Hey y'all, I'm Ashley!
I'm the self-taught cook, food blogger, and photographer behind Pink Owl Kitchen!
A little of my background story
I'm a proud Southern Belle from Mississippi, born and raised! At Pink Owl Kitchen, you'll see that my Southern roots shape the recipes I share, while my faith in Christ keeps me anchored. I'm all about preserving cherished, traditional recipes from my youth while making them accessible and adaptable for contemporary cooks.
Southern Collard Greens, Soul Food Candied Yams, and Southern Baked Macacori and Cheese are a few of the most cherished recipes I grew up eating and I am overjoyed I get to share them with you!
My love for cooking stems from my lineage of great Southern cooks! Since I was a teen, I've been whipping up cozy, homemade meals. There's something about seeing my loved ones relish my food that just lights me up.
In 2016, I joined a massive family and suddenly became the go-to chef for most of our gatherings. Seriously, we're talking crowds of almost 100 folks sometimes!
Seeing how much happiness my food brought, I thought, "Hey, why not share this joy?" So, Pink Owl Kitchen came to life. With a loving nudge from my supportive hubby, I took the leap, left my full-time job in 2022, and focused on creating recipes for families like yours.
Outside the kitchen, you will find me deeply involved in our church community, chasing around our fun-loving toddler, and spending time with family.
We Have Been Featured In
Television
- Bluff City Life with Gina Neely November 13, 2023
- Bluff City Life with Gina Neely March 3, 2023
- Bluff City Life with Gina Neely July 4, 2022
Other Features
- Food52 Juneteenth Virtual Cookout 2023
- The Spruce Eats 13 Juneteenth Drinks by Black Food Bloggers
- Taste of The South Magazine, July/August 2021, Volume 18, Issue 4
- The Kitchn The Way We Eat
What You Will Find on Pink Owl Kitchen
- Soul-warming recipes inspired by the comforting Southern food I grew up eating.
- Step-by-step recipe instructions, tips, and ticks so that cooks of all experience levels feel confident making our recipes.
- An email newsletter where I share our latest recipes, curated holiday menus, and other exciting updates.
More about Ashley and Pink Owl Kitchen
Pink Owl Kitchen is like a tribute to my mom, my hubby, and just being free. No matter where I worked, I felt like a bird stuck in a cage. But you know where I found my wings? In the kitchen! Cooking made me feel alive and liberated.
My husband and I bonded right from the start over our shared love for owls – yeah, we're a bit quirky like that. Then there's my mom, who rocked hot pink lipstick every single day, even if she wasn't stepping out. Combining all those bits, Pink Owl Kitchen was born!
Practice, practice, practice! I never really had anyone to hold my hand and teach me how to chop an onion or make yeasted dough. I watched cooking shows, read blogs, and just jumped in the kitchen and tried it all. The more I was in the kitchen, the more comfortable I became. I'm not afraid to try new ingredients, flavors, or techniques, and neither should you!
Start by learning cooking basics – chopping, measuring, handling a knife (it's easier than you imagine, and YouTube's a goldmine for this!). Then, dive into straightforward stuff, like one-pan meal or simple sides. Once you're more comfortable, level up to slightly trickier recipes. Oh, and remember, failing's part of the game! Trust me, I've had my fair share of cooking and baking mishaps – it's how we learn!
Many of our readers find our Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Chicken, Southern Coleslaw, and Sweet Cornbread Muffins recipes perfect for beginner cooks.
YES! Cooking is a skill and as with any skill, all it takes is consistent practice and willingness to learn to become better at it. When I first started cooking, I could barely hold a knife and the smoke alarm went off way too often. But I kept at it, and with time I became so comfortable that I started an entire cooking blog. You can do this!
Featured In
Ashley's Favorite Southern Recipes!
Let's Be Friends!
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