What does “feel-good food” mean? It depends on who you ask. That’s why each month our Feel-Good Food Plan—with delicious recipes and a few wild cards—is hosted by someone new. This month cookbook author Casey Elsass shares how food keeps him connected.

I grew up in New England, where fall is a personality trait. When I was little, we would go to a farm in rural New Hampshire that offered hayrides and the best apple cake I’ve ever had in my life. We didn’t keep this ritual to ourselves—any visiting family, friends from my class, or various houseguests that stopped by were invited along with the promise of a great cake. It was a way of saying come with us, be a part of this. That’s what feel-good food means to me: something delicious, yes, but also something that creates connection.

This idea runs through my new cookbook, What Can I Bring?: Recipes to Help You Live Your Guest Life. It’s 75 of my best answers (aka recipes) to that simple-yet-stressful question we’ve all had to ask. These are dishes you can tuck in your tote and bring along to any gathering to share—dips, breads, salads, drinks, and, of course, sweets. But really it’s a book about getting together, making community, and spending time with the people you love.

When the air gets chilly and the apples are ripe for the picking, this Easy Apple Cake is all I want to eat. The batter starts simply, with sour cream for tenderness, cinnamon, and diced apples, plus a crunchy topping of chopped walnuts and brown sugar. But the curveball here is a splash of apple cider vinegar, which not only adds a tangy apple flavor, but also gives the cake a lofty, fluffy lift. To me, a snackable cake like this one is the best kind of food for well-being. It’s about joy and generosity, but it’s also about feeding your people—and yourself—in a way that makes everyone feel welcome.

More Feel-Good Finds for the Month

The pro-level pan

If you’re going to bake this cake—or really any cake with a delicate topping—you want a springform pan. This Nordic Ware version is leakproof and releases like a dream. I once left mine at a friend’s apartment and just let him keep it, and then I did it again at another friend’s apartment. (Call me the springform fairy.) For those keeping count, I’m now on my third pan, so you can believe me when I tell you: I am brand-loyal! If you’re the type to bring dessert to a dinner party, this pan will make you look like a pro every single time.

Nordic Ware 9″ Spring Form Pan

The album I have on repeat

This album has gone triple platinum on my record player—my boyfriend hasn’t banned it yet, but I’m probably on thin ice. When I’m baking, I love to listen to something chill and soothing with melodies I can hum along to. This gentle, dreamy album feels like Fleet Foxes decided to make a classic ’70s Brazilian rock album. It’s not background noise—it’s the kind of music that reminds you to slow down and actually enjoy the process. Every cake deserves a good soundtrack, and this one is all thanks to Timmy B.

My favorite game

The only thing I love more than a great dessert is a great game night. I’m basically running an MLM for Monopoly Deal—every single person I’ve taught it to has immediately ordered their own deck. For the uninitiated, it’s Monopoly as a card game, and one trillion times more cutthroat. Or at least that’s how I like to play it. It’s the perfect thing to pull out with dessert—and the fastest way to discover the silent killer in your friend group.

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Next Time

December’s Feel-Good Food Plan will be hosted by our editor in chief Jamila Robinson, who’s sharing her active and nourishing wintertime routine. Until next time!