Hi there, I’m Lisa!

Rather than opening my own restaurant or catering company, I decided to start a food blog. A place where I can share all of my recipes and things that I have learned about cooking over the years.

My hope is to get you out of your comfort zone, and show you that cooking at home is not as complicated as you might think. I do not have any formal training, I am a self-taught cook. When I say “If I can do it, so can you” I mean it!

When I started in Cooking with Curls in 2012, my intention was a Clean Eating blog with all healthy recipes. That idea went out the window when I got sucked into the world of link parties, food holidays, and the popularity of sprinkles and food drizzled with chocolate!

Not that desserts are bad, but vegetables are better and my new motto became “sometimes healthy, sometimes indulgent, always delicious!”

What you will find on Cooking with Curls

All recipes include step-by-step images within the post with complete instructions to guide you as you make the recipe at home.

Restaurant recreations – I love recreating my favorite restaurant meals at home like my Classic Diner Burger, Double Shrimp PastaChicken Bryan and Beef Tenderloin with Tomato Butter Shrimp and Grilled Corn Relish.

Whole30 and Paleo recipes – I did my first Whole30 Challenge in 2016, and actually dove head first into Paleo recipes long before that. This past January I had an epiphany and decided to eliminate carbs from my diet by switching to a Keto lifestyle with great success! I started a second blog, Yummy Healthy Keto in May 2019 for all of my Keto recipes, and continue sharing Whole30 and Paleo recipes here on Cooking with Curls.

Dinner for Two recipes – Scaled down recipes that are perfect for date night, like Shrimp Scampi topped Filet Mignon and Orange Glazed Cornish Game Hens.

Instant Pot recipes – I currently have over 100 Instant Pot recipes with Faux-tisserie Whole Chicken and Hard Boiled Eggs being two of the most popular recipes on Cooking with Curls!!

Foods from around the world – I love changing things up and trying foods from all around the world! Some of my favorites are: Chicken au ChampagneMongolian BeefShredded Beef Chimichangas, and Moroccan Orange Cake.

If you love all thing pineapple and coconut, check out my Tropical Pina Colada Recipes page where you will find everything from cocktails, cakes and even main course recipes.

Apprehensive about making gravy? Check out my Beef Gravy page which oddly enough contains links to all of my gravy recipes along with tips and answers to common questions about how to make the perfect gravy.

Note: All recipes on Cooking with Curls are developed, tested, photographed, and written by me! I do not purchase recipes, food images, or blog posts created by others.

As seen in:

My Favorite Things

Favorite place

The Ocean

Favorite movies

Harry Potter

Favorite tv show

N.C.I.S.

Favorite HOliday

Thanksgiving

Fun Facts About Lisa

A mom with two awesome kids and  two one very furry dogs!

Daughter of two British parents, so I did not grow up eating traditional “American” meals.

Southern California native that currently calls Hawaii Eastern Iowa Arizona home.

Reformed junk food junkie trying desperately to repair the damaged caused by too many years of eating highly processed, nutrient void, chemical laden, FDA approved trash. Okay, maybe I eat American after all.

Cookbook collector –  I have HUNDREDS of cookbooks that I read like novels…..I should probably seek counseling.

Dinner Party Diva –  I have been compared to the Barefoot Contessa more than once.

Research Queen – if I have a recipe idea, I search the internet. If I have a health problem the doctor’s can’t figure out, I search the internet.

Kitchen gadget collector – if it is made for the kitchen, I probably own it…..I wonder if there is a support group?

Severe allergy sufferer – trust me, this will come up a lot.

Please feel free to leave comments or email me at lisa (at) cookingwithcurls (dot) com to ask any questions that you may have.

Please note we are currently not accepting any guest posts.

Thanks so much for visiting,

Lisa

Headshot of Lisa Johnson