This is a great cookbook by a guy who grew up on an Iowa farm and still lives in Iowa that recreates standard Midwest dishes in a somewhat bougier, healthier, modern way. It’s very wholesome, with stories for every recipe and lots of photos of his extended family. The recipes are all straight out of those church cookbooks (often literally) and the typical 80s style dishes in farm country like goulash (pasta in a tomato meat sauce, often with kidney beans if you’re from the Midwest) and glazed carrots, but they have all been updated. There’s a fair amount of even more old fashioned recipes like fresh bread, butterscotch pudding and real egg noodles too.

I appreciated that Wyse made a lot of the recipes healthier, like using cream cheese and Monterey Jack cheese instead of velveeta in a dip recipe. And in most cases he worked to make them taste much more interesting, like updating 7 layer salad to something that includes most of the original ingredients like hardboiled eggs, bacon and peas, but has a fancy homemade dressing and nut clusters.

On the other hand, that means that all of those super simple dishes many of us grew up with are no longer simple. Now there are 3 times as many ingredients, and sometimes more expensive ones at that. Now there is red wine in the meat sauce for the lasagna and Gruyère cheese in the scalloped potatoes and ham. I frequently found myself thinking these recipes were obviously designed by someone without kids or demanding outside jobs, and who obviously has money.

There are photos for every recipe (and additional photos of him with his mom, sister and her kids). There is no nutritional information (always an automatic deduction of a star for me).

The dishes are very much Standard American Diet. This would not be well suited for people with allergies or vegetarians. There is quite a heavy use of wheat, cheese and meat.

Wyse seems very likable and friendly. He talks so much about his extended family, community and growing up in church (he went to a Mennonite high school and college) but the lack of any talk about his own current life and the people in it made me a bit sad, because it felt like he didn’t feel safe sharing those aspects of himself with his fan base or readers.

All in all, it’s a great cookbook with homemade recipes that look and sound delicious. It may not be for every day but it would make a great contribution to the cookbook shelf.

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

Kaleb Wyse’s debut cookbook feels like a warm hug from the heartland, filled with recipes that celebrate simplicity and tradition. Rooted in his Midwestern upbringing, these dishes are a beautiful blend of nostalgia and practicality, perfect for today’s kitchens. Kaleb’s approach reminds us that slowing down and savoring the process of cooking can be just as rewarding as the food itself. With comforting casseroles, hearty mains, and sweet, nostalgic desserts, this collection is a love letter to timeless family recipes that anyone can enjoy.

Kaleb Wyse writes his cookbook in a way that feels cozy, warm, and inviting. Reading this cookbook you feel invited to take a seat a his table. You can tell this cookbook is written with a lot of heart. The photography is very well done and that is an important component that some cookbooks lose points with me for is neglecting to have good photos. There is a good variety to the recipes which are simple and approachable for most people. This is the cookbook I want to read while curled up by my fireplace, sipping some tea and planning the meals for my family.

Thanks to Netgalley, Kaleb Wyse, and William Morrow Publishing for the E-ARC.

Pretty cookbook with a lot of very delicious looking recipes. A great gift too! I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I'm absolutely enjoying this cookbook! It's so personal yet so inviting. It's as if I'm sitting at the family table with them and just enjoying the stories and, of course, enjoying the food. The dishes are definite comfort dishes, most of what you will recognize and want to try the author's version of it.

These are such accessible recipes and the photos are screaming such relaxing family times. It was interesting that the author put the salad section after the main dishes and sides and snacks and those bread section...just lovely. My absolutely favorite part is that he starts off the breakfast section with Overnight French Toast Stick Casserole and that set the whole feel to the book. Yeap, bookmarked that one to try out.

There are no gimmicky ingredients or dishes, so this is great for everyday recipes and just wanting to put a great meal on the table. Really liking. this cookbook for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this cookbook. All opinions are my own.

As a Midwesterner this book really warmed my heart. I really enjoyed the introduction which is essentially an essay on growing up in the Midwest and the cooking culture that exists here, I saw myself and my family reflected in the authors words. The food photography was lovely but it was really the pictures of his farm and the land that made my heart sing.

The recipes were ones that were familiar to me, but made modern in their approach and ingredients. I can see this book getting loved on and covered in notes and food stains in the future, and that is a big compliment.

