Appetizers

The power went out right when my friend Sarah kicked the door open, complaining about the weather and her empty stomach. I stood there in … Read more

The platter was stripped to the white ceramic base before the host even finished pouring her second glass of wine. My sister-in-law actually caught me … Read more

My nephew pointed at the platter with his finger hovering just inches from the edge. He was seven, wearing a plastic witch hat that kept … Read more

The fluorescent lights were humming that low, annoying buzz that always made my teeth ache. It was the annual Halloween party for my elementary school, … Read more

Honestly, I thought arranging raw vegetables into a recognizable human skeleton sounded like a mistake. It seemed like the kind of project that would result … Read more

I figured a charcuterie board was just fancy adult lunchables—pretty to look at, but nothing special. It took about one Friendsgiving dinner for that to … Read more

Three bags of cranberries sat on my kitchen counter, and I had exactly zero plans for them. My in-laws were coming for dinner the next … Read more

My sister took one bite of this crostini at our annual fall get-together, then looked at me with that squinty-eyed expression she gets when she’s … Read more

I need a Halloween appetizer that looks ridiculous and spooky but doesn’t require me to actually cook anything complicated. That’s the exact thought I had … Read more

My nephew took one bite, looked at me with those giant eyes, and said, “Auntie, can I have five more?” I’d barely set the tray … Read more