Appetizers

My neighbor, a guy named Leo who I only ever saw holding a football or a grill tongs, watched me struggle with a block of … Read more

The tailgate was in four hours and I had nothing. Absolutely nothing. My cousin Mark had texted the group chat a week ago, reminding everyone … Read more

I was standing in the checkout line at the hardware store last Saturday—don’t ask, it’s that time of year—when the guy in front of me … Read more

It was 11:17 PM on a sweltering Tuesday in July, and I was possessed by a very specific, and frankly, weird, craving. I didn’t want … Read more

Let me be honest with you—I’ve made a lot of stuffed jalapeño poppers in my day. Cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, the usual suspects. They’re good, … Read more

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