This page started as a homage to my grandmother, Mozelle, and my husband’s grandmother Blanche. They first taught our family that love is often served on a plate. This language of love is a legacy they shared with our mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles and even the kids. From ovens to grills, countertops and porch swings - we’ve learned that food is a universal language and all are welcome to gather, eat, share, cry and laugh at our table.

In 2008, at age 50, I was diagnosed with celiac disease - and it changed the way I looked at food overnight. After wondering what I would eat (and allowing myself one small -??? breakdown), I decided that giving up our family’s favorite recipes simply wasn’t an option. So I started adapting them to be gluten free, while keeping all the flavors that made them favorites in the first place.

Before long, it became a family project. Relatives pitched in to help convert beloved recipes, so my daughter and I could keep enjoying the meals we grew up with.

Every family has its favorite recipes. Ours has generations of them - tucked inside hundreds of cookbooks, stuffed into recipe boxes, clipped from magazines and scribbled on stained index cards that ended up in the kitchen junk drawer. They hold the flavors of family reunions, church socials, neighborhood barbeques, holiday gatherings and ordinary weeknight meals alike.

Now it’s time to share them.

We are going back to our roots. Instagram has been mainly restaurant finds and of course they will still get the occasional shout-out here and there, but the heart of Mozelle and Blanche will always be nostalgic comfort food - the kind that comes with a story and a smile attached. Treasured recipes lovingly (and often with a fair amount of frustration) converted to gluten free, so that everyone can keep gathering at the table.

I’m Susan - Arkansas born and raised (you’ll hear it the second I open my mouth). Grew up in the country but now a townie - still cook farm to table but today I buy my vegetables at the farmers market instead of growing them. I love antiques, modern art and a really cute dollar store tchotchke - and when I think about it that tells you exactly how I feel about food - love a good Waldorf Salad, avocado toast any time of day and who doesn’t want a deep-fried Oreo (gluten-free please).

Thank you for being here. I can’t wait to show you these gluten-free modified Southern comfort food recipes - and share the stories behind them.

Welcome to my table, everyone