About Sophie Parker from Recipes & Cooking
Hi there! I’m Sophie — the messy bun behind the apron here at Recipes & Cooking.
If you’re craving feel-good food made with everyday ingredients and a whole lot of heart, you’re in the right place.
I’m a 36-year-old home cook, mom of two (plus one mischievous tabby named Waffles), and a full-time flavor enthusiast living in the suburbs of Chicago. I didn’t go to culinary school — my training happened standing on a kitchen chair next to my grandmother, learning how to “eyeball” flour and “feel” when the dough was right.
These days, my mission is simple:
👉 Help you rediscover the joy of homemade meals
👉 Keep things real, even on your busiest days
👉 Prove that comfort food and fresh, healthy-ish meals can totally coexist
🍲 What Cooking Means to Me
To me, cooking is about connection — not perfection.
It’s hearing “Mmm, what’s that smell?”
It’s the scraped-clean plates and the seconds no one asked permission for.
It’s feeding your people, even if that “people” is just you after a long day.
I believe in:
- Simple ingredients you already have
- Practical recipes that work the first time
- Balanced meals that don’t feel like a chore to make (or eat)
- Sweet treats — because life without cookies is just salad
Everything I share has been tested and approved by my taste-testing crew (a.k.a. my kids and husband — the toughest critics out there!).
🥄 Why I Started Recipes & Cooking
After too many years of stress-filled evenings and too much takeout, I decided to take my kitchen back — one simple recipe at a time. I wanted meals that made life easier, not harder. That felt comforting but not complicated. And most importantly, that actually got eaten!
So I started writing things down, tweaking my family recipes, and creating new favorites from scratch. That’s how Recipes & Cooking was born.
Now this space is my happy place — and hopefully yours too.
📌 What You’ll Find Here
- Weeknight dinner ideas you’ll actually want to make again
- Family-friendly meals (with picky-eater tweaks!)
- Cozy comfort food, made a little lighter
- One-pan, slow cooker, and air fryer recipes that save you time
- Seasonal baking and simple desserts that hit the sweet spot
💌 Let’s Connect
Got a question? Want to share your version of a recipe? Just feel like chatting about cinnamon rolls vs. banana bread?
I’d love to hear from you!
Reach me anytime at [email protected]
Thanks for stopping by my kitchen. I hope you stay a while, try something new, and always leave full.
– Sophie Parker 🍴