Appetizers

My mother-in-law, Carol, wasn’t trying to impress anyone that Sunday. I’d stopped by to drop off a casserole dish I’d borrowed, and the sight of … Read more

It was 10:47 PM on a random Wednesday, and I was three hours deep into a spiral of watching competitive baking shows. You know that … Read more

This was supposed to be a cheese board. A simple, elegant, no-fuss cheese board for a small Thanksgiving gathering. I had it all planned out—a … Read more

My brother had claimed to hate cream cheese for twenty-three years. Twenty-three years of side-eyeing bagels, skipping cheesecake at birthdays, and pushing dip platters away … Read more

Jen wasn’t trying to be clever. I’d stopped by her place that Tuesday afternoon to drop off a book I’d borrowed, and the sight of … Read more

Let me tell you, after that first failed attempt—where I used way too many wet ingredients and ended up with a sad, soggy board—I almost … Read more

I was standing in the frozen food aisle last October, staring at a box of hot dogs like they held the secrets to the universe. … Read more

There used to be a tiny café called The Gilded Acorn tucked away on a side street in Portland, Oregon, that made the most incredible … Read more

The Halloween potluck was in six hours and I’d completely forgotten. Everyone else would be bringing those elaborate themed dishes—you know the ones, with the … Read more

I was standing in the cheese aisle of our local market last Thursday, staring at a wheel of brie like it held the secrets to … Read more