We are moving into holiday season. That means that you may be going to parties, and you may need a small gift. There also may be extra invitations to the homes of friends for dinner or brunch.

I’m a recipe writer but also a realist. Does everything need to be made from scratch at home? Of course not. As Our Queen Ina (Garten) is famous for saying, “store-bought is fine.” I’d go a step ...