Welcome to Jo Cooks where you’ll find delicious, tried-and-tested recipes for every occasion made with every day ingredients! They all come complete with step-by-step photo tutorials, videos and detailed instructions, all to help you succeed in your kitchen.
Jo Cooks has been around since 2011 and it started out as a place for me to store my recipes that I’ve collected over the years from friends and family. Here you’ll find hundreds and hundreds of delicious recipes, so make sure to check out the Recipes section and browse all your favorites!
People ask me all the time, what sort of food I cook and blog about. The truth is, everything. I cook anything and everything, and well, we eat everything, and if my husband and I can’t eat everything, there are plenty of friends, family or neighbours who love to help us out. I, most of all, love simple recipes with few everyday ingredients that you can either find in your pantry, or are easy to find at your local grocery store.
ABOUT JO
My name Joanna Cismaru, Jo for short, and I am the brains behind my food blog, Jo Cooks. I’m a writer, photographer, cookbook author and most importantly, I’m the cook that prepares all these scrumptious recipes that you can find here. My husband Remo, is the other force behind this blog. He’s the taste tester, IT genius, accountant extraordinaire and last but not least, my biggest supporter and pillar of strength.
We have a new puppy, his name is Han Solo and he’s just a ball of energy. We got him for our previous puppy, Indiana Jones, to have a brother, but unfortunately Indiana Jones passed away from Lymphoma earlier in the year. Our hearts are broken, he was only 3 years old and the best dog ever. Luckily, we still have Solo who’s helped us through this difficult time. He’s an Aussie Doodle, super smart and full of energy.
As long as I can remember I’ve always loved to cook and putz around in the kitchen. I’m seriously passionate about food and I do consider myself a foodie! I love all food and I will always try everything at least once, well maybe except bugs. I won’t try bugs and cats or dogs! But everything else goes.
I am totally self-taught and have no formal culinary training but I have been cooking for over 20 years. I’ve learned from my mistakes because there have been mess-ups in the kitchen, but I think that’s what makes us stronger and better at what we do. I love Julia Child’s style of cooking but I love to simplify meals, so that they are more attainable for the everyday cook.
MY PREVIOUS CAREER
In my previous career, I worked in the IT world doing software development, and while I enjoyed it, it was quite stressful. To relieve some of that stress, I always turned to cooking and baking, thus discovering my latest passion, and so this new “so-called” career evolved.
I am totally self-taught when it comes to cooking, though I have to thank my mom for teaching me the basics. I must say that I enjoy baking more than cooking so you will find quite a few baking recipes here. While I’m not a fancy baker I do love my breads and rolls and the occasional cake or pastry.
FUN FACTS
I was born in Romania, Transylvania to be exact. My family moved here when I was just a child. While I can honestly say I’ve never met a vampire, I do love my garlic. Here you will also find some of my favorite Romanian recipes that have been passed down to me from my mom and mother in law.
My husband and I met online back in the 90s when online dating wasn’t even a thing. Almost 20 years later we’re still happily married and together we’ve made all our dreams come true.
My all time favorite food is anything Italian like lasagna, pizza, any kind of pasta and bacon!
MY COOKBOOKS
The Big Book Of Jo’s Quick & Easy Meals
I wrote a new cookbook called “The Big Book Of Jo’s Quick & Easy Meals” and will be available on August 2nd, 2021. You can now PRE-ORDER it at:
30-Minute One-Pot Meals
If you love my recipes and would like more of my creations, you can find my first cookbook “30 Minute One Pot Meals” available to order.
You can order my “30-Minute One-Pot Meals” book at:
Hi Jo! I am excited to have found your website. I am in charge of making brunch for Mother’s Day, which is tomorrow, and about to make your Limoncello Lemon Cake for the dessert! Starting with a Sicilian-style Strata, Aperol Sprintz and Classic Bellinis for drinks. I couldn’t resist your recipe for the Limoncello Lemon Cake. It looks like the perfect addition for this brunch. Wish me luck!
Good luck! You’ll do fine! 🙂
Hi! I’m also Jo. I just made Creamy Avocado and Spinach Pasta. Ummmm…it was so good that I ate 2 servings, my husband ate it and he never eats pasta, and my 12-yr-old son raved. I didn’t have pecans, so I used pistachios. I’m looking forward to wandering through your website. Thanks for your interesting “About” story. Oh, Han Solo was my first pretend boyfriend when I was 9-yrs-old, then it was Indiana Jones. Lol.
