Appetizer Recipes

I was sorting through a box of old vinyl records at a dusty thrift store—one of those places that smells like mothballs and forgotten time—when … Read more

This was supposed to be caramel corn. I mean, that was the whole plan. I had the brown sugar measured, the butter softening on the … Read more

There used to be a tiny, dimly-lit diner called The Rusty Lantern on the edge of town, the kind of place with cracked vinyl booths … Read more

This was supposed to be a proper monster face. You know, the kind where you arrange veggies into a Frankenstein or a mummy on a … Read more

It was 11:47 PM on a random Tuesday in late October, and I had a very specific craving for deviled eggs. Not just any deviled … Read more

My neighbor, a woman named Clara who grew up in a tiny town outside Vienna, watched me one October afternoon as I wrestled with a … Read more

The neighborhood pumpkin carving party was in three hours and I’d completely forgotten. Everyone else would be bringing elaborate appetizers—baked brie in puff pastry, hand-rolled … Read more

My friend Jen asked why I couldn’t just stir the cream cheese into the hot shredded chicken instead of waiting for it to soften on … Read more

My sister-in-law, Jen, wasn’t trying to impress anyone that Tuesday night. I had stopped by to drop off a book she’d lent me, and the … Read more

My brother-in-law Mark had sworn off dips for years. Not because he didn’t like them, but because he claimed they were “just a vehicle for … Read more