Appetizer Recipes

Lisa wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by her place on a random Thursday to pick up a casserole dish I’d left at her … Read more

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

My neighbor, Sarah, wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by to borrow a cup of sugar—a cliché, I know, but that’s honestly what happened—and … Read more

I was halfway through arranging a third batch of store-bought crackers on a platter when my sister-in-law walked in and said, “You know, it looks … Read more

The neighborhood holiday potluck was in six hours and I’d completely forgotten. I had a half-empty pantry, a rapidly fraying sanity, and a reputation for … Read more

My neighbor, Mrs. Kowalski, watched me staring at the display case at the deli counter last December. I had a cart full of crackers, a … Read more

This was supposed to be a proper Thanksgiving turkey. I mean, that was the plan. I had the bird, the brine was ready, and I’d … Read more

The Super Bowl party was in six hours and I’d completely forgotten. Everyone else would be bringing elaborate spreads—slow-cooked ribs, homemade guacamole from a secret … Read more

I was standing in line at a very expensive cheese shop in downtown Chicago, waiting to pay for a wedge of aged gouda, when the … Read more

My neighbor, Mrs. Gable, watched me struggling with a colander of chopped bell peppers and didn’t say anything at first. Then she handed me a … Read more