Tuesday Thoughts about...

...being a picky eater.

I do not consider myself a picky eater. Actually, we were not "allowed" to be. When growing up, you ate what was put in front of you. You had no choice. If you didn't eat it then, it was pulled out again at the next meal until you ate it.

That doesn't mean that I don't have things I don't like. There are a few things I don't like. I don't like raisins, but I can eat them. Usually, I will just pick them out. But there is one thing that I actually HATE and will not eat for anything (okay, maybe a million bucks---but no less)!
Liver---it can actually make me barf! Ewww! You cannot get rid of that taste! On the other hand, I do like the smell of it cooking.

Coffee---I don't like it, but it doesn't make me sick. I don't like anything coffee flavored either. I do love the smell of that too.

Fruit flavored things---I like fruit---but I want the real thing. I don't want fruit flavored drinks or candy (and you know how much I LOVE candy). Well, unless it's green apple Jolly Ranchers---love those!

Mint---I'm not crazy about mint flavored drinks---unless it's hot chocolate---add Bailey's and it's even better. I like mint flavored desserts---Connie makes the creamiest mint brownies that are to die for. I like mint candies---especially Russell Stover French mints---divine! I don't want mojitos or mint in my tea either.

That's my short list of things I don't like. I'm sure there are a few others. I don't think that makes me a picky eater.

Still, I'm finding that I am a picky eater after all. It's not so much about the food itself---but how it's prepared. I'm definitely picky about that.

I want my bacon extra, extra, extra crispy---almost burnt---and that's exactly how I order it. 95% of the time, I have to send it back. Butch tells me to quit ordering it. But, I love bacon!

I want my steaks medium well---just barely pink in the middle. There better not be blood pooling on the plate---disgusting. And, I have to have some sort of steak sauce. A creamy horseradish is my favorite.

Eggs---Oh My Gosh! I really have picky eater tendencies when it comes to eggs. I do not like omelets because I do not want my eggs hard. Fried eggs are over easy with salt and pepper. Soft boiled eggs are with salt and pepper with a piece of toast on the side. Scrambled eggs are soft---still glisteny--with salt only (okay, you can add cheese, mushrooms, green peppers--my version of an omelet---all scrambled up---but still only salt). Hard boiled eggs are best at room temperature with only salt. I have no idea where these requirements came from. They just are.

Sandwiches---here, it's all about the condiments. I like mayo on ham, bologna and turkey. It's mustard on hot dogs and hamburgers (ketchup can be added to the burger too). I also like mayo on a burger IF it has lettuce and tomato---then you can skip the mustard and ketchup altogether. Peanut butter must have jelly. Grilled cheese must have real butter---plus pickles and chips on the side.

Oysters---I actually like oysters, but only if they are cooked. It doesn't matter how---Rockefeller, fried, Bienville---they just can't be raw. Raw is just plain disgusting. Probably my favorite way I've ever had oysters was the Fried Oysters Benedict at Stanley's on Jackson Square in New Orleans.

I'm sure this list could go on and on, but these few things came to mind quickly. I'm definitely open to trying new things, so I'm definitely not picky in that way. Just picky when it comes to food prep.

Oh, and I've already told you how I'm picky about plates and utensils! If you've forgotten, you can check it out here!