This was supposed to be mulled wine. I had the oranges, the cinnamon sticks, the star anise—everything ready for a proper batch to bring to … Read more

I was at the hardware store last December, of all places, picking up a new snow shovel. The guy in front of me in line, … Read more

My friend Jenna asked me why I couldn’t just use regular milk and skip the heavy cream. I was in the middle of explaining—very patiently, … Read more

The holiday potluck was in six hours and I’d completely forgotten. Everyone else would be bringing elaborate appetizers, homemade pies, and slow-cooked roasts. I had … Read more

I was standing in the middle of a hardware store last November — of all places — when a woman walked past me holding one … Read more