Appetizer Recipes

My neighbor Clara watched me standing in the produce aisle last October, staring at a bin of cranberries like they held the secrets to the … Read more

My neighbor, Carol, had been a cranberry sauce purist for as long as I’d known her. She claimed to hate anything that “messed with the … Read more

There used to be this little wine bar tucked away on a side street in Portland called The Cork & Board. They had this thing—not … Read more

My brother-in-law, Mark, swore he hated Brussels sprouts. For thirty-seven years. That was his position, stated firmly every Thanksgiving and Easter, while he piled his … Read more

The holiday party was in six hours and I’d completely forgotten I was supposed to bring an appetizer. Everyone else would be showing up with … Read more

I was digging through my freezer last Tuesday, you know, looking for that bag of frozen peas I swore was in there, when my hand … Read more

There used to be a tiny coffee shop tucked between a vintage bookstore and a dry cleaner on the corner of Elm and 4th that … Read more

Laura wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by her place on a random Tuesday evening to drop off a book I’d borrowed, and this … Read more

I was standing in the frozen food aisle of our local grocery store last November, holding a bag of frozen chicken breasts and staring blankly … Read more

There used to be a tiny wine bar tucked behind a vintage shop in my neighborhood that made this incredible charcuterie board. When they closed … Read more

It was 11:47 PM on a rainy Tuesday in late November, and I had a very specific craving for something warm, flaky, and just the … Read more

The woman at the community garden plot next to mine watched me fumbling with a bag of store-bought decorations one October afternoon. She didn’t say … Read more

There used to be a little neighborhood pizzeria on the corner of Maple and 3rd called Tony’s that made the most incredible spinach artichoke dip. … Read more

My niece asked why I couldn’t just use the canned crescent dough straight from the fridge, no rolling, no chilling, no fuss. I started to … Read more

Maya wasn’t trying to throw a party. I’d stopped by her apartment on a rainy Tuesday to pick up a book I’d lent her, and … Read more

My nephew asked why I couldn’t just use a cookie cutter to shape the veggies for our Halloween party platter. I started to explain why … Read more

My neighbor, a retired florist named Clara, watched me struggle with a giant, greasy bag of chips one October afternoon. She didn’t say anything at … Read more

It was 11:47 PM on a random Wednesday in October, and I had a very specific craving for something festive but also… healthy? I didn’t … Read more

The neighborhood Halloween potluck was in four hours and I’d completely forgotten. I mean, I’d remembered to buy the big bag of candy for trick-or-treaters, … Read more

There used to be this tiny wine bar tucked behind a bookstore in downtown Asheville called The Gilded Vine. They made this autumn charcuterie board … Read more