Half-Baked Puzzles

 Ahoy there! This week's puzzle is a themeless-perhaps harder than usual, but not too hard? It's a fun grid shape, and I hope a fun puzzle, too! Thanks to Quiara for helping to test it out. .puz PDF Solution     Mmm, homemade graham crackers

Have we got a fun one for you today!   If you don't know who Sid Sivakumar is, you're in for a treat: Beyond fantastic puzzles at the New York Times and other venues, you can find tons of great puzzles on Sid's blog , including a tricky pack of themelesses that are raising money to help Afghan women . And Sid is the editor of the crossword at The Juggernaut , where puzzles feature themes and clues related to the South Asian diaspora. Sid was generous enough to share this theme and grid with me, and in typical crossword fashion, it sat on the back-burner for a while. I asked if I could write the clues, and Sid was nice enough to say yes! I'm very happy with how this puzzle turned out, and I hope you will be too. Thanks to Steve Mossberg for testing! .puz PDF Solution   Mmm, mango ice cream  

 How's it going!? Today's puzzle is themed, and hopefully nearer to the easier end of things. Thanks to Benjamin for testing!   See you in a couple weeks for a puzzle featuring one of your favorite constructors.   .puz   PDF   Solution   Mmm, banana bread  

 Hey folks! Back this week with a themeless offering. I think there's a lot of super fun stuff in this one--really happy to get it out into the world! Thanks as always for testing to Steve Mossberg , who has put up some absolutely fantastic cryptic and non-cryptic offerings lately. .puz PDF Solution   Mmm, challah

 Hi everybody! Themed puzzle this week. If you recognize the title this puzzle will be right up your alley--if not, I encourage you to solve it and work the theme out anyway! Thanks to Steve Mossberg for testing! .puz PDF   Solution Mmm, Salted Nut Rolls

 Hello world! Thanks for being patient as the schedule here becomes a little more erratic--still aiming to put puzzles out on Fridays, but it might be more like every other week. Or not! We'll see. In any event, we're back with a themeless puzzle that I hope you enjoy. Thanks to Steve Mossberg for helping test this one.  .puz   PDF Solution Mmm, peanut butter cup  

 Hoo boy, here we go! If you don't know what a cryptic puzzle, I recommend watching the video and reading the explanation from the New Yorker . Things work a little differently in cryptics, but ultimately it's still about that same love of wordplay and clue-solving that we love about American-style crosswords.  The New Yorker's new cryptic puzzle is a great place to start--here are a few more: Joeadultman's "Cryptic 101" puzzles, which each only use a certain cryptic device, and Steve Mossberg's Quiptic series , which can be solved in a "Helpers" version.  A huge thanks to Steve and k0rmad, who went above and beyond in helping me create my first cryptic puzzle--a very intensive and time-consuming feedback process which I'm super grateful for!   I've already rambled on too much. Go give the puzzle a try!  Mmm, blueberry scone     .puz PDF   Solution