Turtle Pudding Cookies
It was the first chilly day of fall, the kind that made our little town look like it was wrapped in a soft, gray blanket....
Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Brownies
A few autumns ago, I was hurrying home after work under a light drizzle, holding a grocery bag that had ripped at the corner because...
One-Pan Butter Parmesan Pasta
I was standing in line at the train station café last winter, waiting for my coffee, when I struck up a conversation with a college...
Cinnamon Sugar Cream Cheese Rolls
One chilly evening after work, I stopped by a little roadside stand run by a cheerful woman named Nora, who sells homemade sweet rolls out...
Broccoli, Rice, Cheese, And Chicken Casserole
I first decided to make this casserole after a conversation with a neighbor’s teenage son who often mows our lawn for a little extra pocket...
Homemade Sweet Potato Cornbread
One chilly autumn afternoon, I stopped by the community garden after work to help a group of volunteers pull up the last rows of summer...
Smoky Maple Beef Jerky
I met a retired truck driver named Hank while waiting in line at the small-town butcher shop last winter. We both reached for the last...
Pumpkin Spice Gooey Cake
A few evenings ago, while I was waiting in line at our town’s small grocery store, I struck up a conversation with the young cashier....
Grilled Chicken And Broccoli Bowls With Creamy Garlic Sauce
Last spring, I was volunteering at a small Saturday clean-up along the walking trail near the lake. A couple of us—neighbors, parents, even a retired...
Million Dollar Bacon Goat Cheese Appetizer Log
One Saturday afternoon, I was standing in the snack aisle at our local grocery store, staring at a row of crackers, wondering what appetizer I...