easy recipe steps about me image

Hey There! I’m Laura Mitchell

Home Cook & Recipe Developer | Creator of Easy Recipe Steps | Meal Planning Advocate | Age 38
Portland-based home cook who believes that stress-free family dinners shouldn’t require culinary school—just clear steps and a little confidence.

My Story

Seven years ago, I was standing in my kitchen at 6:45 PM on a random Tuesday, staring at a recipe that said “cook until done” and feeling completely lost. I had two kids under five, a full-time marketing job, and absolutely no idea how to tell when chicken was actually “done.” Was it the color? The texture? Some magical chef instinct I clearly didn’t have?

That moment of kitchen panic became the catalyst for everything. I realized the problem wasn’t me—it was recipes that assumed I already knew what I was doing. Recipes that skipped the details, glossed over techniques, and left home cooks like me standing there wondering if we’d just served our families undercooked chicken or created a dried-out disaster.

I started keeping a notebook of every question I had while cooking. “How do I know when garlic is fragrant but not burnt?” “What does ‘simmer’ actually look like?” “Why do some recipes say medium heat and others say medium-high?” That notebook became the foundation for Easy Recipe Steps—a place where no question is too basic and every detail matters.

Because every great meal, is just a few easy steps away

The Turning Point

The real turning point came on my daughter Sophie’s fourth birthday. I’d promised to make her a homemade cake—something I’d never attempted before. I found a recipe online that looked “easy” with rave reviews. Three hours, two kitchen disasters, and one near-meltdown later, I was driving to the grocery store to buy a backup cake while my daughter cried in the backseat.

The recipe had said things like “cream the butter” (how long? what should it look like?), “bake until a toothpick comes out clean” (which spot? how clean? slightly moist or bone dry?), and “let cool completely” (how long is that, exactly?). Each vague instruction had been a point where I could—and did—go wrong.

Sitting in that grocery store parking lot, birthday cake in hand, I made myself a promise: If I was struggling this much with a “simple” recipe, thousands of other home cooks were too. I was going to figure this out, test every detail obsessively, and create recipes so clear that nobody would ever have to make an emergency grocery run on their kid’s birthday again. That’s when Easy Recipe Steps was born—not from expertise, but from empathy and determination.

What I Learned the Hard Way

I learned that being a good cook isn’t about talent—it’s about having someone who actually explains what to do. I spent years thinking I was “bad at cooking” when really, I was just following bad instructions. I’ve burned garlic more times than I can count because recipes say “cook until fragrant” without mentioning that fragrant to burnt happens in about 30 seconds. I’ve served dry chicken, mushy pasta, and sauce that never thickened.

I also learned that recipe testing is humbling. My “perfect pancakes” recipe took eleven attempts before I got it right. Eleven! Each time I thought I had it, I’d test it again and find another issue—too dense, edges burning before the middle cooked, flavor not quite there. But that’s exactly why I do it. Those eleven attempts mean you only need to make them once and they’ll be perfect.

The hardest lesson? Accepting that I’ll never be a trained chef, and that’s okay—it’s actually my strength. I approach recipes the way my readers do: as someone who’s learning, questioning, and needs every detail spelled out. That perspective is what makes Easy Recipe Steps work.

My Approach Now

Today, my recipe development process is methodical and obsessive—in the best way. I test every recipe at least three times, sometimes more if something’s not quite right. The first test is exploratory: What works? What doesn’t? The second test is refinement: precise measurements, exact timing, specific visual cues. The third test is the family-and-friends test: Can someone else follow these instructions and get the same results?

I write recipes the way I wish someone had written them for me seven years ago. I don’t say “cook the onions until softened”—I say “cook the onions over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes, until they turn translucent and smell sweet.” I don’t assume you know what medium-high heat looks like on your stove, or that you automatically know when to add the next ingredient.

My kitchen is now filled with three identical sheet pans for testing, a notebook with timing notes for every recipe, and a well-worn digital thermometer that’s become my best friend. I cook with ingredients from regular grocery stores—nothing exotic unless it’s for a special occasion, and even then I’ll offer substitutes. Because if I can’t find it at my local Safeway, most of my readers can’t either.

What I Believe

  • Cooking isn’t hard—vague recipes are hard. When every step is explained clearly, suddenly you’re not confused anymore. You’re confident.
  • Testing matters more than talent. I’m not a trained chef, but I test obsessively so you don’t have to. If I say it takes 6-8 minutes, it’s because I’ve timed it five times.
  • Details aren’t extra—they’re essential. The difference between “cook until done” and “cook for 7 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the juices run clear” is the difference between confidence and chaos.
  • Everyone can cook well with the right instructions. I’ve seen readers who “couldn’t boil water” make perfect roast chicken because I walked them through every single step.
  • Simple doesn’t mean boring. My recipes are straightforward, but they’re also delicious enough that my family requests them weekly. Easy and flavorful aren’t mutually exclusive.

How I Can Help You

At Easy Recipe Steps, I create recipes that work exactly as written—no surprises, no guesswork, just clear instructions that lead to delicious results. Whether you’re juggling work and family, learning to cook for the first time, or just tired of recipes that leave you confused, I’ve got you covered.

I focus on weeknight dinners that come together in 30 minutes, one-pan meals that minimize cleanup, slow cooker recipes for hands-off cooking, and comfort food classics that feel like a hug on a plate. Every recipe includes precise timing, visual cues, troubleshooting tips, and substitution suggestions. I also share detailed technique tutorials because understanding the “why” makes you a better cook.

Beyond individual recipes, I offer meal planning guides, kitchen basics courses for beginners, and a supportive community where no question is too simple. You can find weekly meal plans, shopping lists, and behind-the-scenes recipe testing stories at easyrecipesteps.com. Because cooking shouldn’t be stressful—it should be the easiest part of your day.

A Little More About Me

When I’m not recipe testing (which, let’s be honest, is most of the time), you’ll find me herding my two kids through weekend farmers market trips, attempting to keep our golden retriever Max out of the kitchen while I’m cooking, or enjoying a rare quiet coffee moment before the day starts. My husband Mike has become an expert taste-tester and surprisingly good at predicting which recipes my readers will love most.

I’m obsessed with organizational systems, love a good spreadsheet, and still get unreasonably excited when a reader emails to say they “finally nailed scrambled eggs.” On weekends, you’ll find me teaching Sophie to make bread from scratch while Ethan reluctantly chops vegetables—both of them learning that things that seem hard are just a series of small, manageable steps.

Let’s Connect

I love hearing from readers! Whether you’ve tried one of my recipes, have a question about a technique, or just want to share your cooking wins (or disasters—I’ve been there!), I’m here. I personally respond to every comment and message because this community is what makes Easy Recipe Steps special.

Join me on Instagram @easyrecipesteps for daily cooking tips and behind-the-scenes recipe testing, or connect on Pinterest @easyrecipesteps where I share all my latest creations. Let’s make cooking less stressful and more delicious together.

Get In Touch

Find step-by-step recipes, technique tutorials, and meal planning resources at easyrecipesteps.com

Email me directly at laura@easyrecipesteps.com

Follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube @easyrecipesteps