Honestly before taking a look at this cookbook I had no idea who Heather Bell was, and outside of what I learned in the stories in this cookbook I still don’t. I don’t follow her and probably never will, but I am always looking for some good recipes that my family will enjoy. I have a family of four, so I will definitely need to cut these recipes down, but I will be trying some of them soon! The different casseroles and slow cooker meals really appealed to me and I think they are something my family would enjoy and be easy for me to put together in a hurry. I really enjoyed the layout and amount of pictures in this cookbook. I love when cookbooks have great photos to accompany the recipes and I wish there were a few more in this book but the ones included were great. If you are looking for some good American recipes, especially if you are cooking for a crowd or big family this cookbook is worth checking out. I cant wait to try some of these for myself.

In the intro, Heather Bell says she can’t believe anyone would want her recipes in a cookbook and I kind of agree with that, not in a mean way but just because this is the kind of food every mom made in the 80s and many of us make anyway without really needing a recipe. Think tuna casserole, breaded chicken and tater tot casserole. It’s not particularly healthy or original, and I don’t find it particularly tasty, but it’s standard American food and I know a lot of people like that and a lot of people don’t know how to cook the basics these days.

The book will be a big hit with her fans, I’m sure. I had not heard of her before but she shares a lot of stories about her kids and her personality shines through.

There are photos for about a third of the recipes. There is no nutritional information. The recipes use a lot of processed ingredients, meat, carbs, wheat, sugar and fat, so people with dietary restrictions may not find a lot they can eat. A lot of people will probably really enjoy the recipes though.

I read a temporary digital loan of this book for review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Adams Media for my copy of Mama Bell's Big Family Cooking by Heather Bell in exchange for an honest review. It publishes October 22, 2024.
I've been following Heather Bell on Instagram for years, so this book has been a very exciting one! Mama Bell is living the dream and I'm so happy for her! This book has beautiful and mouthwatering pictures throughout, there is something for everyone in this book. The anecdotes and stories about her family are so sweet and tender. This is truly a special book. I highly recommend this one!

This was a pretty book…the recipes look wonderful. I didn’t realize how big the portions were for each r3cipe and I do t have nearly enough people to feed but I did grab some to divide down because they looked so good. Anyon ho has a large family will really enjoy this collection

A large chunk of pages had blank squares on them (which is hopefully an ARC issue and will not be an issue with the actual digital version) which made it hard to read. However, the receipes look delicious - some real homey vibes and as someone who likes to make extra to bring to work for lunch the next day, I love how its pre-portioned to make more.

There are lots of great recipes here! Mama Bell focuses on meals for large families, and her recipes are tried and true for her family of ten. This is stick to your ribs, down-home comfort food—if you’re on a diet, you’ll probably want to find a different cookbook.

I enjoyed learning about how the Bells came to have eight children. The parents have really been instrumental in the the foster/adoption community in the north of Michigan, and it’s heartwarming to read about each of their kids.

I’ve got my eye on a bunch of recipes to try out. Warning, make sure you have cast iron pots & pans, salted butter, shortening and tons of cream cheese on hand. 😉😁

Thank you to NetGalley and Adams Media for the eARC. This review was written entirely voluntarily.

I had actually not heard of Mama Bell before this but was intrigued enough to check out her tiktok! This recipe book is so cozy and homely and I liked how every chapter is dedicated to a family member. I liked the layout, though I think there should be a picture for each recipe, and the recipes are easy to follow. While I found some of the recipes a bit strange and not things I would cook there are plenty to choose from

I have been following Mama Bell for years on instagram, and I have loved her homely, welcoming and delicious feed. To see the chance to get her cookbook, I jumped. This cookbook is everything. Mama Bell has a plethora of recipes, that as an Australian, i've never eaten and sort of sound bizzare (what on earth is a green bean casserole??) and yet I want to make everything. Absolutely everthing. I'm going to be inviting people over just to cook these giant recipes!

I've been following Heather on TikTok for a while now & when I came across this cookbook, I knew it would be filled with homely & heartwarming family recipes & that's exactly what it delivers. Each chapter is dedicated to a member of The Bells 10, which I think is a lovely touch.
The recipes look delicious & easy to follow, although I do wish every recipe included a photo (just a personal preference). The conversion table at the end is a useful addition.
I need to make the tater tot million dollar cast iron casserole & cowboy beans immediately.

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I want to thank NetGalley and Adams Media for the opportunity to review this book.

Wow! Momma Bell did it! I loved how Heather had each chapter dedicated to her family members. There stories are beautiful and personal. Heather shares her struggles and how she was able to adapt to any challenges. Heather has fun and well thought out meals that your family will love. Her recipes give you a sense of home! Congratulations on your beautiful story Heather and thank you to Adam’s Media and NetGalley for allowing me to ARC this beautiful book!