Appetizers

I wasn’t expecting cooking advice from my accountant, but there I was, sitting in his cramped office during tax season, watching him pull a stained … Read more

I swore I hated potato salad. Honestly, for years. The usual versions at cookouts—mushy, mayo-heavy, tasting like nothing but soggy potato and regret—had me convinced … Read more

It was 10:47 PM on a Wednesday in mid-October, and I was staring into my fridge like it held the secrets to the universe. The … Read more

Last fall, I was standing in the middle of a crowded party supply store on a Saturday morning, holding a plastic tablecloth in one hand … Read more

Last September, my husband declared he had no use for candied jalapeños. “Too sweet,” he said. “Not spicy enough. What’s the point?” He was emphatic, … Read more

A woman named Clara stopped me in the produce aisle last September. I was staring at a basket of figs, poking one like I knew … Read more

I was standing in the frozen food aisle of our local grocery store last Saturday, staring at a bag of sad-looking frozen meatballs, when the … Read more

It was 10:47 PM on a random Thursday in October, and I was supposed to be meal-prepping for the week. Classic mistake, right? I had … Read more

My friend Dave asked why I couldn’t just throw everything on one big sheet pan instead of fussing with separate bowls and toppings. I started … Read more

I was standing in the parking lot of a grocery store last July when it hit me. Not a car, thankfully, but the smell of … Read more