4☆ Quirky, Fun, An Innovative Cookbook

The Secret Ingredient Cookbook is an innovative Cookbook that incorporates a secret Ingredient into every day favourites.

The Book is Made up of several scrumptious chapters consisting of
* Breakfast
* Snacks
* Soups and Salads
* Pastas
* Entrées
* Sides
* Desserts
* Drinks

At the beginning there is a handy guide to essential ingredients you will need to stock up on or maybe you will already have them and tips for cooking, such as how to quickly ripen bananas or Zest First, Juice Second.

This Cookbook is all measured in Cups and Spoons, so if you don't use Cup measurements like me then either it might be wise to invest in a good cup measurement set or convert the ingredients. My only gripe with UK cups is they never quiet work out the same.

Each recipe has a secret Ingredient in a bold blue circle at the top, then there is a lil explanation about the recipe and the ingredient used. Also some recipes have a top tip.

All the recipes seem easy to follow, not bogged down with too much text which is sometimes nice.
Not every recipe has a photograph but the ones that do, look Mouthwatering.

I normally give a few examples what recipes to expect inside, but as the book has secret ingredients, I think it will more fun you picking up the book and discovering for yourselves.
But there is a great selection and something to suit all tastes. I can't recall seeing Gluten free recipes though but that could be an oversight on my part.

Overall an innovative Cookbook with a quirky twist. One I'm looking forward to trying out.

Thank you Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for a copy of the eArc cookbook. This is a wonderful cookbook with simplistic photos showing delicious food. The cookbook has a great theme coupling normal pantry and fresh ingredients with an accompanying secret ingredient. There is one secret ingredient per recipe and for the most part these add complex flavors that take simple fare to meals with the flavor profile of a fancy restaurant. Some of my family's favorite's include the B.L.T.P (bacon, lettuce, tomato and pimento cheese). Sandwich, the beef bulgogi lettuce wraps, honey roasted cauliflower, chicken tikka masala meatballs., and chicken cutlets with apple salad. When a six year old asks for meals to be made again, you know you're working from a winning cookbook.

This book is full of fun ideas and twists for approachable recipes real families will enjoy. I enjoyed the little surprises of each Secret Ingredient! Great way to learn to become a more versatile cook.

I truly enjoyed viewing this cookbook and reading the recipes there were quite a few that I am going to get the book to try. The pictures of the food looked scrumptious and the inclusion of what the secret ingredient was and why it makes it work, was a great touch. The recipes are not difficult and ingredients easily accessible. There are so many recipes that I have on my list like the Simple Skillet Lasagna, Shrimp and Three-Cheese Grits, Seared Scallops with Bail Risotto, Garlicky Cheese Bread, Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting, Key Lime Cheesecake Bars, Cast Iron Quiche, Blueberry French Toast Muffins, and Noni's Soft Pretzel Knots. Mouth watering just thinking about these recipes. Thank you to Ms. Senyei, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview and review this awesome cookbook.

I adored this cookbook! I always feel so tied down to the recipe and want to follow it to the tea, so I like it when a recipe includes a little bit of rebellion! A lot of the secret ingredients here initially really took me by surprise and I might be a tiny bit skeptical once I first get into the kitchen with them, but Senyei offers such a fun approach that you simply have to go with it. I would also like to thank her from the bottom of my heart for teaching me how to properly secure my chopping board. THANK YOU! The Caesar Pasta Salad will definitely become a favourite, I can tell!

The Secret Ingredient Cookbook has a nice selection of recipes, but falls short on the secrets. There were a handful of surprises, but I think most moderately experienced home cooks will find many of the secret ingredients are either expected or downright standard for the recipes they are paired with.

This cookbook offers a nice layout with great photography and a fairly typical table of contents: breakfast, snacks, soups & salads, pastas, entrees, sides, desserts, and drinks. I like the short intros to each recipe and there are some nice hints in the recipe notes.

Multiple mentions of Walmart right in the introduction did give me a bad vibe. It strikes me as a limp attempt at appearing relatable or a cheap sponsorship.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC,

The recipes were a nice mix of classic and modern. The layout of the recipe was visually crisp and easy to follow.

The recipes did not add anything revolutionary, and those who follow the author's blog may not find a lot of new content.

Des photos et des recettes magnifiques
et les ingrédients secrets auxquels je n'aurais jamais pensé.
Je testerais certaines de ces recettes avec un vrai plaisir.
Merci encore.

The Secret Ingredient Cookbook by Kelly Senyei is a perfect way to spice up some old favourites. If you are looking for ideas to bring a little more interest and excitement to your everyday recipes, this book has you covered. This is a fun and simple recipe book that is perfect for all skill levels.

It is so easy to get into a cooking rut, especially when it is harder to easily run out and shop for interesting items to cook with. This book of secret ingredients gives a bit of intrigue to weeknight meals. Also, most of the additions are things that most people have in their pantries, which makes the meals quick and easy to put together.

Kelly gives a little background and lists essential ingredients and tips to inspire your creations in the kitchen. The layout is straightforward and each recipe has its secret ingredient well marked at the top of the page.

❀ TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Breakfast
Snacks
Soups and Salads
Pastas
Entrées
Sides
Desserts
Drinks

❀ INTRIGUING COMBINATIONS

I have bookmarked quite a few recipes to try and I am excited to try so many of them, such as the Sweet and Spicy Penne Arrabbiata and the Adults Only Milkshake. These recipes have intriguing combinations that make cooking a bit more like a science experiment.

