Not picky, rather selective. But I agree, no need to inform the host, just eat what agrees with you and don’t partake of the rest. Just hope that no one makes an issue of it. “Oh, but you must try my artichokes, oysters, whatever.”
Especially on a day like Thanksgiving, which has a relatively fixed menu. I’ve never had much of a tolerance for “picky” eaters.
Buttered peas generously topped with sauteed shallots is wonderful and easy since you can sautee the shallots a day ahead. A fancy-schmancy European butter would probably kick it up a notch for the holidays.
Peas- just reading about them makes me shudder. They are my H’s favorite vegetable so he makes his own while I tolerate them only as a scarce salad ingredient. I buy pea soup for H (and son when he visits) but the smell is awful for me. Son developed a dislike of whole peas based on some forgotten childhood experience he says- perhaps he was sick. I remember being stuck at the supper table a long time as a six year old because I wouldn’t eat my peas. That formed my adult habit of never forcing a kid to eat something. I understand.
I tolerate brussels sprouts and never said a word to the neighbor who served them this month but find so many more palatable veggies. Too bitter.
Found out why the lady dislikes pumpkin pie. She’s originally from Germany, age late 70’s and ate far too much during the lean post war years. Beets were also common back then so also on her no list.
Celery was in the stuffing and in cold water growing up. I like it in tuna salad but would waste 90% of the stalk so never buy it.
@wis75 I like the small June peas in my tuna salad.
My parents grew up during the depression. You couldn’t even say the word raisin without making my mother gag. That is a food preference I would always honor.
I found a recipe for sweet potato gratin with blue cheese dressing and crispy onions. I don’t think it’s really a dish for the masses but it sounds great to me. I love Roth buttermilk blue cheese.
Carrot raisin salad! It is a must on our table thanks to my husband’s childhood visits to a major cafeteria chain. There is always a long discussion before making it about whether it should or should not have crushed pineapple in it.
I still remember that carrot raisin salad sold (all food items a la carte) in the dorm cafeteria decades ago- I’m sure it is no longer available there along with many foods of that era.
Chik Fil A used to offer a carrot/raisin salad. Anyone know if they still do?
The carrot raisin salad I remember (where did i eat that? I think the college cafeteria?!) DID have pineapple!
" I remember being stuck at the supper table a long time as a six year old because I wouldn’t eat my peas. That formed my adult habit of never forcing a kid to eat something. I understand."
Me too. Fortunately for me when my mom would leave the table to start the dishes, my dad would eat my peas for me.
@Nrdsb4 The Chick-fil-As in my area quit selling the carrot/raisin salad a while back.
I would surreptitiously spit my peas into my napkin and then asked to be excused to the bathroom, where I would dispose of them. I now like peas, but only the tiniest ones, barely cooked. Lima beans on the other hand…shudder. No way did I ever cook them and try to foist them on my family.
I like nearly everything, but liver and lima beans are the worst.
I love liver and onions. Throw in some Lima beans with lots of butter and pepper, I’m in heaven.
@CottonTales I also love liver and onions and Lima beans. I remember in college when that would be a dinner choice…usually with stewed tomatoes too. I think I was the only person on campus who went back for seconds.
I’m in the shudder at liver and lima beans camp. I’ll take the onions anywhere else, though.
I used to HATE lima beans. Of course my only exposure to them was in Campbell’s vegetable soup, where they are at their nastiest. Yuck. But, then I had them at my mother-in-law’s home. She was a much better cook than my own mother. Pressure cooked frozen baby lima beans, then drain, add heavy cream, butter, salt and pepper. Warm it up. Really delicious actually. I got converted.
I have always loved liver. I still hate lima beans, but now I can tolerate them if they are saturated in another flavor. It is interesting how tastebuds change. I literally got sick from Brussels sprouts when I was 8 (I think I was coming down with strep anyway, but still…), but now they are a real favorite. Didn’t like peas, but now at least like baby peas. Didn’t like tomatoes or strawberries, fine with them now. Will tolerate raisins if necessary. The only despised food from childhood that I still won’t eat is cottage cheese. And to get back to Thanksgiving: we always had mashed rutabaga on the table because my parents liked it. My mom added potatoes, but it still wasn’t a kid-friendly dish. When I was a teenager, I improved my mom’s recipe by adding cream and sugar, and it became tolerable. Well, a couple of years ago, the cafeteria at work served sautéed rutabaga with caramelized onions and it was absolutely delicious. From that point forward, I became a rutabaga lover.
Shuddering at some other foods mentioned that I do not tolerate- won’t even name them. This thread is bringing back bad as well as good food memories!
I loved peas as a kid. My sisters would give me the peas of their plate because they hated them. My parents thought I would marry a pea farmer. As an adult I eat them but it’s not compulsory that I must have them. Whenever I meet my mom she says guess what I made especially for you! My response to my mom “It’s just peas not candy.” I will eat them but I don’t make it a point to especially make them for myself. I don’t know why they think I am obsessed with them. I think my daughter has been influenced by her aunts as she is not too crazy about them either. Honestly they are not bad. Brussel sprouts however I will not eat.