Comfort Food Classics

I ruined acorn squash for three Thanksgivings in a row before I finally figured out what I was doing wrong. Not a little burnt on … Read more

Football Sundays had a chili problem. Not the chili itself—that was fine. It was the timing that never worked. You’d spend the morning browning meat, … Read more

Fourth time in two weeks I made this skillet cornbread, and this time I finally let the butter brown just long enough before whisking in … Read more

“This is the best soup I’ve ever had. No, seriously, I mean it this time.” My sister said that between bites, holding up a spoonful … Read more

Smoke alarm going off, three different people asking me where the tongs were, and I’m elbow-deep in a slow cooker at 10 a.m. on Labor … Read more

Introduction Last October, while fumbling with my sourdough starter and a less-than-cooperative kitchen timer, my neighbor Martha watched me struggle without a word. Then, just … Read more

“Why don’t you just toss the pulled pork right onto the buns and skip the whole fancy sauce thing?” my friend asked one rainy afternoon … Read more

There used to be a tiny, sunlit café tucked behind the bustling streets of my old neighborhood in Portland that made the most unforgettable mac … Read more

Introduction The power went out halfway through my Saturday barbecue when my usually chatty neighbor, Mr. Jenkins—the quiet accountant nobody imagined as a kitchen wizard—started … Read more

Introduction The neighborhood bake sale was in less than two hours and I’d completely blanked on bringing something homemade. Everyone else was showing up with … Read more