Absolutely amazing cookbook!!

Positives:
*Pictures with every recipe
* Easy to follow instructions with accessible ingredients

Not so great (imo):
* That cover doesn’t do the inside justice. There were tons of better looking meals inside. While I’m sure the cover meal is delicious, it’s not a looker. The colors are muted.

That’s my only ehh. I’m definitely working my way through this entire book.

This is the kind of cookbook any beginner needs to have on hand or, honestly, anyone who has been cooking a while who needs a refresher or some easy from-scratch recipes. It's organized well, makes cooking easy, and I love the recipes. I highly recommend and appreciate Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to read and review.

This is not a cookbook I necessarily needed. I am of an age that growing up if you wanted some of these dishes you had to make them from scratch. But I don’t think the fact that some of the recipes are familiar is the reason this is such a good cookbook. What made it enjoyable was that it matches at least 3 of the most important things for me to buy a cookbook. It’s easy to read and understand. There are many other hints of what to do with a recipe, will it freeze, can I make less, etc. And most importantly, it has wonderful pictures.

This is a beautiful cookbook. I received an eBook version, but I love the book so much, I plan to purchase the hardcover to add to my collection. Each recipe has a photo which is so helpful. There is also a QR code which links to a video. I tried the Snickerdoodle recipe and it was amazing. I can't wait to purchase this cookbook. I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary eBook from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

Tastes Better From Scratch is THE cookbook you want to gift for this holiday season! I love this little gem! The book features 116 beautifully photographed recipes. Lauren offers make-ahead suggestions, substitutions, and freezer tips and provides a QR code for each recipe that links to a how-to video - brilliant!

All recipes I tested were easy to follow, used staple ingredients, and completed in the allotted prep/cooking time listed at the top of each recipe. I make this point because, too often, a recipe says 45 min prep/cooking time, and an hour and 30 mins later, we are finally eating. Personally, I don't need that added stress while cooking during the week. So thank you for your accuracy!

Well, glossing over the fact this was presented on netgalley in the wrong format, I was able to see proof of a very decent recipe book. It covers much of the basics and yet goes so much further – one minute it's knocking up some breakfast pancakes, the next it's full-on artisanal-style bread; one instance it's pasta and whatevs, the next it's a spaghetti pie that looks like a cheesecake gone wrong.

Practically, this is very useful – slow cooker alternatives are present where at all possible, freezing and pre-planning advice is all over the place, and many dishes get a QR code leading to a step-by-step video. You don't get the full-on nutrition of other books, but the ethos here is to make sure you can eat lots of things, in a balanced and moderate way, as opposed to format your meals round any specific diet.

Also, the author leaves her personality and autobiography to the side – there is the barest minimum of chat before each recipe, and beyond too many baby photos and suchlike there is nothing to be culled. A perfect lesson for so many cookbook creators who have to gloat about finding a magical recipe gifted to them by a ninety year old that they saved from drowning in the waters off Thailand, or whatever bilge they come up with for their dishes' derivation.

This, then, is a book to be commended. It won't teach the expert much, although it does go for the quirk once or twice – a soup with all the tastes of a lasagne, f'instance. I'd recommend it as a purchase for someone who doesn't have a cookbook to their name – it is fairly involved at times, but doesn't call for any specific and ridiculous equipment or ingredients, and if you're gifting this to someone who has a broad church in food and yet only needs to know they can cook one curry for now, as an example, this should definitely lead to success and a really positive impression.

I thoroughly enjoyed these recipes! I thought they were interesting and easy to follow. The ones I made turned out great as well! I'd recommend recipes out of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to review it!

Lauren Allen touches on the basics in TASTES BETTER FROM SCRATCH making it a great pick for a new cook. Many easy recipes with readily available ingredients. My favorite kind of cookbook.

Makes a great shower gift!

