SCRATCH THAT

embrace the mess, cook to impress

IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING…

WOW WOW WOW. Yesterday was a huge day for me—FOR US. If you missed it, I finally announced what I’ve been cooking up over the past couple of years (yes, YEARS!): my debut cookbook, Scratch That: Embrace the Mess, Cook to Impress Technically, it took me SIX YEARS because I started writing it when I quit Tasty, but I wasn’t quite ready to bring it fully to life: doubts, fears, imposter syndrome— you know, the usual. You may have been wondering why I’ve pulled back on posting recipes, and the truth is, I’ve been pouring my heart and soul into this project, channeling all my creative energy into this cookbook. I’m so proud and excited to finally share it with you!

SCRATCH THAT

This book is more than just a collection of recipes. It’s a reflection of my journey—one that’s taught me that life (and cooking) is messy, and that’s exactly where the good stuff happens, I like to say there’s magic in the mess. It’s kind of like the opposite of Marie Kondo + delicious recipes—we are embracing the chaos of the kitchen: the spills, the burns, the experiments, and the learning that comes from it. If you love to cook, this book is for you. If you don’t love to cook, this book is also for you, because it’s not about being perfect. It’s about finding joy in the process.

I remember the response when we posted our first Behind Tasty video. Millions of people watched me mess up in the kitchen, learning from trial and error. It was real and authentic; we didn’t have any other motive than to make you laugh and share a recipe. I never anticipated that those millions of people would tell me they were inspired to cook because they saw themselves in me—not perfect, but showing up anyway. That’s what I hope to do again through this cookbook.

When I set out to create a cookbook, I only wanted to do it if I could match the energy of each page with the energy of my videos. Somehow, we managed to do just that. Scratch That is full of bright, bold colors, stylized messiness, and creative recipes that reflect all the chaos and fun of my cooking journey. You’ll find mistakes and spills, but it always ends in delicious food. Shoutout to the incredible team who helped me bring Scratch That to LIFE!

(seriously, you guys are going to die at these photos!!!!!)

This cookbook is all about breaking the rules and having more fun in the kitchen. There are enough rules in life (sigh) so let’s let loose and embrace the messiness of cooking and life. Letting go of the pressure to be perfect is where I find my true creativity, and I want to inspire you to do the same.

Here’s what you can expect from Scratch That: over 100 recipes—creative and unique, each one is filled with flavor, fun, and a bit of chaos. It was important to me to write everything myself; there are personal essays and anecdotes, so you can read it from front to back like a storybook, or you can just drool over the beautiful pictures with every recipe (plus a few extras because pictures are my favorite part). You can cook with it, spill on it, learn from it, and laugh with it. YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO SCRATCH THAT COOKBOOK UP!

DID I MENTION THE PHOTOS??!?!?!

Each recipe also comes with a "hot tip"—basically a mistake I’ve made so you don’t have to. It’s one part chaotic, one part funny, two parts inspirational, and twenty parts delicious. And for all of you who know me from my videos, I’ve added some behind-the-scenes "on set" shots because that’s where so much of this journey started for me. You’ll get a peek into the fun, messy process of bringing recipes to life on camera!

While there are a few Persian recipes included (a little nod to my current life), this cookbook is truly a love letter to my Tasty days—full of easy, approachable, and decadent recipes that bring back all the fun, nostalgia, and deliciousness from those moments in the kitchen.

Now, my ask to you: you've been with me along this entire journey, and I couldn't have done it without your support. Listen I know it’s quite ridiculous to ask you to buy a book that doesn’t come out for another 6 months but hear me out— preordering the book means so much more than just a sale. It’s a huge part of what helps a cookbook succeed. Preorders tell bookstores how many copies to stock and get publishers excited, which helps give the book a boost when it launches. Honestly, the whole process behind a cookbook is wild (& long). From choosing recipes to testing (and re-testing!), writing, and editing—it’s a true labor of love. And seeing those preorder numbers roll in feels like the ultimate validation that this massive, messy project is something you want to be a part of.

PLUS, IF YOU PREORDER, I HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF GOING ON TOUR, WHICH MEANS I WILL GET TO MEET ALL OF YOU IN PERSON!!!! SIGN YOUR BOOKS, TAKE PICS, LAUGH, CRY, MAYBE THROW A DANCE PARTY, WHO KNOWS!

PREORDER SCRATCH THAT

It’s been a roller coaster. I’ve gone through doubts, tears, fears, so many no’s, hope, excitement—all the feelings... and even a very late in the game TITLE CHANGE (more on that later) But I arrived at Scratch That, and it couldn’t be more fitting.

So, thank you for sticking with me while I put my heart and focus into this project. I hope Scratch That inspires you to take the pressure off, learn from my (or your!) mistakes, and become a better cook.

You’ll have to wait a little longer for the big day—publishing on April 22—but I promise you it’s worth the wait! I HOPE YOU ARE AS EXCITED AS I AM!!!!!

With love (and a little flour everywhere),
Alix