about three weeks ago, I decided to run an experiment by dumping the wheat from my diet. If you know me, you may know that I LOVE bread, pasta, pizza, bagels, pastries, and just about everything else baked with wheat flour. It’s been a staple in my diet my entire life. You would think that it would be hard for me to give up all this golden brown deliciousness, but in fact, it’s been pretty easy. Especially given the fact that I feel like a new man.

There’s something revolutionary about doing stuff yourself. Make some jam for freedom! Grow your own? Liberte! It’s in this spirit that I decided to break the shackles of processed cracker servitude. Crackers have been one of our last processed hold outs. But no more! What do we like? Crackers! When can we bake them? Now!

I found this year’s Dodge ad to be quite moving, in that it reminded the world that it’s PEOPLE who keep us fed. Farming isn’t easy. It’s back-breaking work. Farmer’s deserve our appreciation and support (especially the family farmer). The fact that the family farmer got a spotlight on the world’s biggest stage is good enough for me.

I don’t know what it is, but Super Bowl Sunday always makes me want chili. I’m not talking about that weak-sauce stuff that most people think of when they consider good ol’ American chili. A few years ago, I came up with a recipe that satisfied my need for big flavor (and a decent amount of spice) by using dried chilies.