Hey, I’m Emma Rayfield. I’m 35, living in a little house just outside Santa Rosa, California, where the evenings smell like rosemary and the neighbors trade lemons over the fence. I never planned on being the “cooking person” in my friend group, but here I am, apron on, Spotify playing in the background, and usually a dish towel slung over one shoulder like I know what I’m doing.

I didn’t grow up in some foodie family. We had a microwave that did most of the heavy lifting, and dinner was often whatever was fastest. The first thing I ever really “cooked” was spaghetti with garlic, so much garlic my brother asked if I was trying to kill vampires. But that moment stuck. It felt good to make something, even if it wasn’t perfect. Especially because it wasn’t perfect.

It wasn’t until my late twenties that cooking became a real part of my life. I was burnt out, working retail, and just needed something to do with my hands that didn’t involve folding sweaters. I started playing around in the kitchen, nothing fancy, just little things. Scrambled eggs. Roasted veggies. Banana bread that overflowed in the oven. Every time I messed up, I learned a little more. And honestly, that’s what hooked me, not the flawless recipes, but the beautiful mess of figuring it all out.

Now I cook every day. Sometimes it’s a full spread with candles and jazz, and sometimes it’s a grilled cheese on a paper towel while standing at the counter. Both count. That’s what I try to share with beginners and food lovers like me, this idea that cooking doesn’t have to be intimidating. It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to feel like you.

I love cozy, familiar food with little twists. Mac and cheese with smoked paprika. Cornbread with a bit of honey and jalapeño. Stuff that makes people go, “Wait, what’s in this?” and then ask for seconds. But more than anything, I love helping people feel confident in the kitchen. Whether it’s your first time using a knife that’s actually sharp or you’ve just never roasted a chicken before, I’ve got you.

So, if you’re here because you’re curious, hungry, or just tired of ordering takeout again, welcome. This is a judgment-free, flavor-loving, beginner-friendly space. Let’s cook something together. Mistakes and all.