I loved this one! Such a great concept - I am always looking for ways to leverage a well-stocked pantry, and this was just the thing. All the recipes we tried were winners. The apple pie dip was especially delicious and easy!

Almost everyone keeps ingredients they use on hand in their pantry. Tanorria Askew takes advantage of these staples and shows readers how to do it at home in her cookbook, Staples + 5: 100 Simple Recipes to Make the Most of Your Pantry. The recipes in this cookbook make good use of the staples most of us keep on hand – she lists 35 ingredients that should be on your pantry shelves and some others that are nice to have (I was pleasantly surprised to find that I have everything in my kitchen from both lists). The ingredients are ordinary things such as flour, sugar, spices, potatoes, onions, etc., so it isn’t difficult to find them in any mainstream grocery store. Then Askew presents recipes using those staples as well as up to five other ingredients to create delicious dishes that almost everyone will love. The recipes have mostly southern roots with a bit of the Midwest thrown in, and there are some unique ideas for those who are tired of same old-same old boring meals.

Askew’s cute personality comes through in the chapters and in her notes prefacing each recipe, making this a fun cookbook to peruse as well as a fun cookbook to cook from. There are beautiful photographs of some of the dishes; the only negative to this book is that there aren’t enough. There are several recipes that should have been photographed so that cooks can see what the finished product should look like. Nevertheless, this is a good cookbook; it is well organized and the recipes are written in the traditional form so they are easy to follow. The ingredients are easy to find and it’s nice to know that most of them are already in the pantry waiting to be used.

If you are a cookbook collector or just like unique cookbooks, you’ll want to pick up this book.

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

This is a Southern cookbook that tries to use up what you have in the pantry. I'm someone who likes to empty their pantry before going out and buying more. There are simple recipes like Deviled Eggs and Fried Okra in here that I believe will be delish! People have to learn to walk before they can run, so I think a cookbook should be have delicious simple recipes before having delicious complex recipes.

This was a great cookbook and I really enjoyed reading through the recipes. I definitely found some that I will be making.

Lemon Spaghetti with Garlicky Roasted Shrimp! MAKE IT!!! Okay, besides that, there many easy and tasty recipes in this book. Most have a Southern flair to them and are very family-friendly. I had never heard of this chef, but will definitely be looking her up! Would have liked a few more pics, but not a deal breaker. Can absolutely recommend this collection!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Tanorria Askew and Alpha Books for this ARC!

I have not watched Master Chef but the author of this cookbook was a contestant on that show. I assume that means that she knows how to cook when under pressure. Maybe that it what inspired this collection of recipes, all 100 of them; she wants others to feel confident and relaxed in their kitchens.

In the introduction, readers learn that the author has been influenced by both Southern and Mid-Western cooking. From her family, she learned the joys of having people come around for a meal. This background is reflected in the book.

There are helpful beginning sections on topics like what to stock in a kitchen, a list of spices to have on hand, equipment needed and more. The recipes then go in a traditional order beginning with appetizers.

Some of the recipes included are for Butternut Squash Fritters, Classic Deviled Eggs, BBQ Pork Belly Tacos, Pasta Carbonara, Chicken n Biscuit Pot Pie, Red Beans & Rice, Dad’s Baked Beans, Blackberry Cobbler and many more. The directions seems clear and there are photos scattered throughout the book.

For those who enjoy good family food, this book is worth a look. It may make you hungry though.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

A much shorter cookbook than I anticipated. It could have used more photos of finished dishes. A few recipes had more than +5 ingredients added to staple ingredients. In general, many delicious sounding recipes to try. Mostly home cooking family favorites. By far the most intriguing section involved creating master sauces to increase your cooking repertoire. The author completely makes you think differently about how and when to reach in your cupboards for staple ingredient combinations. There are several recipes that rest entirely upon staple ingredients. A book to make you re-examine how you incorporate and use your staples.

