Appetizers

There used to be a tiny, dimly-lit bakery on a side street in Portland called “The Little Gnome” that made the most incredible savory hand … Read more

I was standing in the frozen foods aisle last October, staring at a box of hot dogs like it held the secrets to the universe. … Read more

“Why can’t you just roast the squash with the skin on?” my friend Jen asked, peering over my shoulder as I hunched over a butternut … Read more

My roommate, Jen, asked why I couldn’t just bake the dip inside a pumpkin instead of a regular bowl. I started to explain why that … Read more

My neighbor, a retired caterer named Maria, watched me struggling to peel a batch of hard-boiled eggs one afternoon. I was cursing under my breath, … Read more

I was standing in the middle of the craft store aisle last December, holding a foam wreath form in one hand and a glue gun … Read more

My friend, let’s call her Sarah, asked why I couldn’t just arrange everything on one big wooden board instead of fussing with three separate platters. … Read more

It was 11:47 PM on a random Tuesday in March, and I had a buffalo chicken dip craving that would not quit. I mean, the … Read more

My neighbor across the hall, Mrs. Gable, is eighty-three and has opinions about everything, especially food. Last November, I was wrestling a turkey into the … Read more

It was 11:47 PM on a random Wednesday, and I was staring into the pantry like it owed me money. The craving hit me out … Read more