About

Welcome to Emmy Cooks!  You can see some of my favorite recent recipes by clicking the “My Favorite Recipes” category on the sidebar (here are April, May, and June).  If you like what you see here, you can sign up on the sidebar to receive a daily recipe by email and to follow Emmy Cooks on Facebook or Twitter.

I love to cook.  And eat, of course.  But I have a passel of charming small children (where passel=3), and once that third one came along it suddenly seemed like I never had enough time to cook the kind of meals I wanted to eat.  Delicious.  Healthy.  Delicious.  (Did I say that already?)  And easy to make–at least most of the time.

I thought that with better planning, we might not end up eating so many dinners of scrambled eggs.  Scrambled eggs with a tumble of veggies and charred poblano peppers laced with a salty, spicy chile de arbol oil, maybe–but still, scrambled eggs.

I started this blog to motivate myself to start cooking more again.  To remind myself how enjoyable it is, and how easy.  I’ve been using this space to tell you about the very best of the many things I’m cooking, and in exchange for the daily recipes I share, I hope that you’ll give me some great ideas about what to cook next!  Or at least tell me some funny stories.  In the olden days (read: before kids), we used to cook for hours, stuffing handmade pasta for ravioli or pounding our own curry paste or reducing fancy sauces.  I’m not talking about that.  I’m talking about just making dinner.  And probably a lot of cookies.

I’m usually the cook in our family these days, so we follow my peculiar dietary guidelines: Yes vegetables!  No red meat!  Yes fish with fins!  No shellfish!  Maybe chicken.  I haven’t eaten meat for years but I think I should try to introduce my children to some protein sources beyond yogurt and edamame (and those scrambled eggs, of course).  So yes chicken!

And there’s this: I’m a reasonably experienced home cook.  And a busy mom.  And maybe something that tastes salty to you tastes perfect to me.  So my recipes say things like “a pinch” and “a handful” and expect you to know what to do when I say to sauté chopped greens with garlic and hot pepper flakes.  But listen, if you ever have a question, just ask and I will happily provide a more detailed explanation.  I want to answer your questions, because I want you to be able to make the recipe as delicious as I thought it was.

You’re looking for great recipes?  Hey, I’m looking for great recipes too!  Let’s share.  I’m ready to get cookin’.

Emmy cooks in Seattle, where she raises children, chickens, and–occasionally–a ruckus.  You can reach her by email at emmycooksblog at gmail dot com.

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125 thoughts on “About”

  1. a toast and tea

    I also started my blog to inspire myself to cook a greater variety of things more frequently, and it has certainly helped – I hope yours does the same for you, and I look forward to reading more of your posts!

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  2. thegentlehome

    I really like your blog and am interested in seeing what you will make! I’ve thought too about limiting meat and eating healthier (but my husband loves meat :) ) So maybe I will get some good ideas from your blog!

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  3. chezmaree

    Hi there, thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday…I like the look of your blog. I too try to cook healthy, delicious, creative food in the limited time I have, and I don’t even have kids! We’re all time poor these days it seems. All the best :-)

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  13. musingmar

    What a lovely blog! I, too, have a ‘passel’ of children, all grown up now, but I’m still cooking for them. Passing my recipes and food memories on to them is what inspired me to start my blog. I’ll enjoy following yours, and I hope you find some recipes on mine that go over well with your family!

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    1. emmycooks Post author

      How sweet, I’m sure your children are so happy that you are recording the recipes and traditions they grew up with. And I did enjoy looking through your blog. I love perusing recipes, it always inspires me to cook–or, in this case, find some blood oranges to juice! :)

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  14. thatssojenn

    I love what you say about “a pinch” and “a handful”–I always struggle with that thought when writing my recipes since I never measure when I’m cooking for fun. And as someone who was a vegetarian for 7 years, I love all these great veggie options and can’t wait to try some of them! :)

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    1. emmycooks Post author

      Thanks, Shira–what a nice compliment! I’m glad that you are liking what you see here. I love your blog too, both the idea that living with a little less can be equally or more satisfying, and the reminder that we who are fortunate should give to those who are not. Both are so true.

