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You are here: Home / About Kristi

About Kristi

Hello! I’m so glad you stopped by! Let’s get to know each other – let me start by telling you a little about myself.

In my professional life, I am a science nerd turned business woman, working in the BioTech space to connect other scientists with cool technology. In my personal life I love adventuring in all things homemade – cooking from scratch, backyard gardening, wood crafting, jewelry making, and more.

I live in sunny and warm Arizona with my hubby Chris, and our three fur-babies Aria, Reggie, and Paige. They are all rescue animals that have joined our clan over the years. They hold a large place in my heart, so I can’t help but share a tidbit with you about each of them.

Meet the Fur-Family

Aria was our first – a lynx point Siamese, at least in part, who loves to be near by, and can’t end her day without some lap time with one of her favorite humans.

Aria

Reggie was next, as soon as we had a house with a yard. He is a lab/shepherd mix that is my shadow, and oh-so-serious. But he does get excited for a few things: stuffed toys with squeakers, car rides, walks, “puppuccino’s” from Starbucks, “toothbrushes” – his favorite nighttime treat, and me πŸ™‚ – when I’ve been gone for a few days (or let’s be real, a few hours).

Reggie

Paige is our most recent addition. Our “COVID-puppy” who has been a joy and blessing during a crazy 2020. She is a lab/cattle dog mix who is expressive, athletic, and full of energy. She starts every morning greeting everyone with a lean-into-you sort of hug, and sometimes even kisses for the kitty. If she’s not outside eating sticks or wrestling with Reggie, she loves relaxing with us on the couch.

Paige

So What About Cook Craft Cultivate?

I started Cook Craft Cultivate as a sort of online journal to track my journey in cooking, crafting, and gardening. When I started, I was new to all of those things, and this site was my way of recording my progress, watching my growth, and hopefully helping someone along the way by sharing things I was learning.

As I have gone on in this journey, I have developed a keen interest in the “Homesteading” lifestyle of self-sufficiency. Maybe one day we will have land that we can turn into a true homestead farm. But until that day, I am making the most of my small suburban backyard garden, and continuing to expand my “from scratch” cooking skills. I want to know where my food comes from, I want to be self-sufficient enough to generate some of that food on my own, and I want to use all of this to nourish my family with whole, unprocessed, good-for-you foods.

A Resource for YOU

So the content I am publishing here on Cook Craft Cultivate is meant to be a resource for others that are on a similar path. You don’t have to be living on a farm to start gaining control of the food you eat. There are small, measurable, and fairly simple steps that anyone can take. My motto? Start small! Start with what interests you, and what you feel you can manage.

Maybe that means growing some herbs on your patio, or starting some micro greens on the kitchen counter. Explore local farmer’s markets for a close-to-you source for fresh produce. Commit to making at least one extra meal a week at home. Re-asses the packaged foods you purchase and make some decisions on what you can cut out or substitute with a whole food or homemade option instead.

Every little change makes a difference, no matter how small. I hope you find some tips and inspiration here, to help you along on your own journey!

Me and Hubby

My Other Creative Brands

If you want to learn more about my other creative brands, or see handcrafted products available to purchase, follow the links below:

  • Kristi Stephenson Photography
  • Kristi Stephenson Creations

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About Kristi

Picture of KristiJourney with me in my homemade adventures - creating more from scratch and increasing my self-sufficiency, in my small suburban home setting.
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Featured Recipes

Oatmeal Sourdough Pancakes

stock after cooking for a while

How to Make Stock

banana coconut chocolate chip cookies

Banana Cookies with Chocolate and Coconut

stuffed acorn squash

Taco Stuffed Acorn Squash

plated beef stroganoff

Easy Low-Carb Stroganoff

Sourdough starter - bubbles/refreshed!

