Abbi Shaeffer

When I’m asked to bring a dish to a holiday gathering, I like to make sure the recipe doesn’t just taste good but also is beautiful to look at. It’s a huge plus if it can also be made the…

Cardamom is one of my favorite winter flavors. It’s less popular than cinnamon, but to me, it has so much more depth and subtlety. Cardamom is a traditional Scandinavian holiday spice, perfect for cozying up recipes throughout the long dark…

I love making gingerbread houses, but have never been a big fan of the neon sugar-filled candy that usually covers them. I wanted an option that was a little healthier, a little prettier, and a little more natural. A couple…

Since starting my own household, tomato sauce has proven to be one of the most versatile ingredients in my pantry. I use it in everything from homemade pizza to casseroles to soups to pasta, and I always seem to be…

Nothing hits the spot quite like warm soup on a cold day. There’s a reason that fall is considered soup season, and this recipe combines the flavors of autumn into a favorite comfort food. This dish is perfect for serving…

I have found that fall brings with it a lot of evening parties, potlucks, and last-minute gatherings. Last Sunday, I needed a quick snack that I could throw together and have ready in under an hour. This recipe was incredibly…

I was never much one for fruit on salads, mostly because that fruit was usually raisins or craisins, options to which I inherited an aversion from my father. I had a bag of pecans sitting in my pantry and a…

I was talking to a woman I work with last week about peaches, complaining about how the ones I had picked up from the grocery store were too small and hard to enjoy. She smiled, shook her head, and told…