Writing about myself has always been a struggle for me, even back when I was a working professional photographer and needed a bio page for my website. Plus, you know, it feels really weird to write about myself in the third person like I’m not sitting right here behind the keyboard! So instead of writing out some weird “I’ve been cooking since I was 3” bio, I’m going to set it up as a question and answer/FAQ kind of thing. I will likely add to this as time goes on. Let’s get started!
The Basics
Who are you?
I’m Kara. I’m a middle-aged white woman (she/her) living in a north suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. I was born in Dallas, Texas; raised overseas in Singapore, South Africa, Greece, and Angola; went to high school and college in Austin, Texas; and then lived in a bunch of different states (Alaska, Oregon, Louisiana, Arizona) before finally settling here in Georgia.
I used to be a professional photographer, but now I photograph for me and for pleasure. I’m a data geek and analyst for my day job. I love photography, food, gardening, reading, and traveling.
Who else lives with you?
I live with my partner Zach, our pit bull Remy, and two cats—Callie (an opinionated torbie) and Finn (an orange tabby derp cat). Callie and Finn are littermates we adopted as feral kittens. Remy is a rescue we adopted when he was barely three years old.
My partner and I share two homes: a cute little 2-bedroom townhouse that we rent out to a friend and a larger older colonial house on some property with a creek, about 7 miles away. Our lives currently take place at the house on the creek, where we also have the garden and “the Barn” (our DIY garden shed).
Why Blog?
Why a blog?
Why I blog is a question with a complex answer that has changed over time.
Back in 2007/2008 I was making big changes to my life. My career path was changing, my marriage was ending, and I had taken control of the one thing in my life I could, which was food and exercise. In that particular year I lost a little over 100 lbs. I lost that weight while still being what some people would call a “foodie,” and a lot of people around me were curious as to how I achieved that. If you ever saw the first iteration of my blog—the basic WordPress one—that was mostly what I blogged about: food in relation to diet, health, and fitness.
Sometime around 2012 I got tired of blogging. My life was changing yet again and conventional wisdom was that blogging was “dying.” I pretty much abandoned the blog, although every year for many years I made a New Year’s Resolution that “this is the year I get back to blogging.” I just couldn’t find the joy in it, though.
Skip ahead to 2022 and The Time of Covid. I realized that Facebook and Instagram had, in many ways, taken the place of blogging for me, but I missed the “long form” of the blog. I started thinking about what I actually wanted to write about and share, and I decided to give it another try.
Here we are in 2026, and I’m finally committing to consistent blogging with a content calendar and everything. We’ll see how it goes!
What’s this blog about?
Food, primarily. Recipes, cooking techniques, what I’m making, what I’m eating, how I think about food.
But also: gardening, health and weight loss, my pets, home projects, books I’m reading, and life in general. And yes, politics, because food is political whether we want to acknowledge it or not.
Food & Cooking
Why do you cook?
I love food. I love eating good food, I love cooking good food, I love sharing food with people I care about. Cooking is creative, meditative, and productive all at once. Plus, when you cook at home, you control what goes into your food, which matters when you’re trying to eat in a way that makes you feel good.
What kind of food do you cook?
All kinds. I don’t stick to one cuisine or style. You’ll see everything from Southwestern-inspired dishes to Asian-fusion to classic comfort food to whatever I’m experimenting with based on what’s in season or what sounds good.
I’m not a trained chef. I’m a home cook who’s been cooking for a long time and has learned through trial, error, and lots of reading.
Are your recipes healthy?
Some are. Some aren’t. I’m not interested in making everything “clean” or “guilt-free” or whatever the current diet culture buzzword is. I’m interested in making food that tastes good and makes me feel good—sometimes that’s a grain bowl loaded with vegetables, and sometimes that’s my sous-vide deep-fried Thanksgiving turkey.
Balance, not perfection.
Do you do sponsored content or accept free products?
Not at this time. If that changes, I’ll be transparent about it. I only recommend products I actually use and like.
Health & Weight Loss
I noticed you talk about weight loss. What’s your approach?
I’ve lost weight multiple times in my life using different approaches. In 2007/2008, I lost over 100 pounds through diet and exercise. I gained some of it back over the years (thanks, COVID and menopause).
In March 2025, I started taking Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a GLP-1 medication. As of early 2026, I’ve lost 71 pounds. My partner is also taking it.
Are you a doctor or nutritionist?
Nope. I’m just someone sharing my own experience. Always talk to your own healthcare provider before making any health decisions. I can tell you what works for me, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for you.
Why do you talk about GLP-1 medications?
Because they’ve changed my life, and I think the stigma around them is harmful. Taking medication to help with weight management is no different than taking medication for any other health condition. I’m open about my experience because the more people talk about it, the more we can reduce the shame and judgment.
Also, if you’re taking a GLP-1 medication, you still have to eat, and what you eat still matters. So cooking and food choices are very much part of that journey.
Will you share your exact diet/workout routine/medication dosage?
I’ll share general principles and what works for me, but I won’t give specific medical advice. Everyone’s body is different, everyone’s needs are different, and what works for me might not work for you. Talk to your doctor.
The Garden
What do you grow?
Vegetables, mostly. Tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, asparagus, herbs, greens—whatever I can manage in Georgia’s climate. I also grow flowers for pollinators and because they’re pretty.
I’m experimenting with intensive planting in 2026, which means planting more densely and mixing flowers in with vegetables to attract beneficial insects.
Do you have a greenhouse?
