Emma’s Story, Founder of First Step Recipes!

Hi, I’m Emma, and I’m so happy you’re here.

You don’t need to cook like a pro..you just need to start.

Hi, I’m Emma Cooke, (Cooke is my husbund’s last name) , I am 37 yo and the voice (and mess-maker) behind First Step Recipes. I’m a home cook with a degree in nutrition and a deep love for food that actually feels good, without being fussy, filtered, or five hours long.

This blog was born in a tiny apartment kitchen where I once set off the smoke alarm making toast. True story. I didn’t grow up knowing how to cook, most of what I know came from trial, error, and lots of “what if I just add this?” moments. And that’s why First Step Recipes exists: to make cooking from scratch feel doable, even if you’re starting from absolute zero.

My goal? Help you cook real food, without the overwhelm.

You won’t find complicated gadgets or 20-step instructions here. What you will find are:

• Straightforward recipes that anyone can follow
• Ingredients you can actually find at a regular store
• A sprinkle of nutrition insight (without the food guilt)
• And a whole lot of “let’s try it and see” attitude

Because good food shouldn’t be gatekept behind chef hats or fancy plating. It should be fun, flexible, and fit your real life.

And yes, things still go sideways in my kitchen sometimes.

Burnt crusts? Been there. Forgot the salt? Last week. But every mishap is part of the process, and weirdly, part of the joy. You’ll never find perfection here. Just honesty, helpful tips, and encouragement to keep going, even when the sauce splits.

What makes this blog different?

I’m not just guessing. I bring real nutritional expertise to the table…so while the recipes here are about flavor first, I also sneak in tips for balance, energy, and everyday wellness. I believe food should nourish and delight.

So if you’re ready to make meals with more confidence and less stress, you’re in the right kitchen.
Let’s take that first step together and make something delicious, one easy recipe at a time.

Now for the fun part…this isn’t a solo project anymore.

My sisters, Molly and Jessie, have officially joined the kitchen crew here at First Step Recipes. Honestly, it’s been the best kind of chaos.

We all bring something different to the table. I’m the one with the nutrition background, and a habit of turning leftovers into something halfway impressive. Molly is our comfort-food queen. Her meals feel like warm blankets in bowl form (and yes, she always nails the seasoning). Then there’s Jessie…she’s bold, creative, and not afraid to throw in something unexpected just to “see what happens.” Somehow, it always works.

We’ve been cooking together forever, through holidays, late nights, toddler meltdowns, and more “what’s for dinner?” moments than I can count. And now, we get to share that love of real, imperfect, feel-good food with you.

Emma C, BSc Nutrition From The University Of Manitoba & my sisters too.

About Molly

Co-Creator, Comfort Food Queen, and Cozy Chaos Manager

At 34, Molly is the emotional heartbeat of our kitchen. She holds a BA in Family Studies and spent nearly a decade working as a community support coordinator, where her gift was turning people’s bad days into better ones, with food. That same warmth shows up in every dish she makes.

Molly is our comfort-food queen..bakes, brunches, and big-batch casseroles that taste like home. Her meals are built on instinct and memory, not measurements, and somehow always hit the spot. Her style? A blend of Midwestern comfort and quiet mastery: creamy soups, soft rolls, baked pastas with crispy corners, and pies that disappear before they cool.

When she’s not in the kitchen, Molly is likely gardening, flipping through vintage cookbooks, or hosting “Soup Sundays” for the whole crew. Her favorite motto? “Bake like someone’s coming over, even if they’re not.”

About Jessie

Co-Creator, Visual Food Stylist, and Kitchen Daydreamer

Jessie grew up seeing the world through a lens, sometimes literally. At 28, she’s the creative eye behind many of our most vibrant dishes, shaped by years of working in the art and photography scene. After earning her Visual Arts degree from UBC, she spent nearly half a decade styling food and capturing stories for indie cafés, local bakeries, and artisan cookbooks.

Her background isn’t just aesthetic, it’s instinctive. Jessie doesn’t plan meals the traditional way. She might start with a color scheme or a texture she wants to explore. One time, it was the swirl in a ceramic bowl that inspired a raspberry glaze. Another day, it was the light hitting a loaf of seeded rye at 4 PM. That’s how her brain works, spontaneous, visual, and full of flavor.

Before joining First Step Recipes, Jessie wore many hats: freelance content creator, food photographer, styling assistant, even workshop host for small businesses trying to find their brand’s “look.” Her portfolio was full before she even started collecting recipes.

Now, in our kitchen, she’s the one reaching for edible petals, grabbing that one unexpected spice, or plating like she’s about to shoot the cover of a cookbook. She doesn’t just bring beauty to the table, she brings soul.