The Secret Ingredient Cookbook was a nice cookbook with sections that made it easy to find whatever you're in search of, whether it's pasta, breakfast or something else. There was also a few recipes I'd love to try, such as pumpkin waffles with maple whipped cream.

What a great cookbook, well organized, so very easy to read (appropriate font) and follow directions. I cannot wait to put some of the amazing looking recipes in the works.

"The Secret Ingredient Cookbook" by Kelly Senyei is the cookbook every home cook needs if he or she wants to make creative and delicious recipes! Some of the "secret ingredients" may sound unusual and even a little weird at first, but trust me, they work! Some of my absolute favorites that I will make over and over again are the Pumpkin Waffles (made light and crispy by adding ginger ale to the batter), Rotisserie Chicken Tortilla Soup (made with tomatillos instead of boring tomatoes), Crisped and Dipped Chicken Thighs (made amazingly flavorful with orange marmalade), and Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (made with chocolate-covered raisins-brilliant!). This cookbook is filled with helpful and drool-worthy photographs. The only negative to this book is that I wished it contained the calorie content of the dishes presented.

I screenshot a number of these recipes to make in the future and the pictures were definitely beautiful and drool worthy. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I love the creative use of ingredients in slightly unexpected places. I wish there were some indicators on what is vegan/gluten-free/etc. Maybe this book is meant for a specific group of public who have no diet restrictions. Generally, people have at least the basic food restrictions (vegan/vegetarian, gluten-free). I had a hard time looking at some sections that were just filled with meat recipes.

This is a fun cookbook filled with recipes that sound delicious. It is very heavy on wheat, meat, processed foods and splurge ingredients, so I would personally have to heavily adapt most of them for our family (I cook gluten free and lean towards whole foods, plant based recipes). That said, the photos are gorgeous and Senyei clearly knows how to mix ingredients.

Example recipes: pumpkin in macaroni and cheese, cream cheese in chocolate chip cookies, mayo on garlic cheese bread, honey on pepperoni and hot pepper pizza, tater tots in breakfast quesadillas, cottage cheese in green smoothies, ginger ale in pumpkin waffles, sweetened condensed milk in granola, soy sauce in onion dip, thyme (and bacon fat, bacon and corn syrup, among other things) in caramel corn, orange soda in BBQ meatballs, baking powder in gnocchi with vodka sauce, dill in fettucini alfredo with lobster, rice crispies in chicken tender breading, pimento peppers in a BLT (BLTP), onion soup mix in french onion steak sandwiches, orange juice and zest in dinner rolls, pudding mix in cake, cake mix in cookies, and black pepper in pumpkin chocolate chip snack cake, to offer a sampling.

I have some recipes that are always crowd-pleasers that I make for company or pot lucks because everybody loves them so much but that I don't often make at home because they're quite "junky" -- very high in unhealthy fats, calories, etc. Most of the recipes in this book are those sorts of recipes for me. I also am not the kind of cook who puts cans of pop or powdered soup mix in recipes, but I know a lot of people love those sorts of ingredients. One more consideration is that some of the recipes tend towards pricier ingredients like ribeye, lobster and gourmet cheeses, and many may be a little elaborate for everyday meals for busy families. Others seem very quick to put together, though, especially those that use purchased ingredients like puff pastry or pre-made ravioli.

There are photos for a little over half of the recipes. No nutritional information is provided.

All in all, I enjoyed the book and suspect the recipes would be winners. I may try using some of her general ideas and taste combinations, though I probably won't be trying most of the recipes verbatim.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

Oh my goodness, this cookbook is a keeper! I just checked it out today and I was book marking recipes left and right. I honestly can’t even think of the last time I wanted to make this many recipes from one cookbook.

Almost every recipe has a beautiful picture to go with it. And pictures are really important to me in a cookbook. I want to see how delicious something looks before deciding to make it.

The theme of this cookbook is that each recipe has a secret ingredient. There’s one special, unexpected ingredient in each recipe. There might be peanut butter in an appetizer recipe, coconut in a seafood recipe, or cream cheese in a cookie. In other words, it’s not the same secret ingredient in every recipe.

Some of the recipes that caught my eye:
Homemade potato chips with Gorgonzola dip
Pan-fried feta
Thai chicken noodles

I can’t wait to starting cooking from this cookbook.

I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley and I love it! Thank you!

Fun, unique idea for a cookbook theme! I love adding a secret ingredient to make something just a little bit more special, and the ones in here do not disappoint. There was little to no overlap as to what the specific secret ingredients were, so the entire selection felt fresh and exciting. Despite their "twists" these recipes were all very approachable and realistic for the homecook.

Drooling, really that was my reaction to most of the recipes in this book. I even stopped and had to make the chocolate chip scones because I had a zucchini that needed to be used and man were they delicious!

I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The secret ingredient is a cookbook geared toward a recipe with more flavor due to a secret. The author gives you an ingredient to add to recipe favorites such as Macaroni and Cheese, Fish tacos, or banana bread. A secret ingredient that somehow makes the flavor.....more.

What did I like? Even though most of the secret ingredients you already have on a spice rack or as a staple in your cupboard... you just wouldn’t think to pair it. Still some make absolute sense and some sound so yummy. I’ve already picked a handful I would love to try. The author even adds a drink section at the back for some alcoholic suggestions. The book spanned breakfast, entrees, desserts, and main dishes along with sides. From Waffles to some gorgeous looking fish tacos. The pictures in this book were outstanding!

Would I recommend or buy? I would definitely love a copy of this book so I’m adding it to my wishlist. Publication is still a year off. The cover is just gorgeous... look at that macaroni and cheese. The copy I received had no calorie information, so that was the only thing I really missed. Still a picture pretty much for most of the recipes, all of them gorgeous. Still I loved a ton of the recipes in this book and look forward to trying.

I received a copy to read and offer an opinion. A lovely cookbook with a unique twist... the secret ingredient! Five stars!

<I>*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review *</i > 
<b>4.25 stars </b> 

The Secret Ingredient presents interesting twists ofclassic recipes with just minor amendments/added ingredients , and a lot of these really made my mouth water! The photography is absolutely gorgeous, but I kind of wish that there were actually pictures for every recipe!  

While I haven't gotten to try any of them yet, I definitely will in the future! The twist on a tomato soup with cheesy bread and pumpkin mac&cheese to name just a few sound absolutely divine!

This is great has lots of normal looking recipes. The secret ingredients really make a deference and have changed my cooking.

Love this cookbook so many great recipes that I will be Making for my family.One great idea proofing dough in your dryer courtesy of the authors mom.
Secret ingredients that will surprise & enrich the recipes.Gorgeous pictures.I will be treating myself and special friends to this wonderful cookbook I know I will be using it again&again.#netgalley#hmh

I read this ARC in exchange for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

FINALLY!!! A cookbook full of recipes I can't wait to make!!! There's usually some duff recipes but I genuinely loved every one - presented in such an accessible way too

I loved this - when it is finally published I shall be rushing to buy this - can't wait to get my hands on this!!!
What did I love so much !! So many things!!

I loved the way the book is sectioned out
I loved the fact that the recipes are set out almost like recipe cards
Each recipe is presented in such a way that makes them very 'doable'

The photography is gorgeous and done in such a way it makes you want to make the dishes

The recipes are perfectly pitched - can be made for everyday but also good enough to make for special occasions.

Suitable to cooks who are both beginners and those more experienced plus families

A fantastic all rounder !!