There's always room at the table can best be summed up as Midwest favorites modernized. As a rural Midwest home cook, I appreciate fresh takes on old favorite recipes and love the way this cookbook is organized. Couple this with ingredients that are readily available from your local basic grocery store versus a trip to the specialty grocer or waiting on an Amazon delivery and you have a delicious winner. The author’s introduction to his family gives some great insight into the inspiration for his recipe remakes. His clear, concise directions are easy to follow for both novice and experienced cooks. I tried several of his recipes and all were a resounding success. Stunning photographs accompany each recipe providing mouth-watering inspiration. With this title, author Kaleb Wyse, breaks the Midwest, “meat and potatoes mode of dinner and offers fresh takes on many Midwest favorites. Here are a few dishes that I enjoyed creating and tasting:

Overnight French toast stick casserole-I would never have thought of serving it this way, what a game-changer for kids and grownups alike.

Peach Cobbler Baked Oatmeal, great way to use the season’s bounty of peaches, though canned or frozen would work beautifully.

Mom’s Meatloaf-yummy twist on a classic Midwest staple. No Midwestern cookbook would be complete without this recipe and the meatloaf sandwich recipe that follows is stellar!

Roasted Asparagus on toast with whipped goat cheese has me anxious for my spring asparagus patch to produce. I prepared this with store-bought and it was to die for!

Sausage, Fennel & Apple Bierocks-Just what is a bierock,? Find out via this yummy hand-held sandwich, move over Hot Pockets there’s a fun, hand-held sandwich in town!

Crispy-Topped S’Mores Bars- let’s not forget dessert and the fact that sometimes it’s just too darn cold in the Midwest for a campfire; thus this succulent indoor version fits the bill.

All of these recipes are beautifully presented with many options for make-ahead preparation so that you can go about the rest of your day while mealtime is prepped and ready to enjoy.

**One note that would have been great to have addressed is the difference between pork loin and pork tenderloin. Experienced cooks may know this, but a novice might not and there is a huge difference in these two cuts of pork which could lead to a recipe disaster.

Special thanks to NetGalley and William & Morrow for this advance reader copy.

This is a nice farmhouse recipe type of cookbook, and has a few recipes I haven't really seen other places. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for honest review.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I found many of the recipes that my parents made growing up in the midwest but they are more elevated in this cookbook.

I first heard of Kaleb on Instagram. I loved his farm and his food.

This is a beautiful book full of gorgeous photographs, delicious food, and stories. I love the stories of the women in his life who shaped him.

As for the book itself, I loved every single recipe. If I could only have one cookbook, this would be the one.

Simple, easily sourced ingredients and simple, fresh food. A really good book.


NetGalley/ William Morrow/ Harvest March 04, 2025

Thank You to NetGalley for this free e-ARC.

I love Kaleb's Instagram and he does so many amazing things on social media from recipes, to plants, etc. The book does not disappoint! His personality shines throughout this book. The photos are amazing and he joins his love of recipes, tweaking them, and involving his close-knit family and their stories. It is such a fresh breath of air to read. Ingredients are easy to find at the store or even maybe in your backyard. I love how the recipes are intermixed with family stories of canning and preserving, gardening, cooking together, and such gorgeous photos. I felt like I was cooking right along with them. I have some recipes marked to try and the recipes do not appear to be difficult. The recipes look and sound so delicious.

I am always looking for new and fun recipes to try on my family and I’ve definitely found some in this cookbook! The variety of recipes in this cookbook gives me plenty of options no matter what the mood. I haven’t tried any of the recipes yet, but everything seems simple and detailed in the recipe which should make it easy enough to try some of these out. I loved the pictures accompanying each recipe. I always love seeing the pictures of the food so I know what I am making. The layout of this cookbook was simple and nicely laid out. I can’t wait to try out some of these recipes and see jut how good they are. I’m glad I came across this cookbook and think it’s a good choice for anyone looking for good food without a lot of fuss.

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

This is a wonderful cookbook full of easy to make recipes that are still delicious!

This is a stunning cookbook filled with heartwarming stories and beautiful pictures not to mention great recipes. I love the emphasis on family and how family shapes not only who we are but how and what we cook. The family introductions were great and a unique feature in a cookbook. I also appreciate that the recipes feature readily available ingredients. The recipes were nostalgic everyday recipes that remind me of home. There is a great variety of recipes that would appeal to many different people. I especially liked the “left over recipes.” I think this book would make a great gift. I would definitely recommend this book.

Wyse says at the start of this cookbook that the recipes are updated classics using ingredients locally available anywhere. That caught my eye. Some of the recipes are reminiscent of my own family recipes. Honestly I didn’t read all the text (Who reads all the cookbook text other than editors?) but what I did read was well written. Great pictures illustrating every recipe and some of the farm. Great and very doable recipes with everyday ingredients.

I loved reading through Wyse's cookbook and making plans to bake so many of his recipes. His Instagram feed is always inspiring and his personality shines through in the book. I cannot wait to purchase it for my own library!