About Encharted Cook – Encharted Cook

Discover cooking with Jan at Encharted Cook, where over 50 years of culinary expertise meets innovative recipe charts for baking and cooking.

Hi, I'm Jan Nunes, the recipe creator behind Encharted Cook.

I share easy, reliable recipes and visual cooking charts that teach you how-and why-cooking works.

With over 50 years of cooking experience, I help home cooks understand how recipes connect, so if you can make one dish, you can confidently make many more.

Start Here

If you're new to Encharted Cook, here are the best ways to get started:

Explore my Cooking Charts to understand how recipes work
Browse Easy Recipes for Beginners
Try a reader favorite like my Summer Corn Salad or Easy Ground Beef Enchiladas

Why Encharted Cook Is Different

Most recipe sites show you what to do.
I show you how recipes work-using visual charts that connect ingredients, techniques, and outcomes.

These charts help you:

♡ Understand substitutions
♡ Learn cooking faster
♡ Build confidence in the kitchen

Make a Casserole Chart featured image on a red background with a mini chart and text.

Featured image for Cooking & Baking Substitutions chart with a red background and text overlays.

Featured image for Sauces, Gravies, and Thickening Agents Chart with mini chart and text on a red background.

Meet Jan

Jan Nunes, owner and content creator at Encharted Cook.

My love for cooking started more than 50 years ago. When I was very young, my Dad taught me how to make coffee on the stove...perked coffee.

I remember that morning well. He asked me to stand in front of the stove as he turned on a front burner. He then asked, "Can you see the height of the flame?" I could see it, so I had my first "cooking" lesson.

Of course, that first pot of coffee was nothing fancy like a cappuccino or latte. It was a working man's cup of joe that my Dad loved...and I loved making it for him.

Jan Nunes and her Grandma in her apartment kitchen making Thanksgiving dinner in 1984. — My Grandma, sitting on the right, while I make Thanksgiving dinner in 1984.

That love for cooking has never left me and I have been cooking, baking, and making meals and treats for family and friends ever since. I began with reading my mom's Betty Crocker cookbook cover to cover and I devoured every new episode of "The French Chef" and "The Galloping Gourmet". By the age of 14, I was enrolled in cooking classes.

"This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!"
~Julia Child

What You'll Find on Encharted Cook

♡ Easy, dependable recipes tested in real home kitchens.
♡ Visual cooking charts that explain ingredients and techniques.
♡ Step-by-step guidance for beginners and experienced cooks.
♡ Time-saving tips for everyday cooking.
♡ Seasonal recipes for holidays and gatherings.

My Culinary Background

I've studied cooking and baking for decades, including classes at:

I also completed the Introductory Sommelier Course with The Court of Master Sommeliers. I plan to dive deeper into wine and spirits, and I hope to take the second part of the exam to become a Certified Sommelier.

Burgundy and silver Court of Master Sommeliers Badge for Introductory Course.

More About Encharted Cook

Where did you get the name?

The name came from an afternoon of friends gathered in my kitchen when I mentioned I was making recipe charts and wanted to start a blog. Over a few glasses of wine, we came up with Encharted Cook.

What recipe do you recommend for beginning cooks?

I've got several great recipes for beginners! How to Boil Potatoes is an all-around basic cooking technique that is a basis for many other recipes and is perfect for beginners. My Spaghetti Aglio with Green Peas is a great main dish recipe that has just a few ingredients and very simple instructions. And for dessert, my Cranberry Sugar pie is also super easy.

What is your best recipe chart?

My best recipe chart, which is super packed with information, is my Basic Cake Recipes Chart. Every recipe is delicious, and this chart lists cakes from the lightest in fat with a light crumb to the heaviest in fat with a dense crumb.

Do you have vegan or healthy recipes?

I don't specialize in vegan recipes, but there are some recipes that happen to be vegan like Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup and Tomato Cucumber Salad. A recipe is noted as "vegan" in the recipe card.

If I have a question about an ingredient, can you help me?

Sure! I will be happy to try to help you. Just shoot me an email at [email protected]

Ready to start cooking with confidence?
Explore my recipes and cooking charts and...

Let's Cook! ~Jan