Appetizer Recipes

My brother had sworn he hated cream cheese for thirty-seven years. Thirty-seven years, folks. He’d pick it out of bagels, push aside cheesecake at family … Read more

I was standing in the frozen food aisle at Costco last Thursday, staring at a box of pre-made jalapeño poppers, when the smell hit me … Read more

The Super Bowl party was in four hours and I’d completely forgotten. Everyone else would be bringing elaborate spreads—smoked brisket sliders, jalapeño poppers that looked … Read more

This was supposed to be a plate of classic chicken wings. I mean, it was game day, right? You have to have wings. I had … Read more

My neighbor, a quiet woman named Clara who kept mostly to herself, watched me one October afternoon as I fumbled with a store-bought cheese platter … Read more

I’d been telling my friend Jenna for weeks that I wasn’t doing themed food for Halloween this year. I mean, I love a good party … Read more

The neighborhood Halloween party was in six hours and I’d completely forgotten. Everyone else would be bringing those elaborate themed desserts you see on baking … Read more

It was 11:47 PM on a dreary Wednesday in February, and I had an irrational, overwhelming need for a soft pretzel. Not the sad, dry, … Read more

It was 10:47 PM on a random Thursday in January, and I was supposed to be prepping for a weekend game-day party. The problem? I … Read more

My brother-in-law Mark asked why I couldn’t just dump everything in a slow cooker and walk away. I had a whole speech ready about layering … Read more