I’m sure you’ve all seen that “25 things about me” tag on Facebook. I hate tags, always have. BUT! On Culinate, there’s been a “25 food things” going around that I couldn’t resist. Here are some of mine (because 25 is far too many):
1. I detest eggplant. Do not feed it to me in any form. No—not even baba ganoush. Only acceptable exception to this is thinly sliced fried eggplant parmesan. Frying it removes the disgustingly mushy texture and, obviously, cheese and a nice tomato sauce taste good on anything.
2. When I was a kid, I instilled a lifelong hatred of tomatoes in my younger brother by sucking out the pulp of a wedge of a beefsteak, showing him the bumpy inner membrane, shoving it in his face and shouting, “THIS IS YOUR BRAIN!”
3. My mother made me coffee every morning—half milk, half coffee, lots of sugar—until I was about 5 or 6 years old. That was when the sippy cup I used to drink it out of went missing.
4. I will forever be scarred by frozen veggies, especially lima beans, crinkle-cut and diced carrots, broccoli stems and leaves, corn and green beans. When I was child, those were my sole sources of vegetables. Exception: frozen peas are yummy. Particularly if they are still frozen when you eat them.
5. When I was about 13, my mother got into this kick of making risotto every weekend. It lasted for like, I don’t know, a year? I hated, hated, HATED the stuff by the end of the “risotto craze.” Now? I make it at least twice a month.
6. Scallops remind me of tree trunks. I called them that as a kid.
7. I detest rosemary. It ruins everything. And people put it in the most ridiculous things! Even chocolate! WHY?!
8. In general, I’m not much of a fan of most dried spices. I use them, of course, but usually only when a recipe calls for them. If I am cooking without a recipe, I tend to avoid my spice rack. Most dishes, in my opinion, are best with just garlic, salt and pepper.
9. I did not know what cilantro was until I got to college.
10. Tea! I love tea! BUT! There is nothing worse than stale, shredded, years-old tea in a bag. No wait—there is: scented stale, shredded, old bagged tea. Worst bagged tea of all: Tazo. Absolutely undrinkable. (Sorry, but it’s true.)
7 responses so far ↓
1 malahat sunset // Feb 14, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Well, I don’t remember any dislike of eggplant, probably because I never made any eggplant dishes – not a kid food, really. I don’t remember the tomato/brain bit either.
The sippy cup loss sets off some major guilty feelings – I think I’m the one who lost it. It had one handle, like a mug, right? It was from England! And I lost it! I still grieve for it.
I thoroughly disapproved of the coffee for such a young kid. Even with all the milk.
I never gave you guys any fresh vegetables? NEVER?!? And now you’re forever scarred! Gee, lay on the guilt, why doncha? (Just kidding. A little.)
2 mydogischelsea // Feb 14, 2009 at 7:30 pm
You didn’t lose the sippy cup. It turned out, Cousin John had lost the sippy cup—it rolled under the bookcase that divided Kieran’s corner of the living room from the rest, and it stayed there for about a year. I eventually found it. Actually, it’s still in use—John’s grandkids have practically adopted it. I’m pretty sure that Mommy gives them coffee in it. =)
Re: fresh vegetables. I’m sure you *tried* to gives us fresh veggies, but we wouldn’t have it. I remember lots of: baked beans, hot dogs, french fries, beans and pasta soup, and frozen veggies. Remember how I used to hate pretty much anything else?
3 mydogischelsea // Feb 14, 2009 at 7:30 pm
PS—the sippy cup was orange and had no handles.
4 Paul // Feb 15, 2009 at 7:24 am
Could a rare steak from the Knickerbocker have made that list. See you in Park City.
5 boo // Feb 15, 2009 at 10:18 am
Ha! You are right 25 is too much and I like that your list has a theme to it as well.
Do you think that with fresher ingredients you need less spices? That’s what it seems like to me when I cook.
What tea do you love? I am assuming you use a ball or something? Just got into getting the loose leaves more and am looking to try some new varieties.
6 JIFFER // Feb 15, 2009 at 2:54 pm
My first experience with eggplant was at Grampa Keane’s house. I took a bit, looked at my mom and started to cry. I thought it was meat, and was startled to find something in my mouth that was tinglely and felt hairy. (pretty sure that is how I described it to my mom)
I have gotten over it and love eggplant. Feeding it to Bijou already.
Kristen used to do the same shit to me with food. I guess it is universal.
7 Meredith // Mar 3, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I agree on the Tazo issue. Repulsive, and it insta-steeps, which is…suspicious to me.
Now that I live near Chinatown, I go into the tea shops and buy tea that I am pretty sure is several years old and not inspected at the ports but is darn good!