This cookbook is a unique one. The different secret ingredients for each recipe are insightful and things I will use when cooking next. The information about each secret ingredient is also insightful. I will definitely be buying this book when it comes out.

Good recommendation for anyone wanting to experiment from basic cooking.

The cookbook included beautiful photos of most of the recipes. I wish there had been more photos of the desserts. The thing I was put off about was the number of ingredients needed for each recipe. A number of recipes had well over 15 ingredients. I was a little confused as to the "secret ingredient" in some of the recipes because it was one that I normally use in mine. I feel like she took basic, classic recipes and made them too involved.

I was given an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I actually loved this cookbook. A lot of others start with somewhat useless information at the beginning. This book actually gave me a lot of information I had never heard before. The recipe photos were nice although nothing to write home about. But the actual recipes are great. They all seem doable and delicious. I would keep this in my home for years to come.

4.5 stars

I found this to be a fun and informative cookbook.
What I loved:
I loved the tips at the beginning of the book. What you should be aware of and what you should already have ready in your pantry.
I thought the photos were very pretty. It gave a good look at what the food should resemble.
I liked that most ingredient you can easily find.
Most of the recipes looked very appetizing.
I like the organization of the foods.
knowing the ingrediant to make the dish stand out and taste great.

What I thought could be better:
I felt could be a little healthier or more options for healthy (but there are all kinds of cookbooks in many categories and I would still make them or occasions)
I tend to get cookbooks that have photos for every recipe. I want to know what they look like and even sometimes photos of tricky parts of cooking it or what the pans look like.

Overall I really liked this cookbook and would have fun making some of the dishes to see how that ingrediant made it all the better.

The Secret Ingredient Cookbook by Kelly Senyei (Just A Taste), is exactly that and much more. The book is written in simple format, easy to understand steps, has dishes with readily available ingredients and substitutes and has easy to follow science behind the food we eat.
Let’s talk about what I loved the most about this book: it’s “down-to-earth” approach. What I mean by that? Well seeing how Kelly is herself a mom, and has worked as a professional chef and cooks for her family at her home, she marries the two concepts so wonderfully, making sure that busy moms who are cooking at home, don’t have to go out of their way to prepare a scrumptious meal for the family: delivering things that are not only scrumptious but also don’t take a big chunk outta one’s time. The dishes let one challenge themself and make use of leftovers in creative, successful ways (left over mashed potatoes for croquettes anyone?). She goes in to such details, even mentioning the “inches” of oil one would need to fry something, that kinda detail shows how much effort she has put in to her recipes and this book and how much she wants to share her expertise with people at home.
Another thing that I loved about the book is that Kelly has come up with healthier versions of daily classics! Take banana bread for instance: using whole wheat and olive oil not just enhances the taste but also makes the bread a lot more healthier! Adding pumpkin to pasta to make it creamier, things that one would have never thought about, but make one go, “that’s just awesome”!
The book also boasts “improved” versions of some of her recipes already shared on her website and making use of readily available stuff to decorate cakes and cupcakes!
Going through one recipe, I was like, “hey this sounds like Masala Chai”, and what do you know, it was “Masala” hot cocoa. My point being, Kelly has taken our favorite recipes and added a twist to them that takes them up a notch. I’d know, I have recreated some of the recipes in the book, and they have turned out amazing: every single time!

The book has everything, from dips, to snacks to full blown out dinner ideas and desserts.
This book is a “must have” in one’s culinary arsenal!

I was given an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Very nice cookbook! The book is beautiful, the photos are very nice, it's very well organized and easy to read and I would make most of the recipes in this book. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

I always request cookbooks. This one stands out the most for me! I love the recipes and the flow of content. It will be a reference book for my kitchen for years to come.

This cookbook is fantastic. I devoured it with the same enthusiasm with which I plan to tear after the Berry Breakfast Pastries (Cardamom).

Each recipe has an unexpected secret ingredient that elevates a dish to something extraordinary. Examples? I am looking forward to Cheesy Corn Chowder (Tarragon), Sheetpan BBQ Meatballs (Orange Soda), Blueberry French Toast Muffins (Coconut Milk), and Caesar Pasta Salad (Avocado).

The cookbook was laid out beautifully with gorgeous photos and recipes that are easy to follow. Most are made with ingredients that most well-stocked fridges and pantries already have; a real bonus right now, amirite?

Thank you to Kelly Senyei, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is jam packed with truly unique recipes, each of which looks appetising. The author is creative with her use of ingredients and all the recipes are well set out and easy to follow for novice chefs.

