Hi and Welcome to TBFS!

I’m Lauren Allen, and this little corner of the web is my online kitchen! Here at TBFS, we have a small but dedicated team that work hard to provide quality recipes to you, for free! We are so happy you stopped by.

Where It All Began

The name “Tastes Better From Scratch” is courtesy of a motto ingrained in me by my Mom. I don’t think it was until I moved out of the house that I realized you could buy things like “pre-made” pie crusts or store bought jam. She taught me well that everything really does taste better homemade. I love that it’s healthier and more affordable, too.

This blog was born out of my desire, along with my twin sister, Liz, to save our families treasured recipes online. Today, Liz and I are grateful to work together in managing this growing business, and we proudly employ a team of people who help make it possible.

Tastes Better from Scratch has continued to grow both in front of and behind the scenes. We have been fortunate to develop a loyal and diverse readership that brings more than 10 million readers per month and our social following continues to grow on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Youtube. We’ve been featured by USA Today, Country Living Magazine, Yahoo, BuzzFeed, MSN, and others.

The Path That Lead Me Here

After graduating with a Bachelors degree in Journalism, I worked for a magazine publication and an organic foods distributor. Along the way I started compiling my favorite recipes on a blog and eventually decided to make this blog my full time business.
Part of my passion for food also comes from having traveled to many places all over the world and trying all types of different food. Food has an amazing way of helping us share and discover different cultures even if we are unable to visit in person. Growing up, my mom cooked a variety of international dishes including Thai, Indian, and German food.
While living in Spain for a few months I learned how to make several classic Spanish dishes (e.g. Paella, Tortilla de Patata, Torrijas). I also had the chance to live in Mexico and was fortunate to learn from locals how to cook some truly authentic Mexican dishes including Mexican Rice and Tamales. I'm so thankful for all of those experiences.

Our Mission:

Our mission is to help bring the JOY back to cooking.

With the right recipe and tools, cooking is FUN! Our recipes are approachable for every skill level. any level of cook.

Meal Plans: We are proud to offer FREE weekly meal plans that include a grocery shopping list with budget information. You can create your own meal plan with your favorite recipes, or you can use our preset meal plans, and even customize them in case there’s a recipe you want to swap out.

If you’d like to receive a free meal plan to your email each week, subscribe here.

It’s Because of you:

Every recipe you make, and every click, comment and rating on my website supports my business, and allows me to provide this content for free. You’re feedback is invaluable; If you’ve made something you enjoyed, I would greatly appreciate if you leave a comment and a star rating on the recipe!

FAQ’s

Do you have a cookbook

We are so excited about the Tastes Better from Scratch Cookbook! Peek inside and purchase it here.

What’s your go-to recipe for hosting guests?

I love this questions and I get it often. I think it depends on the situation!
– Fancy-vibe: Braised short ribs
– Cozy-vibe: Chicken Cordon Bleu
– Summer-vibe: Grilled Hawaiian bowls or kabobs

What is your favorite cooking equipment?

Having the right equipment makes all the difference in a successful cooking experience. I’ve listed my favorites, and must-haves on my amazon page!

Why should I create an account? What do I get?

Creating a free account allows you to save recipes, customize meal plans, create your own meal plans or recipe collections, and generate your own grocery shopping list. Get started here!

What meal do you bring to a family in need?

When someone is sick, grieving, had a new baby, etc, I like to bring something fresh and healthy, like grilled chicken tenders with roasted vegetables, wild rice, fresh fruit or artisan bread. If they have young children or picky eaters, a “build your own” taco bar with taco chicken, ground beef, or sweet pulled pork with good tortillas and all the sides (salsa, pico, guac, rice, refried beans).

Favorite healthy recipe?

This is difficult because we have lot’s of healthy dinner recipes, but lately i’m obsessed with these Spring Roll Bowls!

How often do you share new recipes?

You can find new recipes and refreshed older recipes at least 3x a week. You can find our newest recipes at the top of our homepage or you can join our email list to have them shared with you weekly or each time a new one is published.

How do I participate in your meal plan challenge?

Our weekly meal plan challenge happens on facebook and IG where each week you can share a meal you’ve made from that weeks meal plan for a chance to win $50 towards your groceries that week. If you’d like meal plans emailed to you weekly, subscribe here!