Hi everyone! My name is Carol. My close family and childhood friends call me by my Filipino nickname Jinky, thus my blog name! I live in Los Angeles and I'm a mom, wife, and project management professional (PMP). After a busy day of PMP'ing (cat herding as they say but yes, a very #proudwomanintech), the last thing I want to do is spend time following a long list of instructions or doing things with too many steps. It can't be "all work and no play," so I never took time to write down my recipes. My handwriting is basically unreadable, too, which didn't help. Eventually, I thought: why not start a food blog to record and share my recipes, kitchen hacks, and tips? And just like that... here we are!

Here, I’ll be showcasing my 30 minute or way less meals, my spin on Filipino dishes and personal brand of East-meets-West fusion. I hope you enjoy the fresh ingredients and simple shortcuts that I highlight in my recipes for the table, as well as my “18 dollar” craft cocktails that are inspired by my travels, happy hour high jinks and brunches with friends. I’m by no means your traditional chef who can stay in the kitchen for hours. (That’s my husband. He is the real chef in the family, but this blog is mine and I’m the editor-in-chief.) I like working with a simple, small amount of ingredients and developing hacks, tips, and tricks that make cooking more efficient. (I only want to spend 20 minutes or less cooking something, but I can be a little more patient if it’s a Filipino dish.) Trust me: taste and flavor are never sacrificed. I have taste testers/family/friends that can attest. =)

Let it be known that I do NOT bake! (Unlike my husband.) I think there are way too many instructions and too much to clean up. (No way Jose!) So, I'm sorry to say you won't find any recipes for cakes nor pastries on my site. However, I will see if I can convince my husband and daughter to share some recipes since they love to bake together. I plan to feature some contributions from family and close friends who will showcase their specialties.

As for you, please don’t be a stranger! Feel free to contact me if you have questions, feedback or any ideas you want to share. Thanks for dropping by!

Cheers!

- Jinky