About Me

Hey there!

I’m Maya Thornwell, a home cook, dreamer, and the heart behind Forklio. For as long as I can remember, the kitchen has been my favorite place to get lost and found again. Cooking, to me, isn’t about flawless plating or following every rule in the book. It’s about the moments that happen in between the scent of garlic meeting butter, the laughter when something burns a little, the comfort of sharing something you made with your own two hands.

My earliest lessons came from my grandmother’s kitchen in the Midwest. She had this way of turning the simplest ingredients like flour, butter, and love into something magical. Her biscuits weren’t just breakfast, they were warmth, comfort, and care all wrapped up in one bite. I learned early that food could speak when words fell short. It could bring people together, mend bad days, and remind you that home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling.

But my journey to cooking wasn’t a straight one. I spent years in a marketing job, staring at screens and chasing deadlines. And yet, every evening, I found myself back in the kitchen, experimenting with flavors, jotting down ideas, and photographing dishes that made me happy. One day, I realized I didn’t just want to cook, I wanted to share that feeling of comfort and curiosity with others. That’s how Forklio was born.

Forklio isn’t about perfection. It’s about possibility. It’s for the home cooks who want to try, fail, laugh, and try again. It’s for beginners who believe they “can’t cook,” until they taste something they made and realize they can. It’s for anyone who believes that a good meal can turn an ordinary day into a special one.

Not every dish I make turns out the way I expect (remind me to tell you about my infamous “lava” mac and cheese that almost bubbled over!). But every one of them teaches me something new. And that’s the spirit I bring to Forklio: approachable, honest, and full of heart.

Today, from my cozy kitchen in Oregon, I share the recipes that fill my life with flavor and meaning. Some are inspired by family traditions, others by simple cravings, and a few by complete accidents that turned out delicious. My hope is that each recipe invites you to slow down, create, and connect with your food, your loved ones, and yourself.

Because in the end, cooking isn’t just about what’s on the plate. It’s about the joy of creating, the patience of learning, and the stories i share along the way. So come join me in my kitchen, let’s cook, laugh, and make something beautiful together.

With love,
Maya Thornwell
Founder & Home Cook, Forklio