I’m Jhon Bennett, the creator of Cooklx.com. A few years ago I was working full-time in IT just outside Columbus, Ohio, but weeknight dinners always felt stressful and unrealistic. After a lot of trial-and-error (and becoming a dad of three), I started sharing simple, family-friendly recipes that actually work for busy people, especially if you’re cooking vegan, gluten-free, or just trying to get dinner on the table without the fluff.
How I Ended Up Here
A few years ago, I was working full-time in IT. Managing systems and solving network issues from a small office just outside Columbus, Ohio. It was stable work, but honestly? It felt like I was sleepwalking through my days.
After hours at the desk, I’d drive home through evening traffic, only to stare into my pantry wondering how to pull dinner together. I tried recipe blogs, but most of them either assumed I had five hours and a sous chef… or asked for ingredients I’d never even seen at Trader Joe’s.
So, I started experimenting. One meal at a time.
At first, I burned a lot more than I served. I once swapped salt for sugar in a vegan muffin recipe and ended up with something that could’ve doubled as a chew toy. But slowly, I started to understand flavors, timing, and how to make something decent with whatever was in the pantry.
As my weekends turned into quiet recipe experiments, something shifted. Cooking went from being a chore to something that actually made me feel present.
Then I became a dad. And everything changed.
Now with three little taste-testers under the age of ten, the kitchen isn’t just a place to cook — it’s where we laugh, learn, make messes, and build memories. It’s where my kids discovered how to crack eggs (and the floor), and where I discovered how food could connect us, calm us, and carry us through.
I remember bringing chickpea wraps and a simple grain salad to a company picnic one summer at Scioto Grove Park. I didn’t think much of it, just wanted to bring something healthy that my family loved. But even the guy who only ate barbecue said, “I don’t usually go for vegan stuff… but this? This is good.”
That was the spark.
It hit me that food wasn’t just something to get through the day — it was something that brought people together.
I launched Cooklx.com for everyone who’s ever stared into the fridge feeling tired and out of ideas. For the busy parents trying to feed picky eaters. For anyone managing gluten-free, vegan, or other dietary needs. For beginners who just want food that works. No judgment, no fluff.
Love to hear from you! Drop me a line on my Contact page