I really liked this cookbook! Sometimes I struggle with cookbooks that have a bunch of recipes where I don't know what the ingredients are or where to find them. I loved that when she did use some ingredients I was not familiar with she listed some tips of easy places to find them at stores anyone would have in their area (like Walmart). I also appreciated that the recipes while being somewhat international were not intimidating as far as instructions and time to make them. I think this is a cookbook my family will be excited to try some new recipes out of.

This was a great cookbook all around. I loved how the entire cookbook was laid out including pictures for the recipes this is a must for me in a cookbook. One of my favorite things that sets this cookbook aside from many others that I have read is that it had directions for freezing your meals which makes breakfast and meal time runs so much smoother with small kids! The pumpkin bread recipe was amazing! I can’t wait to get more of the recipes.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

There are so many amazing recipes in Tastes Better from Scratch Cookbook by Lauren Allen. The directions are super easy to follow and there are no crazy hard to find ingredients. The photos were very well done as well. I highly recommend this cookbook to the foodie in your life!

I loved everything about this cookbook. The recipes are all easy to make and include photos throughout which I always look for in a good cookbook. I'm really looking forward to using this cookbook in the upcoming months. This would make the perfect gift for the foodie in your life!

A very attractive cookbook with gorgeous pictures accompanying every recipe. There are clear, complete instructions and great tips for things like how to cook by alternate methods (e.g. grilling v. cooking in the oven), how to make it ahead, and how to freeze the completed dish. There is a range of types of food, from standard classics to ethnic food. .Highly recommended! Many thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for an e-ARC of this lovely book!

Beautifully put together-a perfect cookbook! Basic cooking techniques explained well, good instructions and easy to read recipes combine to make this book a joy. The required ingredients are easily available. The recipes themselves are good, solid ones that anyone can use. The illustrations are very well done. And there's not a lot of "fluff" that has little to do with actually cooking. This would be the perfect gift for anyone who enjoys cooking!

Absolutely love this cookbook. The French Dip sandwiches were incredible, my kids and partner all loved it! We look forward to trying so many of these recipes

As someone who enjoys collecting cookbooks, I oftentimes find myself overwhelmed at the steps, ingredients, and time involved in cooking at home. When I laid eyes on the cookbook from Lauren Allen, I found myself pulled in by the simplicity of the recipes.

Let’s face it - when you cook at home you will find yourself in a rut. A repetitive cycle of preparing the same dishes each week because time isn’t always on your side. Allen’s cookbook reminded me that sometimes the simplest of recipes can carry you through the week so you can avoid that fast-food trap we often gravitate towards.

The recipes in this cookbook are simple and easy to follow. With beautiful photos and QR codes that take you to videos of the meal preparation, how can you go wrong? I have tried out many of the recipes found between the pages and have had rave reviews from the pickiest eater in the house (my husband)!! The is a wonderful ‘everyday’ cookbook that everyone should add to their collection.

There were a lot of great recipes in this book. It’s definitely something I’d love to have on hand because it has a lot of comfort recipes. Really appreciated the easy freeze directions too!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary digital copy of Tastes Better from Scratch Cookbook.

First of all, it’s nice that this cookbook is exactly what the description promises: easy, mostly whole-foods based recipes that can be made during a weeknight. No cream of X soups mixed together, no obscure ingredients you have to go to a specialty market for, and almost all of the recipes can easily be tweaked for the kids of the family (or served as is).

In short, this is a cookbook of things I would actually make and include in my regular rotation. This is not for the advanced cook or cook that has a ton of cookbooks… but it’s great for people who are trying to cook more at home and need a go-to resource for reasonably healthy, not outrageously expensive or extremely difficult meals for the family.

This is a great family cook book. Recipes that would delight children and parents! I would recommend this book as an educator who gives parents advice. If they are looking to expand their picky eaters palate then this is the book for them!

I found this book to be beautifully produced. The pictures of the food were enticing. The recipes looked easy to follow and provided enough information to be able to create the food. I only gave this 4 stars because most of the recipes had ingredients that I either don't like or can't have due to allergies. There are several recipes that look interesting and the pictures are wonderful. Give this a go, I don't think you will be sorry.