4 stars
This is a nice book for a beginner. It has a lot of common recipes, and a great variety too. I liked the tips in the beginning, and the stories and pictures were sweet too. I appreciate that most of the recipes do not have an abundance of ingredients. Most seem like quick fixes as well. I found a few that I’ll give a try, some I’ve already got my preferences for (but may try from this book too).
Overall this is a solid cookbook!

Chocked full of recipes for everyday use!•

Really liked this cookbook. The recipes are detailed but in a simplistic way so they are very easy to read and follow. Recipes themselves are what I would consider “good to know” types, nothing too extravagant just basic recipes that are great to have on hand. There is a large selection of recipes with it containing about 123 recipes and they include my favorite feature of all which are the pictures that accompany each recipes.

Got a copy of this from NetGalley. What’s fun is I had tried to win this in a Goodreads giveaway. The recipes are a wide range from breakfast, lunch, dinner, soups, and desserts. I really can’t wait to try some
Of them. I’ll post more once I’ve tried them.

Tastes Better From Scratch Cookbook - Easy Recipes for Everyday Life by Lauren Allen is a wonderful cookbook. I would guess about half of the recipes are my old recipes I used to cook all the time 40 some years ago! They seem to be pretty much identical to what I made. Some I haven’t made in many years, so I am looking forward to having them again. These are simple recipes with standard ingredients, which is what I like. Anyone could make these regardless of their cooking skills. Beautiful photos of each recipe are included along with a QR code to a video that shows you how to prepare the recipe. What a great idea! I think this is the one go-to cookbook every cook should have in their kitchen. I can’t wait to have some of my old favorites like Zuppa Toscana and Chicken Tortilla Soup.

Thank you to Greenleaf Book Group & NetGalley for the free copy of this wonderful ebook.

I love this cookbook! I have been craving some more winter and fall, hearty recipes if you will and Tastes Better From Scratch Cookbook was exactly what I was looking for. This recipes aren’t pretentious or overly complicated. They are tried and trued classics that you and your family will want to eat for dinner.

What sets this cookbook apart from others is the variations: what to make ahead, how to freeze, storing leftovers, Lauren’s tips, healthier swaps, fun twists, and quicker tips. I already have our family’s meal plan set for next week, all with recipes out of this book!

I would absolutely buy this cookbook as a gift, and would buy a physical copy to keep on my shelf. I highly recommend Tastes Better From Scratch!

This is a great cookbook for simple dishes with easy to get ingredients. I am an experienced cook and have many similar recipes, but still found a few new ones I would make. I recommend this cookbook for beginner cooks who would learn how to prepare wholesome healthy meals.

I believe there is not one single recipe in this book that my family wouldn't like. Uncomplicated recipes using easily obtained ingredients is a busy cooks dream. Pad Thai to stroganoff, all recipes look delicious.

Great color pictures accompany well-written recipes. This book offers both new and casual cooks a good foundation of basic recipes. Many recipes are also accompanied by notes and tips, such as how to store leftovers, how to make the recipe ahead of time, etc.

One thing I particularly liked was that each recipe listed the prep time, cook time, total time, and yield right at the top of each recipe. And most of the recipes come together in under an hour, making this a great resource for weeknight cooking.

Are you tired of cookbooks where you have to go out and buy jars of fancy ingredients and spices that you will never use again?
Are you tired of paging through a cookbook and not finding one recipe that you think would appeal to your family?

Tastes Better From Scratch is the answer for you!

This is a cookbook with many basics, but also enough variety to please even picky eaters and challenge them to venture out of their comfort zones. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a novice, you'll appreciate these recipes. Breakfasts, Main Dishes, Soups, Salads, Desserts, this book has it all.

As a bonus, there are also QR codes with most of the recipes that take you to a video of the preparation, which is so helpful for more visual learners who like to see how the recipe is prepared. The book itself does have many full color photos, and some (like with the cinnamon rolls) have some step by step photos to follow for preparation.

Whether you're looking to make Pumpkin Bread or S'mores Bars, Creamy White Chicken Chili or Slow Cooker Ribs, this book will become a family favorite for everyday recipes.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This would be a great cookbook if you want to make really good versions of basic recipes, the kind where you can find all of the ingredients at a regular grocery store and where you don't need a lot of fancy equipment.

TASTES BETTER FROM SCRATCH COOKBOOK by Lauren Allen lives up to its subtitle's promise of offering "Easy Recipes for Everyday Life." There are too many recipes to list them all, but here are just a few to give you an idea of the breadth of choice: Pumpkin Bread, Pad Thai, Cajun Chicken Pasta, Artichoke Dip, Apple Crisp, and German Chocolate Cake. Allen includes an appetizing photograph for almost every recipe and the presentation is streamlined and easy to follow. Both prep time and cooking time are noted, along with ingredients and numbered instructions. Often she will add suggestions for making ahead or freezing. Nutritional information is not listed.

I am a cookbook fanatic and the cookbook Tastes Better From Scratch Cookbook is fantastic!
It is divided into sections : Breakfast - Muffins and Breads - Dinner - Soup - Salads and Sides and Desserts. Each of the sections is filled with gorgeous mouth-watering photos of the recipes. There was such a great mixture of recipes that I am sure there are many to choose from even if they all do not fit your families’ tastes.
I have already picked out so many of the recipes from this cookbook. Breakfast Casserole is on the menu for this next weekend. I am excited to make this easy recipe for the family. I know they will like it. The next morning, I will be making the German pancakes! This recipe sounds yummy!
I was so happy to see a recipe for Texas Sheet cake in the cookbook. This recipe was the one my Mom always made when I was growing up. And see the beautiful photo made my heart sing!
I can not wait to get this cookbook on my shelf.
Thank you NetGalley, Lauren Allen and Greenleaf Book Group for the ARC of Tastes Better From Scratch Cookbook. This is my personal review.

