Appetizer Recipes

My nephew Leo asked why I couldn’t just use black beans for the monster’s hair instead of carving it out of a bell pepper. I … Read more

My neighbor, a retired special effects artist named Sal, watched me struggle with a Halloween cheese platter one October afternoon. I was trying to arrange … Read more

There used to be a tiny pub in Beacon, New York called The Red Barn that made the most incredible sliders I’ve ever tasted. When … Read more

I was folding laundry last Tuesday—a truly thrilling activity, I know—when a wave of something sweet and smoky hit me from the open window. My … Read more

The Halloween potluck was in six hours and I’d completely forgotten. Everyone else would be bringing elaborate themed desserts—I’d seen the sign-up sheet. A neighbor … Read more

Let me tell you, these aren’t your grandma’s deviled eggs—though she’d probably approve of the filling. These Quick Spooky Spider Deviled Eggs for Halloween are … Read more

He slid the last piece of prosciutto onto the board, stepped back, and said, “We should just eat like this every night.” He wasn’t joking. … Read more

I was standing in the grocery store aisle last October, staring at a bin of avocados, when a tiny voice in my head said, “What … Read more

There used to be a tiny dive bar called The Rusty Lantern on the corner of Elm and 3rd in my old neighborhood that made … Read more

The neighborhood Halloween potluck was in three hours and I’d completely forgotten. Everyone else would be bringing those elaborate, multi-day preparations—you know, the kind that … Read more

My sister-in-law Jen wasn’t trying to impress anyone that Tuesday afternoon. I’d stopped by to borrow a gardening trowel—mine had snapped in half on a … Read more

I want deviled eggs for the Halloween party, obviously. But I want them to look like they belong on a platter next to fake cobwebs … Read more

My nephew’s fifth birthday party was a whole theme—monsters, slime, the works. I was in charge of the snack table, which felt easy enough until … Read more

My neighbor Carol wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by to borrow a cup of sugar—cliché, I know—and the smell of paprika and something … Read more

This was supposed to be a sophisticated appetizer for a Halloween party—I had grand visions of caramelized onion and gruyère-stuffed puff pastry spirals. But I … Read more

Let me tell you, these Savory Spiced Roasted Pumpkin Seeds are a game-changer for your next gathering. I’ve tested this recipe more times than I … Read more

Third time this week I’ve stood over a cutting board, slicing cheddar into strips while my six-year-old arranges pretzel sticks on a plate like they’re … Read more

My husband swore he hated buffalo chicken dip. For years. Every Super Bowl party, every potluck, every time someone brought that bubbling, orange-speckled dish to … Read more

The spider web was lopsided. Honestly, it looked more like a ghost with a bad hair day than a web. But my six-year-old nephew looked … Read more

This was supposed to be a tart. A fancy, fussy, frangipane-filled cranberry tart that I had absolutely no business attempting forty-five minutes before my guests … Read more