Appetizers

Introduction This was supposed to be a simple chicken wing platter for the big game, nothing fancy. I grabbed the wrong kind of flatbread from … Read more

“Hand me that bowl,” my neighbor Carlos said, tossing a handful of smoky chorizo into a cast-iron skillet as if he were just tossing salad. … Read more

“You want to try something a little wild with your snacks?” my coworker asked one humid Friday afternoon, watching me fiddle nervously with a dull … Read more

“Hand me that bowl,” my next-door neighbor called from her kitchen one Saturday morning. I had just popped over to borrow some sugar, but before … Read more

Introduction This was supposed to be a simple batch of peach jam. I grabbed the figs instead of peaches—don’t ask how—and the slow cooker was … Read more

Introduction Last summer, I was helping out at a local flea market, sorting through an eclectic mix of vintage kitchen gadgets and dusty cookbooks. Amid … Read more

“Why don’t you just stuff the banana peppers with cream cheese and drizzle that Calabrian chili oil on top?” my friend suggested one late summer … Read more

“Why can’t you just toss the zucchini in the pan without squeezing out all the water?” my friend asked one evening while I was fussing … Read more

I was grabbing a quick coffee at my corner café last Fourth of July when the sudden tang of lime and honey from a nearby … Read more

This was supposed to be a straightforward BBQ bacon cheeseburger night. I grabbed the wrong kind of buns, the grill was hotter than I thought, … Read more