| MIXINGBOWL | Baker's staple, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| FLOUR | Baker's staple |
| SUGAR | Baker's staple |
| YEAST | Baker's staple |
| CAKEMIX | Birthday party staple, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| BLACKEYEDPEAS | Southern staple, and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| GEFILTEFISH | Stuffed Passover staple ... and a hint to what 20, 32, and 40 Across have in common |
| HORA | Jewish wedding staple ... and a clue to the circled square in this row |
| HASP | A metal fastening consisting of a hinged strap with a slot that fits over a staple and is secured by a pin, bolt or padlock (4) |
| CHANGEOFPACE | Deviation from a normal routine, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| LIFECHANGING | Influential in a big way ... and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| MIXEDNUMBERS | 5A½ and 8A¾, e.g. ... and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| CHANGEOFVENUE | Request from a trial attorney, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| CLOSINGTHEDOOR | Refusing to consider further, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| URBANSPRAWL | Uncontrolled development around a city, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| RRXING | Intersection with flashing lights and bells, for short, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| WILDCARD | One of two baseball playoff teams determined next week by a "play-in" game in each major league, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| FORECLOSURE | Defaulting on a loan may result in it, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| ALTEREDSTATES | 1980 sci-fi thriller, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| CROPSUP | Appears unexpectedly, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
