Welcome to Cook and Live Well—a place for treasured family recipes, practical home cooking, and lessons gathered through everyday life.
How This Website Began
The idea for this website began with my children.
My children are growing up in the United States eating the Chinese meals I prepare at home. As they have gotten older, they often tell me, “We don’t want to lose Mom’s recipes. We want to know how to cook them when we grow up.”
They enjoy authentic Chinese home cooking, but they often find that restaurant food does not taste like the meals we eat at home. The food from our kitchen is familiar, comforting, and connected to our family.
That inspired me to begin recording my recipes—not only for my children, but also for anyone who wants to prepare authentic Chinese home-style food in a way that is approachable, healthy, and practical for an American kitchen.
The Food You’ll Find Here
Chinese home cooking is at the heart of Cook and Live Well, but it is not the only food my family enjoys.
Over time, this website may grow to include many kinds of everyday home cooking: meals that are flavorful, nourishing, realistic, and suitable for busy families. Some recipes may be traditional, while others may reflect the ingredients, experiences, and cultures that have become part of our family’s life in the United States.
My goal is not to make cooking complicated or perfect. It is to share food that people can prepare, enjoy, and pass on to someone they love.
Whenever possible, recipes include clear instructions, practical tips, step-by-step photographs, and both English and Chinese versions.
More Than Recipes
A good life is shaped by more than what we cook.
Cook and Live Well is also a place where I share personal stories and useful things I have learned along the way—about family life, food, wellness, gardening, and creating a healthy and meaningful home.
I may also write about traditional Chinese ingredients, herbs, food customs, and wellness practices that have been part of Chinese culture and family life. These articles are shared for general educational and cultural purposes, based on personal experience and continuing learning. They are not medical advice and are not a substitute for guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.
Preserving Recipes and Building Connections
Recipes can carry memories across generations. They remind us where we came from, bring families together, and help children stay connected to their heritage even when they grow up far from it.
This website began as a way to preserve my family’s recipes. I hope it can also help other families discover new meals, keep meaningful traditions alive, and feel more confident cooking at home.
Thank you for visiting Cook and Live Well. I’m glad you are here, and I hope you find something useful, comforting, and delicious to bring to your own table.