Hi there! I’m Ivy, and I’m so glad you’ve found your way here.

I’m a 32-year-old home cook based in Portland, Oregon, where the rain smells like fresh herbs and the farmer’s markets are bursting with inspiration year-round. Cooking has always been more than just a daily task for me—it’s my favorite creative outlet, a form of self-care, and a way to connect with others.

My kitchen journey really took shape in my late twenties, when I decided to take better care of myself through what I ate. I’d dabbled in fitness and nutrition for a while, but it wasn’t until I started exploring high-protein recipes that everything clicked.

I realized I could feel strong and energized and eat things that were genuinely exciting. Think spicy harissa turkey meatballs, miso-marinated salmon, cottage cheese pancakes (don’t knock it till you’ve tried it), and my favorite: black bean brownies with a protein kick that still feel like dessert.

I should probably mention my biggest cheerleader and favorite taste-tester—my husband, Marcus. We’ve been together for six years, and one of the things that brought us close from the beginning was our shared love for staying active. We run, bike, hike, and sometimes even attempt yoga together (he’s way better at balance poses than I am, but don’t tell him I said that). Cooking and eating well is something we both care about deeply—it fuels our lifestyle, keeps us feeling great, and gives us plenty of chances to collaborate in the kitchen, usually with a bit of playful competition over whose protein smoothie tastes better.

The idea for CookPlates.com actually started over one of those smoothies. Marcus looked at my growing collection of notebooks—filled with scribbled recipes, tweaks, and flavor notes—and said, “Why don’t you just put this online?” At first, I laughed it off. I wasn’t a trained chef or a tech expert. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I wanted a space to share the food that was nourishing me, both physically and creatively. And I wanted to connect with others who were on a similar path—people who love discovering new dishes, care about what they eat, and believe that food should never be boring. So I started CookPlates.com as a little weekend project. Now it’s my digital kitchen table, where I share recipes, stories, and the occasional kitchen flop with anyone who wants to pull up a chair.

Honestly? What keeps me going is the constant discovery. I’m endlessly curious—about new ingredients, cultural cooking techniques, and flavor combinations I haven’t tried yet. I might spend one week obsessed with Korean gochujang recipes and the next diving into Icelandic skyr-based meals. I love learning from other food lovers and adapting what I find into something that fits my high-protein lifestyle without ever feeling restrictive or boring.

I’m not a chef by trade, just someone who’s passionate and a bit obsessive in the best way. I’ve had my share of burnt chickpeas, bland experiments, and recipes that were better in theory than reality—but that’s part of the fun. I share what works, laugh about what doesn’t, and always look forward to the next new dish that might just become a favorite.

Whether you’re here for the gains, the flavors, or just to see what someone else is cooking up this week, welcome. I hope CookPlates.com inspires you to try something new, tweak something old, and most of all, enjoy the process.

Welcome to my kitchen. Welcome to CookPlates