How to use Just Maika Cooking?

Just Maika Cooking is a food blog about nonauthentic semi-healthy, bold, and fresh flavors, from versions of your favorite take-outs to new global mash-ups—creating feel-good recipes for busy home cooks who struggle with meal planning and eating leftovers.

Because, at the end of the day, you have to enjoy life with balance…and not kick yourself down for indulging in a meal or treat. It's up to you.

I’m Maika, a former professional culinarian for over a decade. I’ve worked for major hotels such as the PGA National Resort, The Ritz-Carlon Hotel Company, Conrad Hilton, and W Hotel. And as a lifetime passionate cook, my blog is about exploring a world of flavors and experimenting with recipes to create restaurant-quality quick and easy dishes that excite the taste buds. My life has always been busy; I was either working full-time, going to school, raising my son, or having a part-time job on the side, and at one point, all at the same time. So I know what it's like not to have "time."

This blog was created to capture my passion and obsession with quick and easy globally-inspired recipes. I love exploring foods from different cultures through traveling. Nothing brings out my creativity more than experimenting with different flavors and adding my twist of heat. What is more satisfying than the final dish and tasting a meal rich in culture, history, and people and their connections? As always, I hope you enjoy your experience at Just Maika Cooking!

I like to investigate when I make a dish that is not from my country or culture! I must ensure I make it suitable or at least understand their process and why. And if I can’t, I find a place that makes the authentic dish.

Then, in the kitchen, my creative brain starts making changes—sometimes grabbing techniques from different recipes with ingredients with similar characteristics. Hence, It is the main reason I will name a dish by the main ingredients instead of the actual name of the dish; I don't want anybody coming after me for a missing ingredient or style of cooking, allowing my imagination to flow more easily and freely.

Therefore, the reason why the dishes on my blog are not authentic, it was never my intent to make original authentic dishes. Alright, so let's get into it! I hope you like my version; if you made any changes, I'd love to know what you did. I love hearing other cooks' versions of a dish. I enjoy the creative flow and always explore, experiment, and taste!

Through trial and error. My home kitchen is my test kitchen. Where recipes are made repeatedly before being posted with my very opinionated loved ones to critique, oh boy, and can they critique. The pressure is intense! Follow me @JustMaikaCooking on Instagram, where I will post my developing recipes as #quickmealideas.

I had a personal food blog on BlogSpot/Blogger since 2006 to share photos of my travel with family and friends. I also enjoy sharing cooking both in the professional kitchen and at home. After about ten years, things slowed down as my focus changed to school. Then, I started using my blog as a way to save recipes that were created and cooked at home digitally. My friends and family were asking me for the recipes of dishes posted on Instagram and Facebook. So I decided to revamp my blog and now share it with everyone outside of my circle.

Since I was a kid, I dreamt of working in the kitchen as a culinary chef and continuing the legacy of my Haitian grandmother, Gisele. I wanted to have stories like hers, told by others how they couldn't forget her dishes and were anxiously waiting for the next meal. I had the chance to live my dream by pleasing other palettes with my creativity.

Testing and preparing so many different dishes worldwide has created a strong passion for cultural exploration. I've decided to head back to school to find more ways to connect with the world. Hence my concentration in the world of psychology, behavior analysis, and special education and to help my son, who has intellectual disabilities and autism.

Teaching has been my new home for the past few years. I love learning new things. I’ve never forgotten my past. Building knowledge or giving a plate are both good for the soul. Both seem to go hand and hand when it comes to service.

Food plays a significant role in my life, friends, and family. It has always been something that can unite us no matter the celebration. I've decided to keep a piece of my culinary journey alive during this transformation process. By sharing my gift with others, I hope to leave my legacy.

Thank you so much for your support and for helping me grow. This blog’s creative content, recipes, videos, and food photography hope to ensure an amazing experience.
This website is dedicated to my loving grandmother, Gisele Corvoisier.
-Maika