Drool-worthy is the only way to describe this cookbook, packed with recipes that will inspire you to get into the kitchen, stat!!! Despite having had dinner already, I had to grab some late night snacks just to make it through all the mouthwatering recipes (& those drinks, is it too late for alcohol!?!) This cookbook is jam packed with fabulous recipes, each with a twist... honey on pepperoni pizza is one delicious example! I highly recommend this book as a way to take your cooking to an exciting new level.

Big thanks to NetGalley & HMH Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Love this recipe book. Kelly has taken the challenge many dream of and has made unique recipes with equally unique ingredients a reality for all to enjoy. The photos are rich in Color and present attractive and appealing dishes. I have learned some new tips to make baking and creating easier and more uniform as well as time saving tips and tricks. There is something for everyone to enjoy. Highly recommend this recipe collection for traditional cooks looking to up their game but not go too overboard.

This book is full of vibrant, mouth-watering pictures that make you want to delve into a recipe. Each recipe has a secret ingredient which I will be using a as a talking point from now on. Who knew you could add strawberries to a certain pasta dish? You'll have to find out which one but It's a unique twist! The essential ingredients at the start of the book are very useful. The kitchen secrets are a revelation - thank you Kelly Senyei for explaining them so thoughtfully; they are truly an epiphany!

4.5 Stars!! Yum! My mouth is watering now that I looked through this book! This book has some really delicious looking recipes! It’s probably NOT a book for very health conscious people or anyone on a diet but for an occasional recipe, this book would be great! Even though most of the recipes had pictures, I do wish that more photos had been in the book. I tried the ‘Berry Breakfast Pastries’ and they. were. Awesome!! They also weren’t difficult to make at all!! I definitely recommend this book. I can’t wait to try the other recipes!
*I received this book at no charge from the publisher and I voluntarily left a review.*

*NetGalley provided me with an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*

This is a great cookbook. I really liked the concept - every good cook has "secret ingredients" or their own little twist they add to each dish and I was interested to see someone write a whole cookbook where they disclose what secret ingredients make their dishes great. My personal faves to use in my own recipes are ginger, coffee, or cumin. And I use almond extract about as often as I use vanilla.

The recipes in this cookbook are split up into seven main categories (Breakfast, Snacks, Soups and Salads, Pastas, Entrees, Sides, Desserts, and Drinks) with introductory sections for "Essential Ingredients, and "My Not-So-Secret Kitchen Secrets" at the beginning of the book. There are full-page pictures of almost all of the dishes/drinks and the recipe sections follow a good natural flow.

This book hit the spot almost immediately. I made it all the way to page 11 (in the Not-So-Secret Kitchen Secrets section of the book) before my mind was blown - WHY have I never thought to proof my bread dough in my clothes dryer?? That's the sign of a truly brilliant thought - once it's pointed out to you it seems so OBVIOUS!

The recipes in this book look and sound delicious - the pictures are gorgeous and the recipes are simple with the "secret ingredient" right up top in a featured spot. I appreciate that the little blurbs before each recipe are succinct and to-the-point. There's a good mix of personal/background info plus nice explanations for what the secret ingredients bring to each recipe. I also really liked when the author included extra tips or tricks at the bottom of certain recipes to make cooking each easier. I also appreciated that some recipes that use ready-made or "shortcut" ingredients (like refrigerated ravioli or boxed cake mix) were included. Let's face it - I'm not always up for making filled pasta from scratch and I bless every cookbook writer who gets that!

So far, I've only tried out the Fish Tacos with the Mango Salsa but it was PERFECTION, especially in this Summer heat. We have always had bottles of tajin sitting on our pantry shelves since I was a toddler and I cannot believe I never thought of using it in TACOS. Anyone who's ever had a mangonada knows that mango plus tajin is a match made in heaven, and that combo in this recipe is INSPIRED. The recipe was clear and easy to follow and the finished dish was so GOOD. We basically inhaled them and wished we had doubled the recipe. I'll definitely be making that dish again before the week is over and I cannot wait to try some more of these recipes in the future!

Some of the secret ingredients featured in these recipes were truly surprising. I never thought of trying fish sauce in Brussels sprouts but the combination sounds appealing - I love adding an unexpected Asian twist to my dishes. Chocolate-covered raisins in oatmeal raisin cookies? BRILLIANT! And some of the secret ingredients were so perfectly apt, I was comforted to see them featured - I swear by adding fresh grated ginger to any sweet potato dish (excellent tangy, slightly spicy complement). I especially loved all the alcoholic secret ingredients (brandy, tequila, Kahlua, etc. impart such excellent, complex flavors that always have dinner guests going "What IS that, I can't quite put my finger on it??")