❀ EASY RECIPE TWEAKS

I tried the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Snack Cake and really enjoyed the unexpected kick that adding cracked black pepper gave to an otherwise sweet and gooey treat. There are so many recipes like this in the book that have a very easy tweak to try that gives an element of surprise to your taste buds. If you are looking for something a bit different to try in the kitchen, The Secret Ingredient Cookbook by Kelly Senyei is definitely one to watch for.

A great first cookbook. A good wedding present. The recipes were easy to follow. The pictures are mouthwatering. I liked the layout that the author chose. It was a delight to read.

Easy, delicious twists on some old favourites. It's beautifully laid out, easy to follow and while perhaps the twists aren't necessarily ground-breaking, everything is likely something you already have on your shelves or can easily get. The recipes lean to meat, wheat, etc., so there will be adaptations needed if you follow a particular diet, but they aren't too complicated either so it's unlikely to be too much of a problem

A great cookbook to add to your shelves if you're looking for something a little different in the everyday.

Very nice recipes, i tried already some of them and they turned out great. The pictures are mouthwatering, and the descriptions are clear. Always nice to have a new recipe book!

For me this was pretty lackluster. The “secret” ingredients were often common sense additions or substitutions. The recipes were fairly common. But my biggest complaint was from a nutritional standpoint. Many recipes featured high fat/ calorie components that aren’t a part of my family’s diet. Others may enjoy this book but it was a miss for me.

THE SECRET INGREDIENT COOKBOOK by Kelly Senyei is described as containing "125 Family-Friendly Recipes with Surprisingly Tasty Twists." Senyei, the founder of Just a Taste, introduces each recipe with a brief story and description of the "secret" ingredient. Sometimes that's a spice (all spice, taragon, etc.) and sometimes it')s a cheese (like Brie) or a liquid (like beer) or even a staple (like baking powder or breadcrumbs). One of the most appealing aspects are some beautiful color photos of many of the dishes. However, I wonder how much family appeal this truly has. Personally, I found the ingredient lists for each recipe to be on the longer side and there seemed to be an expectation of numerous cooking tools (blender, ricer, pasta roller, etc.). Heavy cream and butter (often an entire stick) feature in several of the recipes and nutrition information is not provided. Overall, it seemed like this truly lovely cookbook would appeal to more experienced cooks who are willing and able to devote some time to experimenting. They would also be able to use "leftover" ingredients (due to the small quantities required) or perhaps have needed ones more readily available. For example, Chicken Tikka Masala Meatballs calls for 2 Tbsp. heavy cream, 1 Tbsp. tomato paste, fresh cilantro, fresh ginger, 1Tbsp. garam masala, and so on – even Senyei writes, "don't let this longer ingredient list deter you." Senyei has legions of fans and has appeared on Food Network and Hallmark Channel.

This isn't an extensive book, but what it does to is to get your mind whirling with different ways you can change up recipes by adding an unexpected ingredient-zucchini in cookies? pumpkin puree in mac n cheese? Yup, they're in here! We've tried a few of the recipes and love the Everything pretzels for a teen sleep over, and the slow cooker carnitas, which were excellent for street tacos, and then enchiladas the next day. It's a fun book, and I think teens taking cooking classes will really enjoy surprising their family with these secret ingredients! It's a fun book for Summer recipe experimentation!

Sadly, there was a technical error with the PDF copy of this book and I was unable to open it. I was looking forward to reviewing these recipes.

The Secret Ingredient Cookbook is mouthwatering! Senyei’s method of utilizing secret ingredients highlights her skill with flavors!

I particularly liked the inclusion of pantry supplies needed to complete the recipes. I like cookbooks that include this section because there is nothing worse than wanting to make something and having an unstocked pantry.

The cookbook included a wide-range of recipes from breakfast, snacks, sides, entrees, and desserts. Each recipe easily identifies the secret ingredient. The recipes are easy to understand. The pictures included are beautiful, detailed, in focus, and highlight the dish well.

I am an adventurous eater, and members of my household also have some eating issues, like no tomatoes. However, I found options that meet our diet issues. In fact, I am looking forward to trying the Stuffed Shells with No-Mato Sauce and the Crunchy Coconut Granola!

Really enjoyed exploring the recipes in this book!

The images displayed the dishes beautifully and left me wanting to cook every dish! Some seemed a little complicated for a novice cook like me but im excited to give them a try as the instructions are really clear and simple to follow.

Excellent Cookbook! If you have cooked a while and I have, I imagine you can find most recipes you want from many sources. Why, should you buy another cookbook. My reason is because this one is different. I make good dishes, but they are too similar, again and again.

So, this cookbook offers a Pop, something everyone will wonder what you added. It might be a Sweet Breakfast Dish, but with some added Rosemary. Love Chocolate Chip Cookies. I do, too, but have never made them with Zucchini!

Comfort food is excellent, have you tried a 30 minute Mac and Cheese w/Pumpkin Purée and Gruyère Cheese.

Going a bit exotic, bey you have made Chicken Tikka Marsala. I’ve made this dish many times. I have never added Applesauce, though.

So, this is Fun to try different ideas. Cook for your family, including younger picky eaters or have a Elegant Dinner Party. If you love to cook, and I do, it’s great to add some zest.

I recommend this cookbook for cooks who want to make smashing foods, that your average person will love. That’s why we cook.

Thank you NetGalley, Kelly Senyei, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for an ARC of this book. Happy Cooking!

The secret ingredient cookbook has everything I look for in a go-to book. There are a wide variety of recipes, from easy family-friendly ones to ones that I wouldn't think to try. The pictures are beautiful and made me want to be able to eat way more food than I can. As someone who is a picky eater, some of the ingredients made me nervous but the final results were delicious! Bonus I used the cookbook with 12 year old avid cooker and she also loed the recipe founding the "secret" ingredient part a fun addition to other cookbooks we've used.