What you’ll find here
Fun Facts About Me
Born In Romania
Born in Romania, Transylvania to be exact and moved here when I was a child.
Meet Han Solo
We have a 3 year old Aussie Doodle and his name is Han Solo!
My Favorite Food
My favorite food is anything Italian, but most of all a good homemade lasagna.
Software Developer
In my life before blogging, my full time gig was as a Software Developer.
My Cookbooks!
Check out my two cookbooks with hundreds of easy restaurant-quality recipes perfect for busy weeknights to feed you and your family.
Reader Favorites
No Knead Bread
The easiest No Knead Bread! You guessed it, no kneading required! 4 simple ingredients, all baked in a Dutch Oven resulting in a bread that is simply perfection! Hands down the best bread you’ll ever eat!
Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls
These Cinnabons Cinnamon Rolls are a cinnabon copycat recipe and about the closest you’ll get to the real thing. Super easy to make.
Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
This Oven Baked Chicken Thighs recipe is a force to be reckoned with! Simple and deliciously baked chicken with a mustard, honey glaze – this dish is definitely going to be a top-contender in your weekly recipe planning!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Made You Start Your Blog?
It was actually my husband’s idea. I had a lot of recipes from my mother and mother in law on notebooks that I always lost, and whenever I needed one I could never find it. The blog was actually a means of storing my recipes so I never lose them again. This turned into a hobby, the hobby turned into a passion and the passion turned into this blog that I love. The rest is history!
How Can I Support You?
Just keep doing what you’re doing. Come visit my blog, check out my recipes and have some fun in the kitchen!
I Love Your Recipes! Do You Have A Cookbook?
Thank you! Yes, I have 2 cookbooks! You can find out more information about them and how to order them here.
I Have A Recipe Question. Can You Help?
The best way to get your question answered is to actually comment on the recipe page with your question. I try to answer all the questions myself. You could try emailing me, but sometimes emails go to spam so I might miss your emails and your questions can go unanswered.
How Do I Print A Recipe?
There is a print button at the top of each post and at the top of each recipe card.
Is Blogging Your Full Time Gig?
Yes! I’ve been blogging full time now since 2015 and I love everything about it. It’s super crazy busy at times but I love every minute of it.
I’m A New Blogger…Can You Give Me Some Advice?
My best advice to you is love what you do, and be consistent. It’s not easy and it’s not going to happen overnight, but if you keep working hard at it, it will happen.
Can I Use One Of Your Photos On My Website?
Sure, I don’t mind as long as you credit my blog.
Looking To Collaborate?
We love to partner with brands we love and that are a fit with our readers. If you’d like to work together, please contact us at info@jocooks.com.
Can you make the “Sex in a Pan” the day before and freeze it for the next day?
Absolutely, you can make “Sex in a Pan” the day before and freeze it for the next day. Just make sure to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. When you’re ready to serve, you can either thaw it in the refrigerator for several hours or at room temperature for quicker results. The texture and flavors should remain pretty much the same. For more tips like this, be sure to check the post itself! Enjoy!
, can you use regular cake mix like lemon or yellow cake mix with the lemon bars instead of angel food?
Great question! The angel food cake mix is unique in that it already has egg whites and other leavening agents in the mix. That’s what gives these lemon bars their signature light and airy texture. Using a regular cake mix like lemon or yellow would result in a denser and possibly less airy bar. That being said, if you don’t mind a different texture, feel free to experiment with other cake mixes! Just follow the directions on the box for additional ingredients like eggs or oil that the regular mixes may require. Let me know how it turns out if you give it a try! 🍋🍰
Hello, Jo!
I’m wanting to let you know one of your links appears incorrect: The healthy recipes ‘browse all’ link on your homepage actually leads to Christmas cookie recipes! Now, I do adore a good cookie, but sometimes I need a little inspiration for something to balance out the sweets! 😉
Lovely website you have though. Every recipe I have tried has been fantastic! Thank you!
LOL Thanks for catching that, all fixed now.
Hi,
You moved here from Transylvania as a child. Where is ‘here’?
How far and wide are your supporters? Personally I’m in Liverpool England so do sometimes have to google some of your terminologies.
Hi there! It’s great to hear from you all the way from Liverpool, England! By ‘here’, I mean Calgary, Canada. It’s wonderful to know that my recipes have reached you across the pond. Your support is truly appreciated and it’s fantastic to see the love for my recipes reaching so many corners of the globe.
where can I see the video re: instant pot bread?
Sorry but I don’t have an instant pot bread recipe.