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    1. emmycooks Post author

      Thank you so much, Deb, what a nice compliment! As you know, I love yours as well. Thank you for all the good recipes and tips! (Sorry for the delayed reply, but I somehow missed a few comments as they came in–but what a nice surprise to find yours!)

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    1. emmycooks Post author

      What a nice compliment, Nicole! Thank you so much. I especially appreciate your shout out because I think that YOU are such a lovely and inspiring writer. I always enjoy your posts (even though they make me cry sometimes) and I am glad to get to know you and Emmy and your platypus. Platypuses? Platypi? :) (Sorry for the delayed reply–I am obviously not staying on top of the comments so well!)

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  21. Kim Reuter Lieberman

    Emmy! Your mom served your Meyer Lemon Olive Oil Cake at dinner the other night. Needless to say, we all loved it. It is now Donny’s favorite cake. He’s coming home after a week of traveling, so I’m going to surprise him with it!

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    1. emmycooks Post author

      Thank you so much! What a compliment. I just saw your marmalade recipe and I am so excited to try it. Crystalized ginger, of course! I am proud that a woman who makes such amazing marmalade enjoys reading my blog. :)

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    1. emmycooks Post author

      Hi Sarah! Thank you for such a nice compliment. I love reading people’s posts about themselves–my favorite drink is water, too. Except in the morning, when it’s hot water infused with caffeine. :)

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    1. emmycooks Post author

      Thank you so much! I love your great ideas for feeding our families, so I’m glad to hear that you’re enjoying reading along here as well! And hey, what do you know, we have the same favorite drink! (Although coffee is a close second for me.) :)

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    1. emmycooks Post author

      That’s so nice of you guys! I love reading your blog as well and look forward to your next adventures. I just hopped over there and noticed that your most recent posts haven’t shown up in my reader–I unsubscribed & resubscribed and hopefully that will fix it! And I like your art gallery. :)

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  34. dinnerversions

    Hello,
    I’ve just stumbled across your lovely blog…and was excited to see you’re in Seattle too! I’m amazed and impressed at how prolific you are. I’ll be coming back! Best regards, Lisa

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    1. emmycooks Post author

      I’m so glad you did! Partly because it’s always fun to meet my neighbors but mostly because I love your website–both the recipes themselves and your smart technique of making one meal work for various demands. I’ll be reading through the archives to get more ideas for how to do that more around here, thanks!

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      1. dinnerversions

        Thanks. We try really to just make one meal with parts that work for everyone but it’s definitely tough sometimes and there are nights when we have an ‘everybody has whatever they want’ dinner!
        BTW, I was thinking about attending the BlogHer Food conference June 8-9 here…are you going? Have you ever? Is it worth it?

      2. emmycooks Post author

        Yes, I just signed up! I have never gone but thought it would be fun to learn a few things and meet some new friends. Let me know if you decide to go!

  35. shuhan

    I love the health focus of your blog, and best of all, you make it work with kids and all that busy schedule! I came over from your blog from the mindfulfoodie, and am glad I did. will be checking back for sure. love the “yes fish with fins” haha. we need to learn to appreciate to eat the whole animal, not just fillets, or worse still breadcrumbed fingers!

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    1. emmycooks Post author

      Thank you! I just had a look at your recipes page and I see so many I want to try! It’s so fun to “meet” people around the world who have soup recipes to share with me. :)

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  36. Lori DiNardi

    Hi Emmy ~ Just wanted to pop in and let you know that I decided to put up my stuffed artichoke recipe today. I know you said it sounded like something you’d like so I thought I’d let you know just in case. Have a great weekend.

