Appetizer Recipes

My neighbor Mark asked why I couldn’t just skip the marinade and coat the jerky strips directly with brown sugar before smoking. I started to … Read more

The Christmas Eve potluck was in six hours and I’d completely forgotten. Everyone else would be bringing their signature dishes—Aunt Sarah’s legendary seven-layer dip, my … Read more

I was at the farmers market last December, completely overwhelmed by the holiday crowds. My arms were full of bags, and I was trying to … Read more

My neighbor Jen wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by to borrow a pastry blender—my hand mixer had given up mid-cookie batch—and this gorgeous, … Read more

My kid swore they hated stuffing. For years. Every Thanksgiving, the same scene: a dramatic push of the serving dish away, a muttered “it’s just … Read more

This was supposed to be a cheese board. I had it all planned out—a beautiful wooden board, some fancy crackers, a wedge of brie, and … Read more

Jen wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by to drop off a book I’d borrowed three months ago—embarrassing, I know—and the smell of something … Read more

There used to be a tiny wine bar tucked behind a bookstore in Portland called The Gilded Grape that made the most incredible charcuterie board … Read more

My neighbor, a woman named Rosa who runs her household with the quiet efficiency of a general, watched me one Tuesday afternoon as I stared … Read more

There used to be a tiny, wood-paneled restaurant tucked away on a side street in Portland called The Gander & Grain that made the most … Read more