Hi Jo~ I’ve been a user of your recipes for ~4 years. You like the same tastes as I do and I always know going into it that I can trust any recipe of yours. Thank you for putting in the work. I’m just beginning to plan a trip to Romania with my husband. I know you’re not a travel blogger but do you have any particular favorite spots that we shouldn’t miss? Whether something as small as a favorite local restaurant or a great store or a park or anything, I’d love to hear it. Love to you! Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
Firstly, thank you so much for your trust and continued support over the years. I’m thrilled to know you’ve enjoyed the recipes!
About your upcoming trip to Romania, that’s fantastic! It’s a beautiful country with so much to offer. However, I should mention that it’s been quite a while since my last visit, so the restaurants or local spots I used to frequent may have changed or even no longer be in operation.
However, I will say that you should definitely explore the old towns in cities like Brasov and Sibiu, visit Bran Castle (often associated with Dracula), and don’t miss the stunning landscapes of Transylvania and the Carpathian Mountains. Romania is also well-known for its monasteries, especially those in the Moldova region, like the painted monasteries in Bucovina.
As for food, make sure to try some traditional Romanian dishes such as sarmale, mici, and papanasi. Have a wonderful trip and I hope you fall in love with Romania just as much as I am.
How do I read your blog?
Hello, thanks for your interest in my blog! Reading my blog is simple:
Navigating the Blog: You can start by visiting the homepage of my website, where you’ll see my most recent posts. From there, you can explore different categories or recipes by using the menu at the top of the page.
Search: If you’re looking for something specific, use the search bar usually located at the top or bottom of the blog. Just type in what you’re looking for and press enter.
Categories: You can also browse my blog by category. Categories are often listed in the menu or the sidebar. Just click on a category that interests you to see all the posts under that topic.
Subscribe: If you want to make sure you don’t miss any posts, you can also subscribe to my blog. There’s usually a place to enter your email on the homepage. Once you’re subscribed, new posts will be delivered directly to your inbox!
Love these blogs, super helpful
Just happened upon your blog and enjoy it very much. Wanted to say Thank You!
Thank you, I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
Hi Jo! Nice to meet you. My name is also.. Jo ☺️ my husband is Cantonese and I have been looking for a good chow fun recipe all over and stumbled upon your blog. Your recipe is my favorite!! Wondering how you got into Cantonese cooking or where you learned it from! -Much love, Jo
Hi Jo! All self taught here, I love all Asian food, so years ago I started cooking it myself and have never looked back since. I learned from watching the food network, surfing the web and just a lot of trial and error. 🙂 Glad you’re enjoying the recipe. 🙂
I just came across this website on Pinterest and I find this absolutely fabulous and I haven’t even begun to explore what a pleasure it is to know that there are some Cooks out there who actually care about the actual people and what they eat and what they enjoy.
Hello! I’m over the moon to hear that you’ve found Jo Cooks and that you’re excited to explore the recipes. It’s absolutely true, the joy of cooking isn’t just about the food, but the people we share it with. It’s all about creating dishes that not only nourish our bodies, but also bring joy to our tables. I aim to create recipes that are accessible, enjoyable, and delicious, so it’s fantastic to hear that you appreciate this approach. Thank you so much for your kind words, and I hope you find many recipes here that you and your loved ones will enjoy. Happy cooking!
Recently bought an Air Fryer and am thoroughly enjoying it at age 90. Will you be publishing recipes, etc for this very popular Kitchen Appliance?
Hello! I’m absolutely delighted to hear that you’re exploring the world of air frying at 90, that’s fantastic! You’re absolutely right, air fryers have become quite the popular kitchen gadget. I do indeed have recipes tailored specifically for the air fryer. You can find all of them in my Air Fryer category. I hope you find these recipes helpful and delicious. Enjoy your culinary adventures with your new air fryer! 😊
Balsamic Pork Scallopini Over Creamy Noodles…bought ingredients on Sunday but the recipe is no longer available. What happened?
I had deleted a long time ago, but I brought it back since you’re asking for it. Here you go: https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/balsamic-pork-scallopini/
Thank you very much for responding. This definitely won’t be your only recipe I try. So many of them look great.
Love your garlic and paprika chicken but we could do with more sauce should I just double it
For sure, maybe even add some chicken broth if you don’t want to double the oil.
Hi Jo, I loved your recipe for mushroom and sausage mini breakfast quiches but it has disappeared! Any chance of it coming back? Thanks.
Hi there! Yep, I’ll have a new recipe later this year for them. 🙂
Is it ok to use buttermilk in your easy Texas Sheet Cake?
Yes you can!