about cooking with leeks

hi, i’m katie jarrott. i live in austin, tx, with my husband – charlie, baby girl – penny, and dog – gary. they’re the BEST!

my goal with this page is to make veg-focused eating more accessible and to cook food that maximizes a plant’s natural synergy. so many plant foods are done an extreme disservice. for example, i grew up eating boiled-from-frozen brussels sprouts with no seasoning. but, now we all know brussels sprouts are actually transcendent when prepared correctly. that kind of thing.

the name is cooking with leeks – because i was once intimidated by leeks. now i view them as a kitchen staple. i didn’t cook with leeks until i was much older and just getting into cooking! one day i thought: i’m going to cook with leeks! i conquered the produce aisle, grabbed a leek, watched a youtube video on how to prep them, and i did! this, in my opinion, relates to how i used to feel about cooking in general – i was always intimidated by it, but i realized once you dive in you’re going to probably make something that’s pretty tasty! i hope to inspire others to do the same.

Some random things about me:
1) I have been alcohol free (and sober in general I guess) since May 2022! I was feeling so bad from drinking even the smallest amounts, so I read Alan Carr’s Quit Drinking: Be a Happy Nondrinker, which Nikki Glaser talked about on a podcast, and I never looked back. It’s true about being a happy nondrinker even though at first it seemed it would be hard because so much of our lives (like celebrations and socializing in general) involve drinking alcohol, but I feel so much better. Anyway, I could talk about this one for a while. 🙂
2) I love reality tv – Love is blind, The Ultimatum, Love Island UK, Vanderpump Rules, etc. It’s GOOD quality television k. Charlie and I really like thrillers/mystery shows – currently watching Severance Season 2 and I’m listening to the Ben Stiller and Adam Scott companion podcast – chefs kiss.
3) I was raised in Greenville, SC, went to Clemson University where I majored in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy. I moved to Austin for a few years before meeting my now-husband and moving to the Bay Area. But NOW… we are back in Austin!