Appetizers

This was supposed to be a taco bar. I had it all planned out—ground beef seasoned just right, a lineup of toppings, soft flour tortillas … Read more

It was 10:47 on a random Thursday in October, and I was staring at a pumpkin-shaped hole in my life. Not literally, of course—my counter … Read more

I was elbow-deep in dish soap last November when the smell hit me. Not the lemon-scented suds, but something sharper, brighter—a whiff of orange zest … Read more

Last December, my neighbor Carol watched me struggling to carry a grocery bag that was definitely about to split open. She didn’t say anything at … Read more

I was at a Halloween block party last October, balancing a paper plate of store-bought chips and trying not to spill my drink, when my … Read more

I was standing in the parking lot of a small farm stand last October when it hit me — that sharp, sweet smell of ripe … Read more

The neighborhood Halloween party was in six hours and I’d completely forgotten about the appetizer sign-up. Everyone else would be bringing those elaborate themed platters—you … Read more

I wasn’t expecting to learn how to make homemade pretzels from my accountant. But there I was, sitting in his cramped office during tax season, … Read more

There used to be this tiny taco spot tucked behind a laundromat on 4th Street that made the best guacamole I have ever had. When … Read more

My brother-in-law, Dave, had sworn off “fancy snack boards” for years. Five years. He claimed they were just “pretty plates of overpriced cheese” that left … Read more