Or how I learned to stop worrying and love the reader.

Some things are just true. Billy Joel is one of them.

Three backroad trips across very different versions of America.

I started to wonder why I hold a certain brand of toothpicks so dear. That got me thinking about all the nice, small things that move me.

Waiting until the last minute is better for you than you think.

A few kids, a big storm, and a day I’ll never forget.

Public life can still turn intimate if you leave room for it.

When a crawfish allergy excluded me from one tradition, a new ritual took hold.

It's the season of joy and doom, in equal measure.

Lately I’ve been trying, because not every question demands an answer.

In your best stories, do you have to be the hero, or can you play a supporting role?

As my son turns one, I stop to ask who experienced more milestones.

The first recipe I ever wrote came from a moment of inspiration—and years of practice.

What does our advertising say about us?

On paper, Mardi Gras is nowhere to bring a child. Which makes it the perfect place to come of age.

We all carry our own folklore, whether we know it or not.

I love making pizza because it still puts me in my place.

After using the word one million times in the past year, I offer a tiny test for anyone looking to indulge in a little humanity.

New Year's Eve is an underrated holiday, if you do it just right. For me this year, that included fried chicken fingers, an unexpected moment of clarity, and nearly burning the house down.