About
Hi! My name is Katie Parker, and if you’ve ever met me, then you know that I’m the kind of person who believes a home-cooked meal has the power to bring people together like any other. I’m 34 years young, raised in warm Santa Rosa, California, where the scent of fresh herbs in my mother’s garden and the smell of something browning on the stovetop were the background music of my childhood.
I wasn’t exactly a natural in the kitchen, to be honest. After I left my parents’ place, I used to think that “cooking” meant pouring cereal into a bowl or nuking leftover takeout from the fridge. All of this changed, however, the day when I had my very first full-blown “oops” moment in the kitchen. I was trying to make a quick spaghetti dinner for my boyfriend (now husband—so I must have done something right!), and I had tablespoons and teaspoons mixed up for the salt. We’ll just say we had pizza that night, but I laughed at it instead of crying. That single instance sparked something within me: I realized that cooking doesn’t have to be flawless—it is a chance to try, to play, to nourish the people you care and every now and then, to laugh at the little messes along the way.
I’ve committed myself to figuring out how to cook since then in a manner that will integrate into a genuine, messy, wonderful life. I’m not judging you for not being able to pronounce “quinoa” or for only having three hours to cook dinner. I’m here for the mothers who just want to get something on the table that the kids will eat. I’m here for the newbies who want to prepare dinner without it being a stressful experience. And I’m here to remind you that cooking can be easy, fun, and a little bit forgiving.
My recipes are a result of circumstances: quick, frugal, and basic enough for anyone to learn, even if you have a baby tucked under your arm. One-pot dinners, sheet pan suppers, and make-ahead wizardry are my go-tos. My style is a mix of comfort food staples with minimal injections of ingenuity so that things won’t get stale—such as a sprinkle of balsamic over roasted vegetables or using Greek yogurt in place of heavy cream.
Today I’m cooking for my family in the same kitchen my kids color at the table or my husband tastes beforehand. I see cooking as something that nourishes both the body and the heart. And if you’re reading this, I hope to make your kitchen a place where you feel confident, creative, and totally fine with the occasional “oops.”.
So welcome! I’m so happy you’re here. Let’s cook up something delicious together no fancy tools, no complicated steps, just good food for real life.