Hi Jo! Loved reading this, thanks for sharing your thoughts and welcome to the ‘Jo Cooks’ world. We’re happy to have you among us!
Many of your recipes have shown up on a search and I have loved every one, although I confess that like most intuitive cooks I do tend to deviate! Are you Romanian? Your name looks like it. My dearest friend is from Turnu Magurele and I am trying hard to learn your language. Buna seara.
Buna seara, yes I am!
Hi Jo, I live in California but my family is from Romania. Thanks to your recipe, I am the “Sarmale Queen” in my family. When I make it, I always use your recipe, Jo, and it always feels like my Romanian ancestors are smiling down at me. Since you made it so easy to understand, I felt confident enough to try it, and I must admit, it’s delicious. Even my 22 year-old nephew asked to take some left-over sarmale for lunch to work today! So, that’s success. Thank you !!
Hi Shana,
This is just wonderful. Thanks for sharing this amazing story with us. So glad everyone enjoys the delicious Sarmale 😀
Great recipes, tried many and love them all. Hope you can answer a question. I have been trying to locate a recipe that I swear I found on your site, but when I recently searched the site I could not find it. The recipe is for Huli Huli Chicken. Did you ever list this on your site or am I mistaken? If it was yours can you please direct me to it. Thank You
Oh I’ve never had that one on my site, but it’s on my to do list. 🙂 Must have been another site you were looking at. 🙂
I tried the chicken divan recipe and we loved it. I can’t wait to try more recipes from you. Deb. Sailor Camargo IL.
Thanks, so glad to hear it! 🙂
I tried your No-Knead Whole Wheat Bread yesterday and it is wonderful! I have to learn how to get more oven rise, but it still made one heck of a ham sandwich! Thank you!
P.S. My husband is a diabetic and now I have a better bread to make for him, too!
We are so happy to hear that!
Do you have any sous vide recipes. Just bought a wand
Sorry, I don’t have any sous vide recipes, something to look into.
Hi, Jo. I can’t wait to cook bacon in the air fryer, but I have 2 questions:
1) Can you cook frozen uncooked bacon in the air fryer? At what temp and for how long?
2) Does the bacon splatter to the top of the inside of the air fryer?
1. Yes you can, same temperature, but after 5 minutes, you’ll need to separate the bacon slices and then they’ll probably need another 5 min or so, best to watch them so they don’t burn.
2. Mine didn’t, the basket is quite deep so I didn’t have any issues with splattering.
Hi Jo, I just stumbled on your site while chasing stuffed chicken thighs. Will definitely be making the lemon chicken picata. Do you have any quiche recipes?
I do, here are some:
https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/quiche-lorraine/
https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/cheesy-zucchini-quiche/
https://cravinghomecooked.com/easy-quiche-recipe/
I just made 30 minute skinny cashew chicken and I loved it. In fact, I love all of your recipes. I bought your 30-minute one-pot meals cookbook and I have already made at least 5 of the meals We must have the same taste in food. I have been having trouble finding flank steak in the grocery stores in Toronto, does it go under another name too. It looks like you have several recipes using it. I can’t wait for your new cookbook
Sometimes it goes by London Broil. I usually find it at Costco, they always have it there. Thank you for your support. 🙂
My first meal in my brand new Kitchen/ great room. Been working on this project for over a year.Awesome quick recipe.What a great way open up my Kitchen with this delicious meal. Thank you Jo. I will be digging into more of your recipes. Thanks again
My pleasure!
I want to make the crab cakes but not too sure if I should use the whole green onion (bulb and greens shoots). Please help me. I tried looking on line but it can be confusing.
You can use the whole onion, or just the shoots. Whatever you prefer. The bulbs have more of a pungent onion flavor so if you want them to be more mild, just use the shoots.
I receive your emails with recipes and I have saved the ones that I think I would like. Do your new cookbooks include these recipes, or are there completely different recipes in the books?
Hi Patsy! My first cookbook “30-Minute One-Pot Meals” is 80 recipes that don’t exist on the blog. My 2nd cookbook, “The Big Book Of Jo’s Quick & Easy Meals” is 200 of my favorite and reader favorites from the blog. Hope this helps.
I want to thank you for helping me get over the intimidation of Asian cuisine. Your General Tso’s Chicken was the first time I made Asian inspired cuisine and it was great my family loved it and there was nothing leftover.
It’s my pleasure, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!