Appetizer Recipes

My friend Jen asked why I couldn’t just use the bagged salad mix for the Friendsgiving sides. I started to explain why that wouldn’t work—then … Read more

The Friendsgiving potluck was in twelve hours and I’d completely forgotten. I mean, I’d remembered the event—who forgets a party with unlimited mashed potatoes?—but I’d … Read more

I was supposed to be making classic soft pretzels. You know, the buttery, salty kind you get from a cart on a street corner. I … Read more

My niece, who is eight and has opinions about everything, asked me why I couldn’t just wrap the vegetables in the crescent dough like a … Read more

This was supposed to be a cheese board. I had it all planned out—a gorgeous, rustic wooden board loaded with fancy aged cheddar, prosciutto, and … Read more

The neighborhood fall potluck was in twelve hours and I’d completely forgotten. Everyone else would be bringing those elaborate, multi-day preparations—you know the type. Slow-braised … Read more

There used to be a tiny, dimly lit bar on the corner of Elm and 3rd called The Crow’s Nest. It was the kind of … Read more

I was standing in the checkout line at the grocery store, holding a wheel of brie like it was a secret I wasn’t ready to … Read more

It was 11:47 PM on a random Thursday, and I had a very specific craving for something salty, sweet, and melty. I didn’t have the … Read more

This was supposed to be a simple cheese plate. I had it all planned out—a classic French brie, some fancy crackers, maybe a few grapes … Read more

The school Halloween party was in six hours and I’d completely forgotten. My son reminded me at breakfast, mid-bite of his cereal, milk dribbling down … Read more

My husband claimed to hate candy corn for fifteen years. Fifteen years. Every October, he’d make the same declaration with such conviction you’d think candy … Read more

Liz wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by her place last October to drop off a slow cooker I’d borrowed, and the sight hit … Read more

The summer I turned nine, my mom took me to a tiny Halloween pop-up café downtown — the kind with spiderwebs in the windows and … Read more

It was 11:47 PM on a rainy Tuesday in late October, and I was hit with the most ridiculous craving for deviled eggs. Not just … Read more

My sister swore she hated themed party food. For years. She’d roll her eyes at themed cupcakes and make gagging noises at anything shaped like … Read more

I wasn’t trying to throw a party. Honestly, I’d just had one of those weeks where everything felt a little heavy, and my plan for … Read more

I was standing in the checkout line at the hardware store—of all places—when the woman behind me, who I’d later learn was a retired pastry … Read more

My friend Jen asked why I couldn’t just toss the pumpkin seeds straight into the air fryer without boiling them first. I started to explain … Read more

There used to be a tiny, dimly lit bar called The Lonesome Fig on the corner of 7th and Spring in my old neighborhood. It … Read more