Speaking of alcohol, the Drinks section was a personal fave of mine in this book. I cannot WAIT to try that Melon Ball Sangria - finally a use for cantaloupe and honeydew I can actually get behind. The recipe for the Boozy Iced Coffee looks absolutely sinful and I'm going to make a batch as soon as I pickup some more sweetened condensed milk. The alcohols chosen for that iced coffee are absolutely perfect and should make for a truly addictive drink.

My one note about this book is that I did find myself wishing that the steps in the recipe I was cooking were numbered as I kept looking away to do things then losing my spot when I went back for the next step. But other than that, I was super happy with the recipes in this cookbook. I am a huge fan and I'm planning on buying a physical copy just as soon as I can. These recipes have inspired me to think about what my "secret ingredients" are and how I can start thinking about using classic ingredients in fresh, new ways.

First off, I love this premise. The idea of a secret ingredient elevating each dish from ordinary to extraordinary in approachable recipes for home cooks is both appealing and exciting. Kind of like joining a special club - I want to know what the secret ingredients are! And I appreciated that the author (Senyei) was upfront about sharing that the secret ingredient premise isn't meant to be gimmicky or just adding unnecessary ingredients into an otherwise perfectly acceptable recipe, because I do think it could appear that way - so I appreciated her disclaimer.

To start, her kitchen hacks were all new to me (proof dough in the dryer?! Who would've thunk it?) which is impressive because I feel like "kitchen hacks" are typically not all that surprising, and there's usually a lot of overlap in "tips and tricks" between different cookbooks. Senyei happily surprised me here!

The recipes themselves varied from classics (e.g. banana bread) to new ideas (e.g. caramel-apple cinnamon rolls) but all are presented with useful tips, tricks, and straightforward directions for home chefs of all skill levels. On a personal note, I'm a huge soup person and I loved that Senyei included a number of soup options because I think soups are sometimes an afterthought in cookbooks. And, true to the name of the book, Senyei has some pretty novel suggestions for how to spice up old favorites. For example, I can't wait for the weather to cool down enough to try her 30-minute mac and cheese where the secret ingredient is PUMPKIN PUREE. Immediate reaction is wut?? But after reading this entire book, I trust her enough to give it a go. Plus, if it really is great, how much fun would it be to share this with friends, have them love it, and then give them the twist that there's pumpkin in it? (same can be said for all her recipes) - adding the element of the secret ingredient just makes cooking so much more fun!

Formatting-wise, I liked that each recipe included a personal note from Senyei, and the secret ingredient was always clearly marked. The steps were always clearly delineated and I think these recipes would definitely fall into the easy-to-follow category. On a final note, the photographs were absolutely lovely. There were a good number, but I'm always a sucker for pics (especially with a cookbook) and could've done with even more!!

This is a fantastic cookbook, one of the best I've read. No gimmicks, easy-to-follow recipes, creative ideas, and beautiful pictures: A true 5/5 cookbook. Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a fun and beautifully illustrated cook book. Not only do the dishes look so tasty I’m already checking what’s in the cupboard but every one of them has a little unusual twist, strawberry jam in an egg sandwich who knew. I can’t wait to get cooking.

How I love a twist on a recipe - and this book provides plenty of those!

None of the recipes are complicated, and I have already tried a couple with great results. As a fairly adventurous cook myself, I found some of the "secret" ingredients to be ingredients I would have used anyway - but I have many years of cooking experience, so it is unfair to judge the book by that.

The thing I love most about this cookbook is that the vast majority of unusual ingredients are easily sourced in your local supermarket. Many cookbooks that try to be different have you searching the internet to find out what the ingredient is, let alone where to buy it!

If you're looking for a cookbook that's a little different to most, this one could well be the book you're looking for!

The Secret Ingredient Cookbook by Kelly Senyei is a fun cookbook with 125 recipes each containing an unexpected ingredient to elevate the flavor or improve the consistency of the dish. Some are healthy swaps, some are unique pairings, but they are all interesting and Senyei has tested and explained why they improve the recipe.
The book is laid out well, with beautiful photographs and the secret ingredient from each recipe highlighted.

Many thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for the advance copy.

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.