Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Of course Celiac disease exists and other people have gluten sensitivities to a lesser extent, but that doesn't take away from the fact that other people buy gluten-free items because they see it as the next healthy trend. Because some people have problems with gluten, other people connect the wrong dots and decide that gluten in general is bad, and they avoid it, even though they, themselves, have no sensitivities.

And people who latch onto those sorts of bogus health claims make it difficult for people who do have sensitivities and allergies. Because they sit back and say, "I've cut out all gluten and I feel 100 percent better" while eating something that obviously contains gluten. As a result, people who do have the sensitivities are taken less seriously.

And I know some people who are gluten-sensitive who attempt to diagnose everyone else into having gluten issues. I understand that when you find the thing that has made you miserable, it's a wonderful thing and you want to share your knowledge. But it's a little much when it becomes a vendetta and you tell everyone that they should also avoid that food. And when people jump on that bandwagon for no reason, it does become a health fad.

I love just simply roasting diced up sweet potatoes with olive oil, lots of salt and pepper, sometimes chili powder or curry powder.

Favorite family dinner would have to be my childhood birthday meal of Earl Abel's fried chicken and black bottom pie.

Really anything, as long as it's accompanied by family and laughter. We often have shrimp scampi in the summer and a roast with Yorkshire Pudding in the winter....mmm.... :)

spaghetti and meatballs

I am so sorry about that, @brunswickstew -- you are right, I mis-typed. I am so terribly sorry - I did mean teaspoon. Would love to make it up to you by swapping pie recipes! Feel free to email!

It depends on the weather for me, but at this time of year it's roast chicken, mashed potatoes, peas (homegrown, please; frozen peas from the store are inevitably overripe), green salad, and pie.

Could there possibly be a substitute for the cloves? And I concur with the previous statements. Your illustration is hilarious! I'll have to dig up the rest of your recipes to check the rest of them out. Can't wait. ;)

- Anthony Shelley

http://vincentbakery.wordpress.com/

My favorite family dinner would have to be posole. We have it every christmas eve with fresh tamales and it is sooo good.

ribs. lasagna. soup. anything my mom makes

Our favorite comfort food is mapo tofu - spicy and warming - over rice with some sauteed greens. Something about one bowl foods you can hold in your hand do it for us...

Boring but comforting - an overly stuffed tuna salad sandwich, on wonderful crusty rye bread, a slight smear of mayo, crisp iceberg lettuce, juicy tomato, cut in half please.

barbeque salmon and broccoli slaw, mom's favorite summer specialty