Von Diaz

One of the marvels of the internet is the way it has given a voice to marginalized eaters and cooks who have found community in niches of Facebook and blogs. From health concerns (gluten-free, celiac, and diabetic) to passionate gadget-users (hi, Instant Pot fanatics!), cooks find their tribe online. The rise of the Muslim community and its halal cooks may seem, to the non-initiated, as one more niche community, of interest to a select few. But the numbers say otherwise.

I’ve had a rough year. It began with my marriage ending, and a subsequent months-long epic loss of appetite. I barely cooked, and could only stomach a handful of foods: yogurt, bananas, oatmeal, avocados, and super-simple brothy soups. In fact, the only thing I can remember cooking the entire month of January was two huge pots of basic chicken noodle soup — a stock made with a whole chicken, carrots, onions, celery, garlic, thyme, peas, and noodles.