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While certainly not the most attractive man to ever walk the face of the Earth, Abraham Lincoln is certainly one of the most recognizable, especially here in Illinois. You can see Lincoln's face on the penny, on the $5 bill, and splashed all over governmental buildings throughout Illinois and the nation.

My parents grew up during the Great Depression, and that fact was made clear in many ways, but most notably in the foods they refused to eat. There weren't any. Period. Full stop

Let's get one thing straight from the start. I love eating in a place that calls itself a diner. I have since I was a kid, because my parents were diner fans. We traveled a good chunk of this country via automobile, and no matter where you went, you could always find a diner.

I understand that many of you are probably unfamiliar with the word "shortage," because everything you want and need is in abundant supply here in Rockford and across the fruited plain.

My parents grew up during the Great Depression, and that fact was made clear in many ways, but most notably in the foods they refused to eat. There weren't any. Period. Full stop.

While certainly not the most attractive man to ever walk the face of the Earth, Abraham Lincoln is certainly one of the most recognizable, especially here in Illinois.

Like many people in our state, I (wrongly) kind of figured that Illinois' contributions to the culinary world were pretty much limited to deep dish pizza and horseshoe sandwiches.

Whenever you get a huge group of 17-year olds together, you just know it's going to be loud. Really loud. It doesn't matter whether they happen to be humans or cicadas.