This is a Southern cookbook with well-selected recipes, classics like Deviled Eggs, Church Lady Potato Salad or Fried Okra, as well as recipes that feature typically Southern ingredients in a little different way like Collard Green & Sweet Potato Salad and Black-Eyed Pea Salsa. Includes other comfort food favorites like French Onion Soup and Broccoli Rice Casserole. Kudos to DK for making all recipes one-page. Great effort from this former Master Chef contestant, recommend for beginning to intermediate home cooks and for public library collections.

This is definitely a cookbook you’re going to want to add to your collection. Full of easy and delicious recipes for everyone. I literally can’t think of anything bad to say about this one. Definitely recommend!

I have nothing but glowing things to say about this book. It is the BOMB.com and you need to purchase it now. I had pre-ordered this book and then got an ARC from Netgalley and I was stunned and excited. Getting to taste these recipes and play with them before the release, I feel very lucky. EVERYONE needs this book, no matter what level of cook you are.

Here's what I've made and loved:
- Three Cheese Souffle
-Sea Scallops with Browned Butter Wine Sauce
-Lemon Spaghetti with Garlicky Roasted Shrimp
-Apple Pie Dip

You could cook and entire Thanksgiving day/Christmas day from this book and it would be the best you've ever made. The flavors blend together with depth. The instructions are easy to follow. It doesn't require any crazy ingredients. Get this book. That is all.

While Ms. Askew is a former MasterChef contestant, what truly drew me to this book was that she has focused on everyday ingredients to make simple, nutritious and delicious meals. Staples + 5 begins with her family ethos and philosophy and you can feel that thinking bleed into each recipe shared. The pantry list is so simple that it truly was just the every day items I already had stacked in my kitchen, no worries about stocking up to try and try anything in here! The first recipe I've tried has been the Mushroom Lover's quiche and it is to die for! And so easy! Aside from the simplicity of this book, I was also impressed by the range, with options for meat lovers or vegetarians. I'm particularly excited to try the collared green and sweet potato salad in the future. Looking forward to having a physical copy of this in the futurre.

This book has me itching to get into the kitchen!

Let’s be real, we’ve all planned on cooking something new only to return home from the supermarket realizing you forgot that one random ingredient. We’ve also all probably had to toss that one random ingredient you bought for a recipe and never used again. And yet, this book genuinely helps prevent those pains.

I won’t say this is the healthiest cookbook on the market, but boy oh boy does everything look and sound delicious. Of course all of that pales in comparison to the best aspect that this cookbook offers: easy meals that don’t require daily trips to the supermarket to grab that one obscure food you’ll never use again!

I love that this book presents me with recipes that are unique and new to me (like fried okra, butternut squash fritters, orange cinnamon French toast, and much more), but it also features some of her most popular and perfected recipes (like her competition fried chicken). And yet, it does all this by sticking to a really reasonable list of staple foods and spices that you probably already have in your pantry.

Plus, any “non-staple” ingredients you need to buy for a recipe are clearly labeled (making shopping easier) and the instructions are both fun and clear which makes the cooking easier too. This is definitely a cookbook to look out for if you’re looking for recipes you can make without breaking the bank too since most ingredients are likely already sitting in your pantry. I have seriously high praise for this delicious cookbook that takes a lot of the hassle out cooking.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the Publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but that I’m no way affected my review.

I loved this cookbook. I will be getting a hardcopy to add to my library. I like that the recipes were not too difficult and the variety was great. My husband is vegan and I was able to find new meals to prepare for him

Yum! What an appealing collection of simple, accessible recipes! This isn't twee or fancy food--it's everyday, stick-to-your ribs fare, like the kind I grew up on the Midwest. The recipes are clear and easy to follow. This would be a great cookbook for young people just getting started in the kitchen.

