Epicurean Evolution

My mother wrote in my baby book that when I was an adolescent, I wouldn't eat zucchini bread because I thought the green shreds were grass. I have no proof, but I'm sure Chris was somewhere behind that mislead conclusion.

That story always comes to mind when I think about my evolving food tastes.

The past few years, I've given foods I never cared for a second chance and have discovered new and wonderful tastes.

Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, I make a deal with my sister-in-law Brooke. If she purchases the ingredients for buttermilk pie, I'll make a few from scratch.

This tradition of sorts started a couple of years ago after the girls' grandmother passed away. Since my mother-in-law is not known for her cooking or baking (when she was a newlywed, she attempted to make meat loaf; the recipe mentioned egg whites so she tossed in the entire egg, shell and all) and all the girls missed the buttermilk pies their grandmother made, I decided to make one for them.

I don't recall eating buttermilk pie in my youth. I do remember it being offered but quickly refused. It looked slimy and sounded quite disgusting.

Anyway, I made the pie and decided that since I made the thing, I should at least try it.

Were it not for the pumpkin, buttermilk pie would be my favorite. The runny sugary ooze, combined with the crunchy sugary top, is enough to send me into a glucose-induced bliss.

Next - the tomato.

Growing up, I never cared for tomatoes. I would eat them diced in tacos and other Tex-Mex dishes, but never on hamburgers or sandwiches. Heck, I never even cared for salsa or ketchup all that much.

About a year or so ago, I ate a sandwich in which the tomato was left hidden. As I bit in, I sensed a different, albeit delectable, taste. Yep, the tomato. It was always force of habit to order sandwiches and hamburgers minus the tomato and pickle. Now, only the pickle is left off.

I actually look forward to trying new foods and questioning if I didn't eat them out of genuine dislike or jaded assumption.

Likewise, I've started to question other eating habits - if certain foods are eaten out of habit without a second thought. It's an interesting journey.