Fermented Foods Part 1: Sourdough Starter

Instagram

Need some breakfast inspiration for this week? Tap Need some breakfast inspiration for this week? Tap @cookcraftcultivate and go to the link in my bio for some classic oatmeal and steel cut oats recipes (featured on the homepage or under "Recipes")!
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#cookcraftcultivate #cook #breakfast #oatmeal #steelcutoats #steelcutoatmeal #instantpot #instantpotrecipes #oatmealinspiration #breakfastinspiration #breakfastideas #quickbreakfast #quickbreakfastideas
Made this tasty #tikkamasala recipe from @jocooks Made this tasty #tikkamasala recipe from @jocooks this week! Easy and delicious! Wilted in some #gardenfresh #swisschard at the end because we are drowning in it right now 🀣 Would totally do it again, it was a great addition. This recipe is definitely a keeper! πŸ‘Œ
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#cookcraftcultivate #cook #jocooks #lecreusetbraiser #weeknightdinner
Some "last harvests" ... Spinach, cilantro, sprout Some "last harvests" ... Spinach, cilantro, sprouting broccoli. We're also on the tail end of chard and kale, I let them go as long as I can before pulling them - they tolerate the warmth a little better.
BUT
The season is changing, these crops have been A-mazing for us this year, but it's time to say bye πŸ™‹
AND
Jump in to a new season... I'm going a little crazy with tomatoes (16 plants 😳) eggplants (x6), chiles and peppers (x23 plus a few more if we can find a place for them 🀣), and squash (x5). Fingers crossed for a bountiful late spring and summer harvest season πŸ€žπŸ™ŒπŸ€ž
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#cookcraftcultivate #cultivate #azgardening #azgardener #azvegetablegarden #springgarden  #vegetablegarden #growyourownfood #growwhatyoueat #harvest #zone9b  #zone9bgardening  #zone9bgarden
We pulled out our sprouting broccoli plants this w We pulled out our sprouting broccoli plants this week ... These things were huge, like a small tree!! 
Sprouting broccoli is a better use of our small garden space than a single head - as you trim it it keeps putting off more and more shoots, each trimming doubles the next time. A really fun variety that we will definitely be growing again πŸ™Œ
It was still quite productive, but I need the space for my eggplant seedlings, so out it came ... Getting ready for summer with tomatoes, eggplants, chiles, and squash 🀩
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#cookcraftcultivate #cultivate #azgardening #azgardener #azgarden #springgarden #azvegetablegarden #growyourownfood #growwhatyoueat #brassicas #broccoli #sproutingbroccoli
#zone9b  #zone9bgardening  #zone9bgarden
Love this view 😍 . #cookcraftcultivate #cultiva Love this view 😍
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#cookcraftcultivate #cultivate #backyardgarden #azgardening #springinphoenix #backporchview #backporchliving #backporchsittin #backporch
#morning #aloebloom #succulentbloom #morning #aloebloom #succulentbloom
Made a large #swisschard haul from the garden this Made a large #swisschard haul from the garden this week! Making room for some late season kale... πŸ™ŒπŸ˜‹
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My favorite way to cook swiss chard? Lightly braise it in water or some broth for about 10 minutes (include a favorite herb in this step if you would like - thyme, oregano, fennel, dill...). Once tender, let the liquid boil off. Add a touch of olive oil and/or lemon juice and saute for a minute more. Season with salt and pepper. Enjoy!!
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#cookcraftcultivate #cultivate #azgardening #azgardener #azvegetablegarden #springvegetablegarden #harvest #swisschardharvest #howtocookswisschard #growyourownfood #growwhatyoueat
This Aloe 😍 I bought this off the discount rack This Aloe 😍
I bought this off the discount rack at Lowes several years ago for $1. It was tiny, half dead, and definitely on its last legs. Well. Look what a little TLC can do!! It's now huge, thriving, and about to put out it's first flower!!! 
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#cookcraftcultivate #cultivate #aloevera #succulents #succulentbloom #nurture #nevergiveup #thriving
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