Welcome!
We’re Cooking with Conks
Sisters + Recipe creators + home cooks
We’re Rachel and Emily Conklin, “Conks” for short, sisters sharing approachable recipes that make cooking feel clear, doable, and fun.
Our style is inspired by the bright, bold flavors we grew up with in Southern California: citrus, herbs, fresh produce, and punchy seasoning. But we focus just as much on clarity, with easy-to-follow steps so you can cook without second-guessing or getting overwhelmed.
Our recipes are relaxed, accessible, and welcoming. Not complicated or intimidating. Just good food, made doable. If that sounds like your kind of kitchen, you’re in the right place!
What you’ll find here
We built Cooking with Conks to make everyday cooking feel easier and more enjoyable. Here’s what that looks like:
You don’t need complicated techniques to make memorable food. You just need guidance you can trust.
New here? Dig in!
Each of our recipes walks you through the steps clearly, answering your questions along the way. They’re designed to build confidence without overcomplicating things. Start with some of our go-to recipes here:
01. Shrimp Tacos
30 minute taco recipe, great for busy weeknights and beginner cooks.
02. veggie couscous
Loaded with roasted veggies, goat cheese, and tossed with our favorite lemon vinaigrette.
03. Gnocchi Sheet Pan
Chicken breast, corn, and tomatoes tossed with simple spices.
04. Lemon Cake
Single layer lemon cake topped with cream cheese frosting and lemon curd.
Why We Started Cooking with Conks
We grew up in a family where every gathering revolved around food. Cooking was lively, a little chaotic, and always at the center of the action.
Still, we’ve had our share of kitchen mishaps along the way (including a small Cheez-It fire, don’t ask). We get it, the kitchen can be overwhelming sometimes, and we’re all looking for that Ratatouille moment where everything just clicks.
We started Cooking with Conks because we genuinely love cooking, and we believe it should feel fun, a little freeing, and like something you actually want to do, not just another thing to figure out. We’re here to help make that happen with clear steps and guidance you can trust.
So even if you’re hesitant in the kitchen, you can still grow into your own little chef, just like Remy (from Ratatouille, seriously watch it if you haven’t).
all about Emily
Emily fell in love with cooking in her high school foods class, where she started experimenting with flavors and learning how to make unique dishes. These days, she’s the one who can look into any pantry, fridge, or freezer and make something cohesive and delicious. She’s our primary photographer and videographer, a co-recipe developer, co-writer, and the unofficial flavor queen. When she’s not cooking, she’s usually checking out a new spot in town (and taking photos of the food), out in nature, or working on her latest creative project.
Favorite cuisine
Mexican
Go-to weeknight meal
Chickpea bowls or tacos
Signature kitchen move
Adding the final missing piece: acid, salt, or a little something sweet
Least favorite foods
Horseradish, wasabi
Kitchen pet peeve
When Rachel misplaces the lids to everything
Go-to pantry meal
Pasta, bean bowls, or soup
Favorite snack
Anything salty-sweet
Dream food destination
New Orleans
Bonus
As a kid, she played imaginary “kitchen,” making pretend food in the backyard. “Salads” were dry plants and “soups” had mud in them, obviously.
all about Rachel
Rachel got into cooking in college, but didn’t really fall in love with it until after graduation. These days, her specialty is pulling a dish together with a great sauce, whether it’s a quick salad dressing, a rich gravy, or something to take a burger to the next level. She’s our researcher, co-recipe developer, co-writer, and helps translate recipes into clear, easy-to-follow steps. When she’s not cooking, she’s usually checking out a new café, reading sci-fi/fantasy novels, deep into a great show, or planning her next meal.
Favorite cuisine
Thai
Go-to weeknight meal
Big salad or breakfast-for-dinner
What makes a meal complete
A great sauce that ties everything together
Least favorite foods
Green peas, spinach
Kitchen pet peeve
Smelling like food, especially when freshly showered
Go-to sauce
Ranch dressing or burger special sauce
Favorite snack
Chips and salsa
Dream food destination
Mexico City
Bonus
In a childhood classroom cookbook, she wrote a recipe that said the dish would be done “when it dings,” which still feels like a solid rule to follow.
Work With Us
We love connecting with brands that share our approach: fresh, flavorful, and simplified cooking. Our audience is made up of real-life home cooks who want to make good food but don’t always know where to start. That’s where we come in. We focus on creating clear, practical, and engaging content that helps home cooks feel confident in the kitchen. We create:
Everything we share is designed to make cooking feel more doable and a lot less overwhelming, without sacrificing flavor.
If that sounds like a fit, we’d love to connect via email. Or you can submit a message on our Contact page using the button below.
