Cooking with Kira

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Des Moines, IA
Cooking with Kira

Hi, I’m Kira. I share quick, realistic weeknight meals! Sometimes that means leftovers, and sometimes I try to do it all homemade in under 30 minutes.

Nothing fancy, just real life cooking. I am so glad you are here.
📍 Iowa

💌[email protected]

10/31/2026

Part 1: Fluffy Honey Cornbread

Are you a chili and cornbread person or chili and cinnamon roll person? There is absolutely a correct answer IMO.

Dry Mix
1 cup AP flour
1 cup corn meal
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder

10/30/2026

Little Chef Checking in with the after-school snack of the week. Mandarins + Chicken In A Biscuit Crackers

Fine motor + food prep + piling + texture

10/30/2026

I was so intimidated to start focaccia because I couldn’t make sense of how much time it would take. I’m still testing how to share the timeline. What questions do you have?

10/27/2026

He’s the best producer 🥰

Puff Pastry Taco Hand Pies

1 Store Bought Refrigerated Puff Pastry (shock 🫣 yes store bought)
1 can black beans
1/2 lb taco meat
Shredded Cheddar or Colby Jack Cheese
Egg wash (optional if eggs are 💸)

-Unroll the pastry on a flat surface, cut into four equal sections.
-Spoon beans and taco meat onto each section, and top with cheese.
-Fold the pastry over to create a stuffed pastry, seal gently and press down with a fork to make it pretty.
-Finish with a light layer of egg wash.
-Bake on a parchment lined baking tray for 20-25 minutes at 425 F.
-Let cool and enjoy with your favorite taco toppings.

10/27/2026

Puff Pastry Taco Hand Pies

One of the easiest dinners we’ve made recently done in just about 30 minutes.

I used some leftover cold taco meat. If you are making fresh taco meat I’d make sure it cools a bit before constructing your hand pies.

Simple ingredients:
Puff pastry
Taco meat
Beans
Cheese
Egg Wash

In the oven for 20-25 minutes until cooked through and golden brown.

10/26/2026

It’s been a few weeks since we’ve had a focaccia success so it was the star of Sunday Dinner.

I used an infused garlic oil in the dough and as the topping. I am in love.

10/22/2026

Cast Iron Chicken was one of the first things I learned to make well, and fettuccine Alfredo is secretly one of Derek’s best. Combined into one dinner and I was actually on cloud nine this night.

Key for good cast iron chicken.
- you will mess it up a time or two. It’s ok! You’re learning.
- pat the chicken dry before seasoning.
- hot cast iron but not burn your oil hot. Keep it under the smoke point.
- set it in the hot pan and let it cook. Do not touch for a few minutes.
- flip once it’s seared, turn the heat off and cook for under 1 min. Then into a 375 oven to finish.
- remove from oven around internal temp of 160, and let it finish carry over cooking to reach 165.
Let it rest.

Use the pan juices for the best pan sauce. I’ll show you this next week! 😊

Easy easy easy under 30 minute meal with great protein.

10/22/2026

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 cup room temp butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 ripe bananas, mashed
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This takes longer than you think.
3. Mix in the egg, mashed bananas, and vanilla extract.
4. Then hand mix the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
5. Mix in the chocolate chips.
6. Refrigerate the dough. For best results, overnight. These also freeze so well.
8. If baking immediately, Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set. If cooling the dough add a few minutes to the bake time.
9. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

10/19/2026

We had a great weekend! Can we just repeat it again starting tomorrow? ❤️

10/19/2026

Some lady just told me I suck at this 😂 little did she know I was editing this video from last weekend. I’m not perfect but who cares. Here’s some BTS of the first clue my kitchen scale was off.

Also I need suggestions for new kitchen scales. AND now I’m worried my focaccia measurements may have been off for a long time. My scale was over 150 g off calibration. 🤞

Address

East 30th Street And East University Avenue
Des Moines, IA
50317

Website

https://www.amazon.com/shop/ki_rawson?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_aipsfshop_CDJCDD043C2TMN8NE6RP&language=en-US

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