Tons of recipes! Very few are worth it if you are vegan/plant-based. I can see this being a great resource for families that are limited on time.

This is such a gorgeous cookbook! I love that there are photos along with each recipe, giving you a visual depiction of the finished product. I appreciated the helpful tips on what you can do if you’re short on time, and ways to prepare some things in advance to speed up the cooking process. I also loved the additional information given on how to store leftovers (fridge and freezer). One unique feature was the QR links to watch a video on how to prepare the recipe, that I think would be especially helpful for beginning bakers/cooks.

I highly recommend this beautiful cookbook, for newbies as well as seasoned cooks/bakers. Many thanks to Greenleaf publishing, as well as Netgalley, for the opportunity to read and review this cookbook.

This is the cookbook you need to have! It has most of America's favorite recipes and comfort foods. From waffles and pancakes, muffins and breads, dinners, soups and salads to desserts! I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Tastes Better From Scratch
Author: Lauren Allen

Cookbook & eARC Review
Release Date: September 27, 2022

My Rating: 4.75/5 ⭐️

What a beautiful freaking cookbook! While my version was electronic, I most definitely will be buying a hard copy for my kitchen.

First off, the recipes. They were delicious, well curated, and extremely easy to follow. So many I will be making here at home. The recipes are perfect for quick and easy meals, families on the go, or someone just wanting to branch out in the kitchen. I am looking forward to the breakfast casserole and pumpkin bread!

My next praise - the styling of the cookbook! It really was beautifully done. The color selection, font, etc. were perfect for this style of cookbook. The images were also perfect. They matched the recipes so well, were great quality, and beautifully staged. I personally loved the family photos thrown in. It gave the cookbook a more home-y, personal feel.

The last few things I want to brag on - the QR codes and the tips! This is the first time I’ve seen QR codes in a cookbook and it’s such a genius idea! Definitely gets you more bang for your buck. Additionally, the little tips on each recipe like “how to freeze”, “how to store”, and so on were very useful. In my opinion, the author really thought of everything when writing this cookbook.

I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing this cookbook! I love forward to more of her books.

Thank you NetGalley, Greenleaf Book Group, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I would recommend this cookbook for a beginner in the kitchen or someone who has a busy lifestyle. It has gorgeous photos with simple classic recipes that are easy to follow. Most recipes in this book are staples in my household like waffles, banana bread, beef stew and chicken noodle soup. This is a perfect book to gift someone who is just starting out.

Also, the QR codes were a nice addition to the recipes and helped with suggested meal plans, shopping lists and videos for preparation.

I want to thank NetGalley, Lauren Allen and Greenleaf Book Group, Tastes Better from Scratch, LLC for the e-ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

This was an EXCELLENT book. The recipes are yummy and easy to make. Every recipe is accompanied with a photo which makes the process easier. I love it!

I'm a self-proclaimed cookbook hoarder so I got excited to see one as a Read Now choice. This one sounded right up my alley being it is all about cooking from scratch rather than buying processed equivalents. The introductions in the beginning were nice; Typical cookbook things here like author intro, best kitchen tools and notes, etc. The chapters are laid out mostly by meal: Breakfast, Muffins and Breads, Dinner, Soup, Salads and Sides, Dessert. Each recipe page shows ingredients and instructions beside each other. The Instructions are all straightforward, simple to follow and thorough. This book appears as it will be super easy to use!

Some of my favorite things:
Each page is laid out with prep time, cook time, total time and yield right at the top of the page.
Pictures with every recipe! This is a huge positive aspect for me (as I'm sure it is with many others as well)
Love the Make ahead & Freezer tips (<which also come with thaw/reheat/cook follow up tips)! I'll likely keep a few of the freezer tips in my back pocket for when I make large batches of these types of dishes or meals.

A heads up for those with dietary preferences: most of the recipes don't fall in line with any specific 'diet' types. There is all-purpose flour, breads, pastas, milk, buttermilk, butter, other dairy ingredients, vegetable oils and refined sugars used throughout. For me personally, I'd have to make a lot of subs to work with these recipes but that's not going to be true for everyone. I likely won't use this cookbook in my own kitchen BUT I can appreciate how it is laid out, presented and photographed.

This will be an all-around great choice for many home cooks. I very much enjoyed flipping through all the recipes for new ideas and tips. Beautiful photos, well laid out and straightforward with a large variety of amazing-looking recipes!

Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the copy to read and review.

This is a great cookbook for new cooks who want to start cooking more homemade dishes. There are gorgeous photos for every recipe, which is the strongest suit of the book. Most of the recipes are tasty classics. I took issue with calling them all from scratch. If a recipe calls for a can of cream of something soup or lemon lime soda, I don’t consider it really from scratch. Also, the “best” salsa calls for canned tomatoes. Sorry but just no. The best salsa will always call for fresh garden tomatoes. Anything from a can or even tasteless supermarket tomatoes is a distant cousin.

Minus one star for the lack of nutritional information. Also, this is 100% Standard American Diet recipes. It will not work well at all for people who are vegetarian, vegan, paleo, gluten free, keto, low carb or even watching their weight. This is mainly carb-heavy, sugar-heavy, unhealthy-fat-heavy high calorie food for the most part — French toast, lasagna, cakes and cookies, rolls, macaroni and cheese, macaroni salad, biscuits and gravy, etc.

It’s still a beautiful cookbook that will be a big hit with many.