A Spotlight On Allrecipes Allstar: Ashley Berger

Ashley is one of the 60 million cooks in our Allrecipes community and an Allrecipes Allstar.

What is an Allstar? Food bloggers, registered dietitians, and more home cooks (just like you!) make up our enthusiastic squad of 100+ brand ambassadors. This crew of food lovers has submitted thousands of recipes, photos, and reviews over the years, plus share their cooking expertise all over our website and social channels. In short, they make all of our cooking adventures more successful. Interested in becoming an Allrecipes Allstar? Learn more, and sign up here.

Q&A with Ashley

Allrecipes: Tell us about yourself! 

Ashley Berger: I am the hostess with the mostest, who loves to share tips and tricks to make hosting dinner parties less complicated (but every bit as fabulous!). Growing up in the South, I love sharing easy recipes that gather people around the table. I grew up watching my mom and grandmother host people for various meals and loved how community was cultivated. Now, I enjoy welcoming people to my table to share lively conversations anchored by delicious food. 

AR: What is in your fridge? 

AB: Lots of cut-up veggies from a Bloody Mary Party I just hosted!

AR: What is your favorite easy weeknight dish?

AB: Chicken Divan! I need to cook it more often! 

AR: What is your most made recipe? 

AB: Angry Lasagna! It's a spicy blend of hot sausage, smoked mozzarella, and fire-roasted tomatoes. Such a good meal!

AR: Do you have a favorite recipe on Allrecipes?

AB: Bob's Blue Cheese Dressing!! It's THE best!

AR: How did you come to love cooking? 

AB: While my mom and grandmother loved to host, my dad was the cook in our home. On Saturday mornings, I was at the counter making biscuits and eggs with him! On Thanksgiving mornings, I would pull bread for his mom's dressing recipe. He never measures; he trusts his instincts. He taught me to go for it and never have fear in the kitchen!

AR: What's one easy tip for the home cook when hosting?

AB: I've learned that I don't have to do everything! People want to help, and I am a more welcoming hostess when I delegate!

Creating Meaningful Mealtimes

Since Ashley was a little girl, her favorite place was at the kitchen table surrounded by the people she adored, eating delicious food, and listening to family stories. It’s not surprising that as an adult, Ashley is all about creating unforgettable memories around the table because, to her, that’s where life begins.

Ashley's recipes are dependable dishes that help you effortlessly entertain. From recipes that feed a crowd to ones that are easy to prep ahead, they all perfectly set the stage for a great night with friends. Her impressive Grilled Tomahawk Steak and Georgia Pot Roast do just that.

"A few summers ago, friends and I started having grillouts on the patio. We would all bring something to put on the grill, and it was an easy way for us to gather and build our community.” Ashley wanted something easy but didn't want to skimp on flavor, so her steaks were the perfect thing! The reverse sear technique plus flavorful compound butter ensures that her tomahawk steaks are incredibly juicy and tasty.

Ashley's Georgia Pot Roast is another recipe that’s sure to please everyone. By using pickled Vidalia onions instead of pepperoncini peppers, this dish is a fun twist on Mississippi Pot Roast. The best part about this dish is its versatility in serving. From an excellent starter for game day sliders to serving it more as a traditional pot roast with potatoes and peas, this recipe has endless potsa-bilities!

It's All About Community

With a cocktail in one hand and a welcoming "Hey, Y'all! Come on in!", Ashley greets you warmly the minute you get to her door. A night of pulling up as many chairs as needed to fill her table, plus delicious food, lively conversation, and incredible people awaits. "Entertaining at home is welcoming everyone to your table so you can cultivate community," says Ashley. She watched her mom and grandmother host all kinds of meals and her mother's love of hospitality is why she does what she does today.

Between working and running across town for her kid's practices, Ashley's mom still made sure to have a warm meal and conversation waiting at the table. It wasn't unusual for her to run into someone she knew and extend a quick "Come over for supper!" in passing. In Ashley’s family, her mom was the entertainer and  her dad was usually the cook, but her mom had her go-to dishes, one being a staple of Ashley’s childhood, a Tuna Noodle Casserole. 

"My mom was the Tuna Noodle Casserole QUEEN," says Ashley. She remembers the comforting smell wafting through their house as they would walk in from ballet, baseball, or piano. This recipe is when she realized you could cook the onions and peppers to make the dish better OR just toss them into the casserole when you're short on time. So began Ashley's love for simple recipes that bring people together, and the rest is history!

Learn more about Ashley and what she's cooking in her kitchen!