Maturing Taste Buds

by J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) on August 18, 2010

Not so long ago I couldn’t imagine being satisfied by and actually enjoying a meal that consisted of a salmon burger dressed with nothing but a grainy mustard and a robust salad on the side. These days, it seems that the things that I crave the most are the least complicated, which doesn’t always make for the most exciting food blogging, lol. Nonetheless, simple and mundane can also be tasty and picture-worthy. :)

Yesterday’s lunch: Salmon burger on these fabulous 100% stone-ground whole wheat rolls that I picked up at Shop Rite and a tossed salad in an obnoxiously large bowl. :lol:

I put some very stubborn avocado on top–it didn’t want to come out of its skin! As if parts of it weren’t ripe enough. Oops! I’m still alive, so no harm done. hehe

LOVE these rolls! Very simple ingredients: whole wheat flour, yeast, water–no preservatives, so I have to freeze them right away or they’ll be moldy within 24 hours. I learned that the hard way, lol. The nutritional facts say 100 calories for 1 unit, 6 units per bag, but I weighed them to verify the weight and each “unit” was actually 1 and a half servings. No big deal, but a little deceptive if you are going by volume and not weight. This is my favorite kind of lunch (or breakfast, or dinner–lol).

This morning I decided to open one of the three packages of tempeh I’ve had in the fridge since… forever, and use them up before they expired. The first time I tried tempeh, I didn’t like it–at all! But since then my taste buds have matured and become much more tolerant towards a variety of new tastes and textures. I think tempeh bacon really opened this door for me, LOL. So: I cut the block of 3 grain tempeh in 3 parts and used one for a sandwich.

This picture looks so… green! LOL

In a nonstick pan, I added 1 teaspoon EVOO, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, thinly sliced red onion, and green bell pepper and let it cook down a bit before adding in a chunk of tempeh. I browned the tempeh on each side, then placed it on a whole wheat roll with the peppers + onions. Before I ate it, I put some no salt added mustard on it. Along with a Granny Smith apple, this was a yummy yet unorthodox breakfast, per usual. :P

Tempeh (fermented soy bean “cake”) has a nutty, bland, and slightly bitter flavor on its own. And while I don’t have much experience eating or cooking it, I hear there are many ways to flavor it. Lots of people eat it straight up raw, but I think I prefer it heated. Who knows, maybe that preference will change in the future like so many other things, lol.

Question: Which foods do you like now that you never dreamed you would have liked 5-10 years ago?

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{ 13 comments }

1 Jessica @ How Sweet August 18, 2010 at 2:08 PM

I’m coming around to a few veggies. :) But not many…
I used to hate pasta, now I like it – don’t love it, but like it.

2 Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin August 18, 2010 at 2:13 PM

I love tempeh! This reminds me I still have a chunk in my fridge that I ahve to figure out what to do with!

3 Molly August 18, 2010 at 2:31 PM

I used to really hate bananas, but I can stand them now if I freeze them and eat them like a popsicle :)

4 annie August 18, 2010 at 3:20 PM

ooo everything looks soo good! salads are great, aren’t they?

5 Elyse August 18, 2010 at 3:29 PM

I used to hate raisins, now I love them! I used to like mushrooms now I can’t even look at them without gagging. Go figure!

6 Jessica@tastyandtrim August 18, 2010 at 6:27 PM

I’ve grown to love both asparagus and brussel sprouts, especially on the grill! :)

7 j August 18, 2010 at 7:49 PM

New loves=plain oatmeal, greek yogurt, quinoa, zucchini
Ditched recently-yogurt with artificial sweetners, diet soda, “low fat” snacks
Yay for cleaner eating:)

8 Camille August 18, 2010 at 8:13 PM

I used to be a major Peanut Butter hater. Like, hardcore. Now i love it! Whodathunk!? :)

9 Sara @ myfancytuna.blogspot.com August 18, 2010 at 8:19 PM

OMG this list is SO big: tomatoes, onions, tofu, squash, turnip greens (or any kind of leafy green in general), salmon burgers/patties, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, wheat bread, bananas, sweet potatoes….

I actually wasn’t THAT big of a picky eater compared to most, surprisingly enough. I’m so glad my tastebuds changed :D

10 Fallon August 18, 2010 at 11:49 PM

Almond milk! When I found this as a good alternative to milk, I tried it. At first I wasn’t sure but it grew on me. Now it in my oatmeal, smoothies, and cereal. Still don’t care for it in hot coffee but iced coffee it is fabulous!

11 Kaz August 19, 2010 at 2:10 AM

I want to thank you again for the sweet and helpful comments you leave on my blog! My symptoms got worse after a bad run-in with illness, too — I hope you find out what’s plaguing you! <3

Your meals look so light, refreshing, and delicious! I used to swear that anyone who claimed to love salads were deluded or liars, but now I love salads, so maybe I'm the deluded one. :D I also love grapefruit, and unsweetened porridge.

12 Karla August 19, 2010 at 8:18 AM

I’m not really a picky eater. It always amazes me when people are unwilling to try things. I mean what’s the worst that could happen? It tastes bad? Not the worst thing on the planet.
That being said, I’m not a huge fan of pasta. I’ll eat it if someone makes me some but I rarely ever make it on my own.

13 Erika @ Food, Fitness, & Fun
Twitter:
August 21, 2010 at 9:01 AM

5 years ago I hated tomatoes – now I love them and eat them like candy! LOL! :-)

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