Our Story
In every home, there is a place where memories are made, where the day’s stories unfold, and where simple ingredients are transformed into something special. That place is the kitchen. Cooking by Carla is more than a collection of recipes; it is a celebration of that space and the powerful, simple act of making a meal. It’s a tribute to the everyday dishes that bring us together and the comforting flavors that taste like home.
Meet Carla
The heart of this kitchen is Carla Mae Peterson. Raised in the rich soil of the Midwest, Carla learned from a young age that the best food comes from the land and is shared with love. With a farmer for a father and a home economics teacher for a mother, her childhood was steeped in the rhythm of the seasons—from canning summer vegetables to baking the perfect apple pie in the fall. This foundation taught her an invaluable lesson: good food doesn’t need to be complicated to be wonderful.
For thirty years, Carla was an elementary school teacher, a profession that perfected her ability to explain things with patience, clarity, and encouragement. It’s a skill she now brings to every recipe she develops. As a mother and now a grandmother to five, she understands the daily challenge and ultimate reward of feeding a family. Her expertise was not forged in a professional culinary school, but in a real home kitchen, creating dependable and delicious meals day after day.
Cooking by Carla began as a simple request from her grandchildren, who wanted a place to find her time-honored recipes. That small project to create a digital family cookbook has since blossomed into a warm and welcoming community for home cooks of all skill levels.
Our Philosophy
We believe that cooking should be an accessible and joyful part of life. Our purpose is to empower you with reliable, straightforward recipes that you can turn to again and again. Here, you will find the classic, comforting flavors of American home cooking, designed for your everyday table. We are dedicated to helping you create delicious, memorable meals, because we know that the best memories are often made with a shared plate and a full heart.