How much of our food dislikes are based on what our eyes see and our minds tell us? The other day I made banana walnut granola instead of our 'usual' granola. It's delicious and we all loved it--except Maia who didn't even know what kind it was other than it wasn't the usual. Very reluctantly she tasted it and immediately said she didn't like it.
On a whim, I told a lie. I told her that the granola she was eating wasn't new at all and it was the same old granola I always make and she loves. Her eyes lit up and she said 'oh!' and popped a handful in her mouth declaring that it was in fact very, very good. Good thing I had broken the banana chips up and she couldn't identify them, huh?
Lucky for me, Maia didn't hear Tristyn's bewildered '...but it tastes completely differnet.' I filled him in later and we had a good laugh over it. I don't think Maia is alone in this bad habit of hers; I think plenty of people have it. I know I have had this tendency to rule out a food based on what I thought about it or what it looked like. I've almost erased it completely and I'm very proud of that.
How do I know? Look at this:
Mushrooms. Lots of them. Until about 2 months ago I despised mushrooms. If I saw the tiniest sliver of one anywhere I would pluck it out and set it on the side of my plate though really I wanted to put it as far away from my food as I could. Like on someone else's plate, in the apron pocket of the waiter or even on the floor under the table. Even though the scent of mushrooms sauteing in a bit of butter would make my mouth water every time I would put a piece in my mouth I couldn't stand the taste.
I mean really, what is a mushroom? It's fungus! And that's just disgusting. Or so I thought until that aforementioned two months ago.
Two months ago, Rick ordered an appetizer of mushrooms stuffed with lobster and crab and I tried one. It was pure fungal bliss. I ate more of them than I care to admit to and since then I've not been able to get enough of mushrooms. Chopped, slivered, whole or stuffed, it doesn't matter. So far they have all been delicious.
And so is this: Ziti with Caramelized Onions and Portobellos by Proud Italian Cook. It's simple and amazingly delicious. I didn't change a thing except I didn't garnish with parsley at the end. And that's not really changing--that's called being in too much of a hurry to enjoy something so very good.
