Appetizer Recipes

Jen wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by to drop off a casserole dish she’d lent me—one of those boring December afternoons where the … Read more

There used to be this little Italian deli on the corner of 7th and Walnut in my old neighborhood that made the most insane spinach … Read more

I was standing in a parking lot last Tuesday—the one behind the grocery store where the dumpsters always smell a little funky—when a whiff of … Read more

My friend Jen asked why I couldn’t just use the hot honey straight from the bottle instead of making a separate glaze for the prosciutto. … Read more

I wasn’t expecting a lesson in holiday entertaining from the guy fixing my garbage disposal. But there I was, standing in my messy kitchen on … Read more

My aunt Carol wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by to drop off a casserole dish she’d lent me, and the smell of garlic … Read more

It was 11:47 PM on a random Wednesday, and I had a very specific, almost aggressive craving for something salty, sweet, and melty. I’d spent … Read more

My neighbor Sarah asked me why I couldn’t just roast the carrots whole instead of chopping them into those uniform sticks I was so carefully … Read more

There used to be a tiny tapas spot tucked away on a side street in downtown Charleston called The Gilded Cork that made the most … Read more

My sister asked why I couldn’t just use puff pastry squares instead of cutting circles. I started to explain why that wouldn’t work—then stopped. Honestly, … Read more

My neighbor Maria watched me hauling grocery bags out of my car that cold Saturday morning in January, and she didn’t say anything at first. … Read more

There used to be this little farm-to-table spot called The Bramble in a tiny town in upstate New York that made the most incredible stuffing … Read more

It was 11:47 PM on a random Wednesday, and I had a very specific craving for deviled eggs. Not the polite, church-potluck kind my aunt … Read more

I was at the hardware store, of all places, trying to find the right size washer for a leaky faucet. The guy behind the counter, … Read more

My friend Jenna asked why I couldn’t just use phyllo cups instead of making pastry from scratch for our annual holiday appetizer swap. I started … Read more

I swore I didn’t like appetizers. Let me explain—it wasn’t the food itself, it was the pressure. Showing up to a fall gathering with a … Read more

My sister had sworn off appetizers. For three years. She claimed they were “calorie bombs disguised as finger food” and would show up to every … Read more

There used to be a tiny sports bar called The Rusty Nail tucked in a strip mall off Highway 71 that made this buffalo chicken … Read more

I was trying to make a gingerbread house. Honestly, it was a disaster from the start. The walls kept collapsing, the royal icing was too … Read more

My neighbor Frank is an accountant. Quiet guy. Keeps to himself, mostly. So when I ran into him at the hardware store last November, I … Read more