I would have loved pictures of each recipe (about a third have photos) but they all definitely sounded tempting!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Staples + 5 is an intriguing and well written cookbook written by Tanorria Askew. Due out 2nd Nov 2021 from Penguin Random House on their DK imprint, it's 160 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is a really upbeat and useful cookbook. The idea is to have a well and simply stocked pantry with a range of staples which can form the basis of a good meal with the addition of 5 ingredients (or fewer). The first section of the book gives a good overview of pantry and staple building with specific ingredients and dried items to keep on hand. The list includes expected food items such as dried pasta, beans, baking products, oils, spices and condiments, canned goods, proteins, and dairy. She covers tools and supplies as well.

The recipes are arranged thematically in chapters: appetizers & snacks, main dishes, side dishes, condiments & fixin's, and desserts. Each recipe is presented with title and description, cooking times, yields, and serving sizes. Recipe ingredients are given in a bullet list sidebar. Measurements are given in American standard measures only. Ingredients will be easy to find at any moderately well stocked grocery store in North America. The recipes run the gamut from simple comfort (flaky homemade biscuits) to fancy (crème brûlée,). Many of the recipes have a southern cuisine emphasis and are simple homestyle cooking.

There is such a warm, inviting, friendly, and sharing vibe throughout the whole book. It's charming and the author's voice comes through clearly: welcoming, kind, and inclusive. I was impressed enough with the writing and style included here that I made it a point to go back and look up some of her media output on Masterchef and her podcast. She's very funny and warm (and professional) and I've become something of a fangirl since reading this book.

Lots of good ideas and techniques here. Keeping a stocked pantry and adding fresh or seasonal ingredients to the year-round staples is a logical way to cook.

Five stars.

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

A good book with some interesting ideas and a few recipes that might come in handy. Good ideas for the pantry and told in an interesting way. So when you get a chance check it out and enjoy a few recipes, that you might not have tried before.

The premise of this cookbook is that with a well stocked pantry and a few other ingredients you can turn out great food. The author provides a list of these pantry staples, as well as a list of nice to have items and an equipment list. The recipes are for the beginner cook as well as the more experienced. The recipes are well written and will appeal to a wide range of pallets. I can’t wait to try the Bacon Jam recipe.

I highly recommend this to all who are interested in finding record with the basics. I love the author's approach to focusing on a chef's pantry and basics, then expanding them to extravagant meals with only a few added ingredients. The author demonstrates her background, her experience, and shared stories along the way which are welcome.

I give 5 stars and highly recommend.

MasterChef Season 7 contestant, Tanorria Askew brings her love of food and family with her debut cookbook, Staples +5: 100 Simple Recipes to Make the Most of Your Pantry.

Starting with a properly stocked pantry, Tanorria shows you how to make show stopping, family and friend pleasing meals from what you already have in your kitchen, plus 5 fresh ingredients.

But Tanorria doesn't leave you without guidance on how to set up your pantry. She sets down a comprehensive list of what you should stock and why. Any chef knows the key to a great meal is great ingredients. The key to a great meal, fast, is having well-stocked pantry. And Tanorria shows you how.

But more than that, she shares the secrets of her recipes,and that secret is love. These recipes are all captioned with a story of how they came to be, or the family member that created the original, how it was passed down from grandmother to mother to daughter. From guacamole a friend craved while pregnant, to potato salad worthy to be included in the Church Ladies hall of fame, or her mother's decadent, Mom's Mac and Cheese, each of these recipes is built on love, and now passed down to you.

This is a soup to nuts cookbook, appetizers to desserts. It's a fresh take on Southern based, home cooking. These meals are to be enjoyed, and mostly, they're to be shared with those you love.

This is a fantastic cookbook of “basic” homestyle recipes with delicious and readily available ingredients, and with clear steps. Beautifully minimalistic cookbook with lovely photographs—and enough of them! We all know not to trust a book with too few, yeah?—that I’ll be gifting to my newly adult friends and family members.


Thank you to NetGalley and DK Publishing for the opportunity to preview this work!