Kid-Tested (parent-approved)

Cookbook author, recipe developer, and Allrecipes Allstar Lisa Childs does it all for her family. And she wants the same for you. Her blog, Tried Tested and True, and her YouTube channel help home cooks find joy and confidence in the kitchen. Here, she shares her favorite kitchen tips, childhood inspirations, and the foods her family loves.

- MARY ANDINO

ABOUT ME

I grew up in Utah and live in Salt Lake City. I cook for my husband, Brett; 8-year-old Kenji; and 6-year-old Miya. Food is my love language (thanks to growing up with Japanese parents), so cooking and food play a special part in my life and relationships.

MY MOST RELIABLE TASTE-TESTER

My daughter, Miya, was home with me while I was developing recipes for my first cookbook. Even though she was a toddler, she was brutally honest and always gave such enthusiastic feedback.

MY COOKING INSPIRATION

As a kid, I learned everything about cooking from the OG Food Network stars: Emeril Lagasse, Rachael Ray, Ina Garten, Bobby Flay, Sandra Lee. Now, I love researching how to make a dish, then seeing how it turns out at home.

A RECENT DINNER WIN

I made a delicious salmon crudo. I mixed together some citrus juice and zest, ponzu, chili crisp, cilantro, green onion, and sriracha and drizzled it over extra salmon. It was one of the best things I've ever made.

MY KIDS' FAVORITE RECIPE OF MINE