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  38. leroywatson4

    Hello Emmy,
    I’m sure you’ve had this award before, but we can’t help it,
    we love your blog and your dedication to all things delicious!
    The Beach House Kitchen has nominated you for a
    ‘Versatile Blogger Award’ (http://versatilebloggeraward.wordpress.com/).
    The Versatile Blogger Award is a great way of meeting other like-minded bloggers and getting folk to have a look at your pages (I believe it is known as ‘traffic’).
    The rules for the Versatile Blogger are as follows:
    If you are nominated, you’ve been awarded the Versatile Blogger award.
    -Thank the person who gave you this award
    -Include a link to their blog
    -Select 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly
    -Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award
    -Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself
    Thats it!
    Congratulations and happy blogging,
    Lee and JaneX
    http://www.thebeachhousekitchen.wordpress.com

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  39. unwind cooking

    Sounds like my kind of cooking blog. Today I scarcely had time to eat a bowl of oatmeal squares with sliced strawberries which lasted until the evening before I realized we should probably have another meal other than cereal. Working from home with small children (I just have one) is not glamourous. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

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  41. Jittery Cook

    We do seem to have a great deal in common, including our blog theme! I hope to visit Seattle some day! And I have chicken envy. There’s no keeping chickens in the city of Montreal!

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  42. cendriani

    Hi Emmy ! Thank you for stopping by my blog. I like your blog and those healthy and delicious recipes. I’m a busy Mum at home, too. I like easy, quick and healthy recipes and organic foods. ;)
    Cendriani

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  44. monique

    Emmy:

    Great blog and lots to try out. I will forward this to my friends and staff. But do you cook what you post everyday? Keep at it.

    Monique

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    1. emmycooks Post author

      That is a nice compliment coming from an accomplished cook like yourself! I’m looking forward to enjoying some of your cooking quite soon, in fact. :) I don’t cook every day, although I’m very impressed by people who do. And lots of things I cook don’t end up on this blog–just the good stuff! But between breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and treats, I definitely find that I cook plenty in a week to keep these pages full.

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      1. emmycooks Post author

        Stefan, thank you so much for the kind words about Emmy Cooks. I enjoy cooking with you so much!

        As much as I appreciate the honor you have bestowed upon me, and Conor’s excellent math, I cannot pass this award along because selecting only two blogs (or even 7 or 15 blogs, honestly) that I love best is impossible. What I love is all these people cooking and sharing their recipes and tips and experiences and photos with me as if we were all in one big kitchen together. What a dream come true, to be able to learn from so many experienced and enthusiastic cooks! Thank you for all that you are contributing to my education. :)

    1. emmycooks Post author

      Hi Laura! A belated thank you for this nice compliment. I love your artwork and the fact that I’ve gotten to know it via the blogosphere–I always love the dose of whimsy when your posts show up in my reader! I’m posting the link here so others can check it out as well: http://blog.laurawooten.com/ Thank you again!

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    1. emmycooks Post author

      Thank you so much! I was touched when i saw that post in my email I’m so glad to hear that you’ve been enjoying reading!

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  60. emmycooks Post author

    Hi Sue! Thanks for your note and the offer. I don’t do fitness product reviews on my blog so I don’t think this is a good fit–but I should probably try something like this in real life so I’ll keep an eye out for it! :) Take care.

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  61. soulofspice

    I love your pix on the header of the 2 pasta dishes. what are they, and I just followed you as I love to cook healthy & beautiful meals too! Look forward to reading more of your recipes..

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    1. emmycooks Post author

      Holly, you flatter me so! You’re so sweet. I’m glad to have this website mostly because it’s connected me with extraordinary bloggers like YOU!

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  70. Teresa

    I’ve recently switched my food blog over to be self-hosted which I hope will make it more user-friendly in the future. As a result, if you were following Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen via email, WordPress, or using RSS feeds through Google Reader or some other way, you are no longer subscribed. If you wish to continue receiving future posts from my blog you will need to re-subscribe. Sorry for the inconvenience, Teresa.

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  73. tinywhitecottage

    I can tell I am going to love your blog. :) I’m a fellow Seattleite and it will be fun to see what you are doing with our seasonal provisions. I saw some great recipes in here and I agree with every single restaurant choice you mentioned.

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  74. laurasmess

    ….you know, I would be very happy eating scrambled eggs every day if they were made the way you described above! Yum! I’ve been quietly reading your work for a while, but after today’s blog post I felt that I had to let you know what a wonderful writer you are. Such beautifully crafted images accompanied by wonderful, nourishing and delicious recipes. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us Emmy. Hugs from Australia xx

    Reply ↓

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