Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

August, Cochon, Bourbon House for the oyster bar.

Wow, pasties are one of my fave things. My mom (a Finn who grew up in northern Michigan) makes the best in the world. Among me and my siblings pasties were always the requested birthday meal; we also packed them in the backpacks when hiking in the Cascades. Just flank steak, potatoes, and onions -- but parsnip or rutabaga would be good too. As long as you only use lard for the crust!

My Henckels santoku -- my hand knows where to find it in the block without me even looking.

You gotta get The New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook by Nancy Harmon Jenkins, it is awesome. You can also look at her book Cucina del Sole. Enjoy; and you won't feel the least bit deprived.

I use my santoku for everything; my hand knows where it is in the knife block so I hardly have to look.

Hey, this could be my New Year's Day recipe, I love brisket and I love mustard. Yum .

I roast a chicken about twice a month, it's such a lovely dinner with a salad of bitter greens. Spatchcock the bird (and save a ton of backbones in the freezer and then one day make stock), flatten it out, push some soft butter under the skin, rub the outside with butter, squeeze two lemons over it and season liberally with salt and pepper. Roast at 375 on a rack; or 425 depending on your schedule. Make kickass gravy with the drippings. Exactly what I made last night.

Simple, homey comfort foods, like roast chicken or meat loaf with vegetables on the side or a stew or soup. Things that can cook unattended while prep is going on.

@Aya -- upper airway/epiglottis problem. I'll look for you! But can I get into Shortstop with a F350 dually crew cab and a four horse gooseneck? It's gonna be a long day and I'll be starving for sure!

@boobird -- aaaah, Rice-A-Roni! I grew up on it and my mom always dressed it up with baked chicken or some browned ground beef with onions, always something good to feed seven kids. Good meals, good times.

Come on, leftovers are the best! I have the 5 1/2 & 9 rounds, I love them both. If your cooktop can handle it go for the large. The more you use it the more ambitious you will become.

Baba ghanoush with pita and grilled whole fish.

Animals who are allowed to roam freely and eat naturally -- grass and forage, without drugs to enhance them; and are slaughtered humanely, with minimal stress. I can cook for my friends and family knowing that they are eating healthy and flavorful food. Nothing else will suffice.