No, but I have “the Barn”—an 8’x12′ shed that Zach and I built from scratch in 2021. I’ve converted part of it into a seed starting station with grow lights, heat mats, and proper shelving.
Can you help me with my garden problem?
Maybe! I’m not an expert, but I’m happy to share what’s worked for me. Keep in mind I’m gardening in Zone 7b/8a in Georgia, so your mileage may vary depending on where you are.
Politics & Values
Why do you include politics in a food blog?
Because food is political. Who grows it, who has access to it, who can afford it, how climate change affects what we can grow—all of that is shaped by policy and politics. I’m not going to pretend otherwise.
Also, this is my blog, and I get to write about what matters to me. If you’re only here for recipes and want to ignore the political stuff, that’s fine. But I’m not going to hide my values to make anyone comfortable.
What are your political positions?
I believe in LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, racial justice, climate action, immigration reform, and universal healthcare access. I’m liberal, I oppose Trump, and I vote accordingly.
If that bothers you, this probably isn’t the blog for you, and that’s okay. I have a whole post about where I stand if you want more detail.
Will you debate me about politics in the comments?
No. Respectful disagreement about policy approaches is welcome. Bigotry, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and cruelty will be deleted. I don’t owe anyone a platform for hate, and I’m not interested in debating whether people deserve basic human rights.
This is my space. I set the boundaries.
Pets
Tell me about your pets!
Remy is our 5-year-old black and white tuxedo pit bull. We adopted him as a rescue when he was barely 3 and weighed 56 pounds. He’s now a solid 71 pounds of muscle and cuddles. He’s afraid of turtles and falling leaves, loves everyone, goes to doggy daycare on Tuesdays, and is the world’s biggest velcro dog. He also chews shoes and unrolls entire rolls of paper towels if given the opportunity.
Callie is our opinionated torbie cat. She had CCL surgery in 2025 and made a full recovery. She rules the household with an iron paw, and both Remy and Finn know she’s in charge.
Finn is our orange tabby derp-cat. He and Callie are littermates we adopted as feral kittens. He has a “bro relationship” with Remy and is generally the most chill member of the household.
Why do you have a pit bull?
Because Remy needed a home, and we needed him. Pit bulls are wonderful dogs who get a bad rap because of breed stereotypes. I have a whole post about life with a pibble if you want to know more.
Random Questions
What camera do you use?
I’m currently not shooting professionally, so I’m using whatever I have handy—often just my phone. When I do pick up my “real” camera, it’s a Nikon Zf mirrorless. I’m a sucker for the retro look of it and the ease of use.
What’s your favorite recipe on the blog?
That’s like asking me to pick a favorite child! But I will say I’m particularly proud of [you can fill this in as you develop favorites].
Can I email you?
Sure! You can reach me at kara@karacooks.com. I can’t promise I’ll respond to everything, but I do read all my messages.
Do you take recipe requests?
Sometimes! If it’s something I’m interested in or think I can do well, I might give it a shot. No guarantees, though.
Why don’t you use [ingredient/technique/tool]?
Either I haven’t tried it yet, I tried it and didn’t like it, or it doesn’t align with how I cook. I’m always learning and experimenting, so maybe you’ll see it in the future!
Can I share your recipes?
Yes! Please share links to the blog. If you’re adapting or republishing recipes elsewhere, please give credit and link back.
AI & Content Creation
Do you use AI to create content?
Yes, and I’m completely transparent about it. I use AI (specifically Claude) as a writing and organizational tool. You can read my full post about how and why I use AI for details, but here’s the short version:
I use AI to help me brainstorm, organize my thoughts, overcome blank page paralysis, edit, and refine my writing. I have ADHD, and AI helps me work with my brain instead of against it.
What do you use AI for?
- Organizing scattered thoughts into coherent structure
- Getting past the blank page
- Editing and refining drafts
- Finding and developing my authentic voice
- Managing executive dysfunction
What DON’T you use AI for?
- Generating recipes I haven’t cooked
- Creating personal stories or experiences
- Deciding what I believe
- Faking expertise I don’t have
- Publishing content I haven’t reviewed and made my own
Every recipe has been cooked by me. Every personal story is mine. Every opinion is mine. AI helps me express these things more effectively, but it doesn’t create them.
Why are you so open about this?
Because transparency matters. A lot of bloggers use AI but don’t tell you. I think that’s dishonest.
Also, I use AI in my day job as a data analyst—I’m actually required to use it. It’s a tool, and refusing to use tools that make me more effective would be self-defeating. The question isn’t “should we use AI?” but “how do we use it responsibly?”
Doesn’t that make your content less authentic?
I think it makes it more authentic, actually. Without AI assistance, I wouldn’t be blogging consistently. My ADHD would keep me stuck in the “I should write something” paralysis cycle.
AI helps me get my actual thoughts, experiences, and knowledge out into the world instead of trapped in my head. The content is still mine—AI just helps me organize and express it.
Are you worried people will judge you?
Sure. But I’m more worried about being dishonest. I’d rather be transparent about my process and lose some readers than pretend I’m doing something I’m not.
Comment Policy
What’s your comment policy?
- Respectful disagreement is welcome
- Questions are great
- Sharing your own experiences is encouraged
- Bigotry, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and cruelty will be deleted
- Spam will be deleted
- I moderate my own space and reserve the right to delete anything I want for any reason
This is my space. I set the boundaries. If you don’t like that, you’re welcome to start your own blog.
Still Have Questions?
Drop them in the comments on any post, or email me. I’ll add to this FAQ as new questions come up!
Last updated: January 2026