Introduction This was supposed to be a simple grilled chicken dinner. I grabbed the wrong lemon—one that was way more tart than usual—the skillet was … Read more
Introduction Last Thursday, I was reorganizing my cluttered spice cabinet when the quiet plumber from next door popped in to chat. Now, I wasn’t expecting … Read more
It was 11:43 PM on an unusually quiet Tuesday, and my craving for something cozy and sweet hit me like a freight train. I didn’t … Read more
The office Halloween party was in less than an hour and I’d completely blanked on bringing a snack. Everyone else was showing up with elaborate, … Read more
Introduction Last October, while fumbling through a crowded kitchen during a neighborhood Halloween potluck, my neighbor Jessie watched me struggling with a too-thick dough that … Read more
“I never cared much for Halloween cookies,” my friend Mark admitted one chilly October evening as we sorted through a mountain of holiday baking ideas. … Read more
Introduction The smell hit me while I was standing in a crowded grocery store aisle last Thursday — the sharp, smoky scent of thick-cut bacon … Read more
Introduction This was supposed to be a simple roasted chicken dinner, nothing fancy — just some chicken thighs with a side of whatever vegetables I … Read more
Introduction There used to be this cozy little café tucked away on a side street in Portland’s Pearl District that served a bowl of creamy … Read more
The power went out halfway through a chilly Thursday afternoon, and I found myself stuck at my neighbor Marla’s house, waiting for the lights to … Read more
