Dinner Recipes

This was supposed to be a slow-simmered beef stew—the kind you let bubble away on a rainy Sunday while you fold laundry and pretend you’re … Read more

Marta wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by her place to pick up a book I’d lent her—some novel I’d never actually finished—and the … Read more

My neighbor Carol asked me why I couldn’t just drop the dumplings right into the simmering chicken broth instead of fussing with a separate pot. … Read more

My brother-in-law Mark had claimed to hate squash for thirty-seven years. Thirty-seven years. He’d make this face—you know the one—whenever a roasted vegetable medley showed … Read more

The neighborhood fall potluck was in six hours and I’d completely forgotten. Everyone else would be bringing elaborate dishes they’d probably spent all weekend perfecting—I … Read more

I was digging through the back of my pantry last Tuesday, looking for a bag of chocolate chips I swore I’d bought, when my hand … Read more

My sister asked why I couldn’t just toss everything in one bowl and shake the dressing right in there. I was halfway through explaining why … Read more

There used to be a tiny café tucked between a laundromat and a used bookstore in my old neighborhood—the kind of place with mismatched chairs … Read more

This was supposed to be a proper Oktoberfest feast. I had grand plans—bratwurst on the grill, homemade potato salad, pretzels from the bakery, and maybe … Read more

Margit wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by her house to pick up a casserole dish I’d left at a neighborhood potluck, and the … Read more