Half-Baked Puzzles

 Hi friends, Back this week with a themed midi. I constructed this puzzle on Twitch  as a way to demo the construction software Ingrid . Spoilers for this puzzle in that video, obviously! Ingrid is fantastic, and continues to be my go-to software for construction--and it's free!  Ingrid also has quite a few features that have been added since I made that video, especially a tool to add and change word scores. If you have an interest in construction, go check it out. And thanks to those who hung out on the Twitch stream. Their ideas helped shape this puzzle, including the title, which I believe was suggested by Dan . Go solve Dan's great puzzles, and congrats to Dan on his incredible 3rd place in the Mountain division at Westwords.  Thanks to Norah for help in testing this one.  .puz PDF   Solution   Mmm, pepperoni pizza  

 Hi friends, Here today with a barred cryptic style that's shamelessly cribbed from the New Yorker . The New Yorker's cryptics are some of the easiest American cryptics around, which I think is a real resource for newer solvers. With enough experience setting cryptics to feel like I can make one that's truly easy (it's much easier to make an impossibly hard cryptic than a very straightforward one), I'm throwing my hat into the ring. Let me know what you think, especially if you're less experienced with cryptics--I'd love to do more of these.  Thanks to Norah , Steve , and Chris for help in testing this one.    (If OneDrive links prompt a login, try opening in a private window. ipuz files can be opened in the Crossword Nexus solver) .ipuz PDF   Solution and parses   Mmm, apple pannekoeken

 Hi friends! Right back at you again with a sweet lil midi! Of course you can find plenty more grids of the midi variety (but never mid) over at Lil AVC X . Thanks to Norah and Alex for help in testing this one.  Next week... a cryptic that's very much towards the easier end of things? (If opening OneDrive links prompts a login, try using a private browser window) .puz PDF   Solution   Mmm, cherry macadamia white chocolate chip crispy cookie

 Hi friends, Got a really special one this week with the inimitable Kate Chin Park. You can solve her amazing puzzles over at Crosswords Schmosswords and see her work as an edit ör at the New Y ö rker . Thanks to Norah for helping test this one. I'm hopeful to keep this trend of weekly puzzles going, at least for a bit, this summer. If you're enjoying them, drop me a line! I'd love to hear from you. .jpz PDF   Solution Mmm, strawberry rhubarb bars

 Hey friends, Got a cool collab for you today. This one is the brainchild of the talented Alex Boisvert , and I'm so grateful to him for bringing me along on this one. We think you'll really enjoy it. Special thanks to Kate and Norah for their help on this one.  Solve online iPuz download Mmm, pecan pie

 Hi friends! Coming at you just a wee bit late with a midi this week. If you like these slightly-smaller puzzles, there's plenty more to be had over at Lil AVC X where I'll be part of a fantastic team of editors in 2023! Thank you to Lil AVC X roster member Norah  for helping test this one.    .puz   PDF Solution   Mmm, bagels

 Hi all! Little bit smaller grid this week, but one with a lot to sink your teeth into. This one was made with the help of Twitch, so thank you to everyone who helped with suggestions--I wish I could remember all of you, but feel free to comment with your contribution(s)! I have a few puzzles upcoming in other outlets, so hopefully I'll be back soon to plug those and perhaps with some further rambling. Thanks to Kate for helping test this puzzle; go solve her super-fun puzzles! .puz PDF   Solution

 What's up everyone! Today's puzzle is a midi that we constructed on Twitch! If you were in that stream, thanks for the help! And a special thanks to Norah for helping to test this one out.  .puz Mmm, 80% white cob loaf

 Hi!   Bonus midi today! It's my birthday so I'm giving you all a little present. Enjoy!    .puz     PDF   Solution Mmm, bread  

 Hi! Midi today--if you're looking for a full-size puzzle, why not try  my Spyscape puzzle   from last weekend?  Thanks to the inimitable Brooke Husic for her help in testing this one--and of course for her pioneering  use of diagonal symmetry. Go solve her very hard puzzles!   .puz PDF     Mmm, ale rolls  

Over on Malaika Handa's site 7xwords there's a very cool project going on: an attempt to create a 7x7 crossword puzzle with every possible valid configuration of black squares. Various constructors, both brand newbies and seasoned veterans, are all contributing puzzles. And today you can go and solve my contribution to the project.  As a way to help promote the project, and let's be real--just for fun, I've made an alternate puzzle with the same grid pattern. Hope you solve them both, and then go and check out the rest of the 7xwords puzzles if you haven't already.   Mmm, bread  

 Hi!   A quick midi I've been promising to post for a while. Unfortunately I didn't bake the pita featured below, but I did make the rest of the meal--and so can you.   Mmm, Halal Cart-style chicken and rice   .puz  

 Hi!    Let's just get to the puzzle! But first, baked goods. Oh, and an easy puzzle coming Friday, for those who enjoy puzzles on the friendlier side.   .puz PDF Solution Mmm, white bread

 If you're not a fan of 21x21s, or you've just done all of them today, how about a nice midi for your Sunday? 

 Here's a mini! Mmm, cheesecake with slightly horrifying spun sugar