Ashley Boyd: Part I
Southerner Ashley Boyd works her corporate job Monday through Friday, and a kitchen warrior on the weekends. After teaching herself to cook at 18, she realized the powerful way that food brings people together. She started her food blog Pink Owl Kitchen to share her best recipes and her sobriety journey. Read on to discover Ashley’s recs for any cooking newbies out there and her favorite mocktails.
You love cooking—you’ll spend hours in the kitchen whipping things up! How did you come to enjoy cooking? What advice do you have for those of us who feel intimidated by it?
I actually didn’t develop a love for cooking until after I moved out on my own at 18. No one ever taught me how to cook. I just started trying out different classic Southern recipes and it evolved from there. It was either: eat fast food every day, or teach myself how to prepare my own food. I began to take such pride in creating meals that people enjoyed eating. Now, I’m the go-to chef and entertainer for my entire family.
Today, we have a wealth of online cooking information and recipes at our fingertips. I’d say just find a recipe online that looks interesting, go buy the ingredients, turn on some music, and have fun following the recipe. Don’t worry if the result isn’t as beautiful as the online recipe. Cooking to me is an art and art is subjective! Once you develop a feel and taste for what ingredients pair well with each other, you’ll stop following recipes and get lost in creating. And if you find that cooking just isn’t something you get excited about, that’s okay too!
You work full-time in insurance sales and also run Pink Owl Kitchen. How do you make time to cook during the week?
Right now, I put my insurance sales hat on Monday through Friday, and then take it off and wear my Pink Owl hat on Saturday and Sunday. Between exercising, house chores, and working 8 hours a day, I don’t have time to cook meals during the week. I make several recipes each weekend for Pink Owl Kitchen, and hubby and I eat the leftovers throughout the week. It can be challenging, but creating recipes is my true love so I kind of just make it work!
What’s one healthy staple that you cook every week?
Honestly, I’m always trying new recipes so we never really eat the same thing very often. Since I adopted a pescatarian diet a few years ago, we eat a lot of salmon dishes. I enjoy challenging myself by coming up with new ways to prepare salmon.
“Cooking to me is an art and art is subjective!”
You started Pink Owl Chicken by sharing recipes with your family. What’s your go-to recipe for entertaining a big crowd?
I’m always hosting family gatherings and one of the most requested dishes is my mac and cheese. It’s a rich dish that I don’t indulge in very often, but for family gatherings we let our hair down and enjoy it. I use a béchamel sauce base and smoked Gouda in my mac and cheese recipe. I also add a bit of chipotle pepper for a subtle kick.
You’re recently sober because you realized that living alcohol-free brings you the most happiness and fulfillment. What are some of the biggest changes you’ve felt since cutting out booze?
Going alcohol-free is hands-down the best decision I’ve made in my entire life! There’s not a single area of my life that hasn’t been positively affected. Most notably, I’m generally happier and in a better mood. I have TONS more energy, I’m more productive, and I’m in better physical shape than I’ve ever been. Plus, I sleep better than I ever have, and I’m more present. I’m becoming the person I’ve always dreamed of being.
Have you experimented with mocktails?
Yes! I’ve tried alcohol-free mojitos, margaritas and mimosas. I’m always trying new sparkling water flavors as well. It’s all so refreshing and no hangover involved!
What women do you admire in the food blogging space?
There are so many talented food bloggers out there! I especially love to see Black Women like myself represented in the food blogging space as we generally have a hard time gaining exposure. Some of my favorite Instagram food blogging accounts are @grandbabycakes, @butterbeready, @razzle.dazzle.life, @supperwithmichelle, @thekitchenista, @inspiredwithatwist, @whatsgabycookin, @yogaofcooking, @twocupsflour, @acozykitchen, and @minimalistbaker, just to name a few!
