Hi there! I'm Ashley, and it's so exciting to share my food and travel blog with you. Thanks for stopping by Little Black Skillet! Finally, after years of being behind the scenes as a cookbook author, food stylist, culinary producer, recipe developer, and food photographer, I'm stepping out to connect with the community I've become a part of over the past 15+ years. This is a long time coming. I'm so excited to share my love of cooking and traveling with you.
I have always loved to cook. In fact, I have ever since I was a little girl. I've also always loved to eat and to write about food. At summer camp, instead of writing home about the pinch pot I'd made in ceramics or the new friend I'd made in my cabin, I'd write about what we ate at the dining hall.
So, you can imagine the thrill when I landed my first "real" job at Oxmoor House, the cookbook division for the brands Southern Living, Cooking Light, Coastal Living, etc. Getting a job there was a dream come true.
I started off in the test kitchen, developing and testing recipes and also styling food for photo shoots. After about 4 years, I moved over to the editorial division and tried my hand at being a cookbook editor (and using that journalism degree). I helped create books from beginning to end, coming up with concepts, book outlines, organizing recipe development and testing, and ghostwriting. It was a blast.
While I was a cookbook editor, I met Chris (who is now my husband). He was in Birmingham getting his PhD and about a year and a half after we started dating we got engaged (in Germany, no less--I'll have to tell you that story later). Since Birmingham is landlocked, a move was inevitable. His postdoc took us to the Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce, Florida, coincidentally where my grandfather grew up, and launched me into a freelancing career.
Where I call home
Living in South Florida was wonderful. The weather was warm, we lived right across the street from the beach, and we met some lifelong friends. It's also where our son was born. After 5 years though, Chris' postdoc wrapped up, and we had the unique opportunity to choose where we wanted to live. Because of the food scene, the marine biology program at the College of Charleston, and the proximity to my family in Savannah (where I grew up), we picked Charleston. Charleston also happens to be where my best friend lives. It seemed like the perfect place.
And now here we are: in Charleston and loving every minute of it. I'm a freelance culinary content creator and my husband is a professor at the College of Charleston. In our spare time, we travel as much as we can--whether abroad or down the road to the off-the-beaten-path restaurant.
Recent work
For me, every day is different, and I absolutely love all the different culinary "hats" I get to wear. Besides working with some of my favorite brands--developing recipes, food styling, and photographing delicious recipes--in June 2020 my cookbook, The Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook was published. I'm also the culinary producer for Seasons 4-9 of Delicious Miss Brown on Food Network.
Why the name Little Black Skillet for your food and travel blog?
I craved a platform to connect with my community, and after the Tastemakers Conference this past winter, I realized that I'm not too late to the food blogging game. Little Black Skillet is a food and travel blog with tons of recipe and food content often inspired by my travels.
Why the name Little Black Skillet? The name comes from the beloved cast-iron skillet passed on to me by my grandmother. Just like every woman should have a "little black dress" in her closet, every home cook should have a "little black skillet" in their kitchen. Aside from my chef's knife, my cast-iron skillet is the powerhouse in my kitchen. Most of all, my cast-iron skillet is an ode to my grandmother. She's the woman who shared her love of cooking with me. Now it's my turn to share my recipes and love of cooking with you. Hence, it's the inspiration for this blog.
What kind of recipes will I feature on this food and travel blog?
So, is this a food blog that just focuses on skillet recipes? Not at all. Cast-iron skillets are a lot like what this blog is about. They're for the everyday, they're affordable, and they can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion. Here, you will find recipes like one-pan dinners, cast iron sides, and skillet desserts made in my beloved skillet. But, you'll definitely discover more, from weeknight dishes to special occasion recipes.
I'm just like you.
I've been told that my resume is intimidating. But, even though I've got a culinary degree, years of experience in a test kitchen, and have written thousands of recipes, I'm also a busy working mom and wife. Oftentimes, I'll look at the clock and realize it's 5 pm and have no clue what to make for dinner. Equally, I care about creating delicious recipes that are kid-friendly, fit within my budget, and don't take several hours to make. This is a place where I share mom hacks I've learned. It's where I share recipes that evoke beloved memories. And, it's a place where I hope you'll be inspired to get back into the kitchen.
Anything else besides recipes?
Finally, I am a self-proclaimed travel junkie and so is my husband. I explore the world through food and am always inspired by dishes I try in new places. I'm always checking out the newest restaurant in Charleston. On vacation, I plan my day around where we will eat. Accordingly, here you will find recipes inspired by my travels, places I've loved, and hints for taking your own trip.
Thanks for coming along on this new adventure with me!