Trying New Things
I’ll admit it. I’m an adventurous cook. I have been known to cook without recipes, throwing together whatever seasonings sound good to me (to my husband’s dismay at times). Oh, I’ve created some true disasters, but along the way, every once in a while I come up with a winner. Then the challenge is remembering what I did.
Tonight I cooked shrimp for the very first time. I know. That’s like saying, “Hey! I cooked chicken today!” Not much of a big deal. But I’ve never been a fan of seafood. It tastes fishy, and the texture just doesn’t seem right. My husband and children would sell their souls for lobster, and I learned to tolerate it. Gradually, they convinced me to try steamed snow crab, which also lacked the fishy flavor that I despise. Although it wasn’t a favorite of mine, at least I found a form of seafood that wasn’t too bad.
Now that we’re into the 100 degree southern Virginia weather, the idea of cooking heavy foods is completely unappealing. I was getting bored with the same-old, same-old foods. For whatever reason (maybe strange pregnancy cravings), I decided to try grilling shrimp. My kids love shrimp. Any time we get spring rolls when we order Chinese, I always give them whatever shrimp I find inside. They tend to fight over it.
So, with a bit of trepidation, I headed to the grocery store and asked the seafood saleslady to help me pick out some snow crab (my dinner) and shrimp for dinner. She recommended the easy-peel type of shrimp. When I got home, I finished peeling them, and my husband began searching the Internet for marinade recipes. In my ignorance, I thought I could skewer them, throw salt and pepper on, and just toss them on the grill for a few minutes. Apparently it’s more complicated than that.
My darling husband was appalled that we didn’t have something called Old Bay Seasoning. I had no clue what it was. 
He also thought we should have cocktail sauce on hand, and again, I’d forgotten to buy any. So while he read off different marinade recipes, I finished peeling the shrimp and began experimenting. 
Here’s the recipe I came up with: 1/4 cup olive oil, three generous squirts of lemon juice, about a teaspoon of sea salt, a few shakes of cracked pepper, a few shakes of basil, several generous shakes of garlic powder, a bit of water to thin it out, and about a tablespoon of melted butter. I tossed the shrimp in the mixture, put it on metal skewers, and grilled them for about 5 minutes total, flipping them once in the middle.
I made cocktail sauce out of ketchup, horseradish sauce, crushed garlic, a bit of cayenne, and a bit of chili powder. I think it came close, but seeing as how I’ve never tasted real cocktail sauce, I can’t be sure.
Anyway, we had our seafood feast, and at the end, I decided to try a single shrimp. I was prepared to hate and despise it, as usual. I’ve never had a decent shrimp in my life–they’ve all tasted AWFUL. Do you know, it was actually pretty darn good? I tasted mostly garlic, butter, and basil, and the shrimp had no fish flavor whatsoever. Huh. I guess trying new things can be a good thing, once in a while. Now I’m wondering what I’ve missed out on, all these years!
Has that ever happened to you, where you learned to like a food you once hated? If not, what are some foods you can’t bring yourself to eat?
Michelle posted in Writing @ 9:36 pm | Viewed 2088 times
LeAnne Says:
Last week I tried fried green tomatoes and squash for the first time. Now being a southerner, I’m supposed to have grown up on these types of foods right? But it just always looked gross to me. Suprising to say it actually tasted good to me. Now my mother in law is trying to get me to eat squirrel gravy. No way.
Hope your having a good day today Michelle in spite of the smoldering heat right now. Hope everyone else has a great evening too.
LeAnne
Michelle Styles Says:
When I was a child I used to hate tunafish sandwiches. Then I went to camp and all they served was tunafish — lunch and dinner. After three days I cracked. Tunafish tasted wonderful.
Hunger definitely adds a spice to dishes.
Michelle Willingham Says:
LeAnne–I’ve heard that fried green tomatoes are supposed to be wonderful, though I haven’t tried them myself. Squirrel gravy?
Not so sure about that one!
Michelle–Definitely hunger will make you try new things! But it’s hard to believe that a camp would have the same food, day and night. Wow.
Holly Says:
I love fried green tomatoes, squash(or in KY sometimes called simlins) zucchini, eggplant and okra.
When I was growing up my mom always cooked cabbage with butter, salt and pepper and had cornbread on the side. I HATED it…thought it was the worst smelling stuff in the entire world…but about 7 or 8 years ago, I tried it…not really sure why…I snuck a bite when my mom was out of the kitchen and ever since I’ve loved it.
I have it as a traditional for New Year’s (to bring money) and black-eyed peas(for good days of health through the new year). My daughter LOVES it too, which is surprising because most kids run the other way when they smell it.
I won’t touch liverloaf or this german liver sausage stuff my husband loves…ugh! I don’t like potato soup, though I’m not sure why…it’s not much different than soupy/lumpy mashed potatoes.
I also won’t eat turtle(or turkle as my grandmother always called it), squirrel, rabbit, deer or frog. I grew up REALLY country, but I couldn’t eat that stuff for anything, though whenever we went fishing when I was a kid my grandma would fry the fins and any fish eggs, battered in cornbread, for me.
Emma Sinclair Says:
I’m not much of a seafood person either. If I get a craving for shrimp (pretty much the only seafood I’ll eat) I go out. I’d never even attempt to cook it myself!
You’re a brave woman!! Glad it turned out!
Heidi Dahlquist Says:
Im horrible with trying to figure out what to make for dinner. I’ll stare into the freezer and frig for twenty minutes, trying to imagine some delightful dinner before my eyes. I’m in desperate need of ideas for chicken. Because I’m doing weight watchers and have given up red meat *sigh* (I miss steak already!), I’m looking for some quick and easy meals. Any ideas??
jeanne s. Says:
When I was 16 my future husband had me taste escargot (snails lol). If you like butter and garlic you should give them a try. I’m usually willing to try anything at least once and have found that tastes change as you get older. I still don’t like shredded coconut though.
Maybe you should give salmon a try on the grill - buy it with the sin still on and you can add dill, lemon or various toppings. When I cook it inside I add mayo and dill and lemon for a nice moist topping.
jeanne s. Says:
hahahah not sin but skin.
Suzanne Says:
I LOVE shrimp!! Yes, you’ve been missing out!!!