Appetizer Recipes

My brother-in-law Mark had claimed for years that he hated deviled eggs. For a solid decade. Every Easter, every potluck, every barbecue—he’d pass the platter … Read more

My neighbor Carol wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by to borrow a ladder—ours had mysteriously walked off during a garage sale—and the smell … Read more

My husband had sworn off venison jerky for a solid decade. Ten years. He claimed it was always too dry, too gamey, or so tough … Read more

It was 10:47 PM on a random Tuesday in early November, and I was wrestling with a block of cream cheese that was still too … Read more

My neighbor, Mrs. Giordano, watched me struggle with a puff pastry sheet that was thawing into a sticky, uncooperative mess on my counter. She didn’t … Read more

I was standing in the frozen foods aisle last November, trying to remember if I’d grabbed heavy cream, when this sharp-sweet smell hit me. Not … Read more

My neighbor, Carol, wasn’t trying to impress me. I’d stopped by to borrow a lug wrench—my car had made this awful grinding noise, and I … Read more

Maggie wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by her place to drop off a book I’d borrowed—some thriller she’d insisted I read—and the smell … Read more

The Super Bowl party was in three hours and I’d completely forgotten. Everyone else would be bringing elaborate dips with handmade tortilla chips, slow-braised meats, … Read more

This was supposed to be a simple, clean-out-the-fridge kind of Sunday. You know the ones—where you stare at the open door for ten minutes, hoping … Read more