My dad is the culinary genius — I'm just here to make sure you can cook his recipes too. Beginner-friendly Asian & American dishes, straight from our family kitchen.
Dad doesn't measure anything — here's how I figure it out
A pinch of this, "enough" of that. Learning to translate my dad's instincts into actual measurements is an art form.
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April 14, 2026
The one Asian pantry staple Dad says you can't skip
If there's one ingredient he reaches for more than anything else, it's this. And once you try it, you'll understand why.
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Stay in the kitchen with me 🍴
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The full collectionAll Recipes
From Korean BBQ to backyard tacos to sushi night — everything dad makes, and how to make it yourself.
Tex-Mex
Carne Asada Tacos
Dad's citrus-marinated skirt steak, grilled hot and fast. Loaded with guac, pico de gallo, and fresh lime.
⏱ 1.5 hrs👤 6–8⭐ 5.0
BBQ
Grilled Ribeye Steak
A massive ribeye seasoned simply — seared on a ripping hot grill until perfectly pink. Simple, but devastating.
⏱ 45 min👤 4⭐ 5.0
Asian
Shabu Shabu Hot Pot
Paper-thin beef, fresh greens, mushrooms, and noodles. Everyone cooks at the table — dad's favorite way to feed a crowd.
⏱ 1 hr👤 6+⭐ 4.9
Comfort
Bolognese Pasta
Ground beef slow-cooked with crushed tomatoes until the sauce coats the back of a spoon. Tossed with penne, family-style.
⏱ 1 hr👤 6⭐ 4.9
Asian
Thai Basil Pork Rice Bowl
Ground pork stir-fried with garlic, chilies, and fresh Thai basil — piled over rice with two crispy fried eggs on top.
⏱ 30 min👤 4⭐ 5.0
Seafood
Dad's Seafood Night
Oysters, sushi-grade salmon, shrimp cocktail and more. When Dad sets the table like this, it's a celebration.
⏱ 2+ hrs👤 8+⭐ 5.0
Seafood
Shrimp Linguine
Plump shrimp in a rich, buttery sauce tossed with linguine. One pan, 35 minutes — garlic bread included.
⏱ 35 min👤 4⭐ 5.0
Comfort
Baked Spaghetti Casserole
Spaghetti baked under a blanket of melted cheddar. Dad's way of turning pasta into something you'll fight over.
⏱ 1.5 hrs👤 6–8⭐ 4.9
Asian
Chicken Fried Rice
Day-old rice stir-fried with chicken, egg, broccoli, and greens. Dad's classic clean-out-the-fridge move that always hits.
⏱ 25 min👤 4⭐ 5.0
Asian
Sushi Night
Salmon sashimi, spicy tuna handrolls, and all the fixings. Dad turns the dining table into a sushi bar.
⏱ 2 hrs👤 8+⭐ 5.0
BBQ
BBQ Night
Ribeyes, short ribs, bacon-wrapped mushrooms — all on the grill at once. Dad calls this a normal Saturday.
⏱ 3+ hrs👤 10+⭐ 5.0
Seafood
Grilled Oysters & Mussels
Fresh oysters and stuffed mussels over open flame with garlic butter. When Dad goes seafood, he doesn't hold back.
⏱ 45 min👤 6+⭐ 5.0
Tex-Mex
Carne Asada Tostadas
Crispy corn tostadas piled with carne asada, guac, and pico. Same meat as the tacos — completely different vibe.
⏱ 1.5 hrs👤 6⭐ 5.0
American
Grilled Pepperoni Pizza
Dough straight on grill grates — smoky char, crispy crust, bubbling cheese. Better than any oven can pull off.
⏱ 40 min👤 4⭐ 4.9
Asian
Steak Rice Bowl
Sliced grilled steak over jasmine rice with pickled cucumber and a bold Thai-style dipping sauce. Fast and completely satisfying.
⏱ 45 min👤 4⭐ 5.0
American
Steak Sandwich
Thinly sliced grilled steak on toasted bread, loaded with pickled red onions. Two ingredients that somehow make a perfect sandwich.
⏱ 30 min👤 4⭐ 4.9
Stories & tipsFrom the Kitchen Table
Cooking stories, technique breakdowns, and everything that doesn't fit on a recipe card.
April 28, 2026
Why I always brown my meat before braising
That golden crust isn't just pretty — it's flavor science. Here's what's really happening in the pan when you brown meat, and why skipping it is a mistake.
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April 14, 2026
My grandmother's secret seasoning blend
She never wrote it down, but after years of watching and tasting, I finally have it on paper. This one changed my cooking forever.
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March 30, 2026
The 5 pantry staples I always keep stocked
If you have these five things, you can always make something good. Simple as that.
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March 15, 2026
Learning to cook without a recipe
At some point, you have to put the cookbook down. Here's how I stopped measuring and started feeling.
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February 28, 2026
Cast iron: everything I wish I knew sooner
Seasoning, cleaning, what to cook — a complete guide to the most important pan in my kitchen.
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February 10, 2026
Why slow food changed my life
There's something about taking time with food that feels radical in a world that's always rushing.
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👨🍳
Dad's the chef. I'm just taking notes.
Hey, I'm Keef — and I have to be honest with you: my dad is the real talent here. He's been cooking incredible Asian and American food for as long as I can remember, and I grew up thinking recipes like his were just… out of reach for regular people.
Turns out they're not. That's the whole point of this page. I film us cooking together, break down everything Dad does, and turn his instinctive, no-measuring style into step-by-step recipes that even total beginners can follow.
If you've ever watched someone cook and thought "I could never do that" — this is for you. Dad's got the skills. I've got the patience to slow it all down.
🍜 Asian Home Cooking🍔 American Comfort Food👶 Beginner Friendly👨🍳 Dad-Approved Recipes👨👦 Father & Son
Let's talk food 🍽️
Have a recipe request? A question about a technique? Just want to share what you made? I read every message and I'd love to hear from you.
🌐
cookinwithkeef.com
📧
keef@cookinwithkeef.com
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instagram.com/cookinwithkeef
Full recipe coming soon — follow along for the video.
Tex-Mex
BBQ
Seafood
Comfort
Asian
Asian
