About Purple Donkey Cooking

Welcome to Purple Donkey Cooking—where comfort food gets a “Remix.”

The Story

I’m Kris, a web developer by day and an obsessive home cook by night living in Chicago, IL.

I started this blog over 17 years ago as a digital recipe box—a place to document the rich, indulgent meals I grew up eating in Washington and the new favorites I discovered while traveling. For years, Purple Donkey was about one thing: Flavor at any cost.

But life evolves, and so does our cooking.

The “Purple Donkey” Philosophy: The Remix

Recently, my goals shifted. I set a personal target to hit 15% body fat while maintaining muscle mass. But there was one problem: I wasn’t willing to eat plain chicken and broccoli for the rest of my life. I refused to give up the flavors of a Philly Cheesesteak or a rich Beef Stew.

So, I started “Remixing.”

Today, Purple Donkey Cooking is dedicated to High-Protein Comfort Food. We take the classics—the pastas, the stews, the cheesy casseroles—and we re-engineer them. We swap fatty cuts for lean ones, trade empty calories for nutrient-dense bone broths, and focus on volume eating that leaves you satisfied, not starving.

Whether you are a coder pulling an all-nighter (like me) or just someone trying to balance a love for food with a healthy lifestyle, you are in the right place.

Meet the Team

Kris Sookma (Founder & Head Chef) When I’m not managing servers or debugging code, I’m in the kitchen testing how much spinach I can hide in a lasagna without ruining it.

• Current Obsession: Perfecting the “Macro-Friendly” Pizza.
• Go-To Order: Anything spicy.
• The Goal: Proving you can be a “foodie” and be fit at the same time.

Branden Thomas (Chief Taste Tester) My husband and favorite travel companion. Branden is the honest critic behind every recipe. If a “healthy swap” tastes like cardboard, he tells me, and it never makes it to the blog. If it gets the Branden seal of approval, you know it’s good.

Why “Purple Donkey”?

It’s unique, it’s memorable, and it reminds us not to take life too seriously. Cooking should be fun, messy, and loud.

We are glad you’re here. Let’s cook something awesome.