Appetizers

Introduction The summer I moved into my new apartment, I found myself at a bustling Fourth of July block party, juggling a plate of snacks … Read more

There used to be this little sports bar tucked in the corner of a bustling strip mall in downtown Dayton that made the most unforgettable … Read more

“Hand me that bowl,” my neighbor said, tossing a handful of crab meat into a mixing bowl like it was no big deal. I’d stopped … Read more

Introduction “You won’t believe what I found scribbled on a crumpled napkin at the corner coffee shop last Thursday,” my friend Mark said as he … Read more

“I never thought a few cherry tomatoes and a sheet of puff pastry could cause such a ruckus in my kitchen,” I said to myself … Read more

“You seriously have to try these wings,” my friend Jenna said over the crackle of her backyard grill last summer. I was skeptical—after all, how … Read more

Introduction “I never thought pickles could cause such a commotion,” my friend Jake joked as I handed him a plate of these crispy deep-fried pickles … Read more

“You won’t believe where I got this recipe,” my friend Janice said one summer afternoon, holding out a jar of bright, crunchy pickles that smelled … Read more

“You just have to try this,” said Mrs. Jenkins, the church secretary, as she handed me a bowl during the summer potluck last Thursday. At … Read more

“You know, I never expected a gelatin salad to bring back such vivid memories,” my neighbor Judy confessed last summer as she handed me a … Read more