlyweds, kids flying the nest, etc. Many of these recipes are destined to become family favorites and regulars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Was this review helpful?

#LiveLifeDeliciouslyWithTaraTeaspoon #NetGalley

I love to read cookbooks. I'm looking forward to trying new recipes. I now follow Tara Teaspoon on Instagram, she has a way of presenting food in new ways. I took her advice, from this cookbooks and tried fruit in my guacamole, goodness I've been missing out! I tried blueberries and it gave it a twist that was unusual, I can't wait to try other fruits. I'm looking forward to this new cookbook.

Was this review helpful?

The pub day of Live Life Deliciously can not come soon enough for me to get the physical copy of this exceptional cookbook into my hands. Tara Teaspoon is an exciting new presence on cookbook shelves, but her extensive background with both Martha Stewart Living, Ladies Home Journal and multitudes of other publications and brands may make her more familiar than you realize. The cookbook is organized by topics--Bites, Salads, Sides, Weeknights, Inspired Dinners, Meals for Gathering and Morning Foods. Recipes sound flavorful and "gourmet," yet are deceptively simple. I tried a lemon-herb veggie couscous with raisins and almonds that stepped up my usual sad desk lunch. The recipe included a beautiful photo, serving information and hands-on-time. Most recipes also include Tara's tip and additional ways the item can be served. The review copy indicates an index will be available for the book, although the review copy did not show it. Cookbook lovers that enjoy Ina Garten, Martha Stewart and Gaby Dalkin will want to add this to their shelves.

Was this review helpful?

Live Life Deliciously with Tara Teaspoon
Author: Tara Teaspoon Bench
August 12, 2020

Thank you to Net Galley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for giving me an advanced copy of this
cookbook. I can't wait to get my hands on the published version, complete with even more beautiful photos. I've had fun experimenting with Tara's recipes this summer - Watermelon Arugula Salad, Parmesan and Herb White Bean Dip, White Bean Salad with Italian Tuna, Garlic and Sumac Roasted Broccoli with Sweet Dates, and so much more! Tara takes fresh, healthy ingredients (for the most part!) and elevates dishes to a whole new level. I especially enjoyed the sweets and breakfast/brunch sections.

Debuting in October, this cookbook is a great treat for the Thanksgiving hostess and a wonderful holiday gift. It's on my list to give - and receive!

Was this review helpful?

I was given an early e-copy of this cookbook for review on Netgalley. I love cookbooks that have clear, concise instructions, beautiful photography and notes or stories from the writer. This book fulfilled all the things I find appealing. I feel this book is for the moderate home cook. The recipes, while involved, have ingredients for the most part that the average home cook will be able to find. The photography of the recipes were absolutely stunning. Just an example of some of the recipes are: Moroccan kebabs with chermoula sauce(recipe for that too), herb glazed fall off the bone bbq ribs and bakery style chocolate chunk cookies. The formatting on this early ebook version still needs work, but I definitely will be wanting a physical copy of this book when it releases in the Fall.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you for my arc copy! This is a great book to add to your collection. It has great photos, which typically pull me in when I'm searching for a good cookbook and the book is organized and overall makes you feel like getting in the kitchen. Can't wait to try some of the recipes in the book!

Was this review helpful?