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I got a comment from an Art of Doing Stuff reader this week and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.
You see, I did a post on salad the other day and Alexandra left a comment confessing she doesn’t like vegetables. At all. Doesn’t, in fact, think they even look like food.
I emailed Alexandra right away and told her if she didn’t eat a vegetable within the next 30 seconds, she’d probably develop scurvy. And maybe warts. I also asked her if there was a single vegetable she ate. I said there had to be one.
Sweet Potatoes was her response, with a laugh. She would in fact eat sweet potatoes. O.K. So now that I had something to go on, I could recommend something else I think she might be able to stomach if she likes sweet potatoes. I suggested she try boiled sliced carrots with a glaze of butter and brown sugar. Just a tiny bit. I mean she’s an amateur, we can’t have her eating a bare vegetable. Or – gag – a brussel sprout.
The whole not eating vegetables thing got me to thinking. I eat a lot of vegetables. As in, I eat them every day. But when I really think about it, I don’t eat a huge variety of them. Pretty much the same 10 over and over again, done different ways.
I go to the grocery store and look at different stuff but don’t buy it. There are things I’m familiar with, but don’t ever seem to eat. Then there are things from, you know, foreign places. Like California. Things that have weird bumps and spikes on them. Things I don’t have a clue what to do with!
So I’ve made a decision. This week I’m going to pick up a vegetable I don’t normally eat and I’m going to eat it. Bonus points for myself if I don’t even know what it is.
Double bonus points if the produce manager doesn’t even know what it is.
And I’d like you to do the same.
So your homework assignment for next week is to eat a vegetable you don’t normally eat. Possibly have never eaten. It doesn’t have to be an unrecognizable vegetable, just something for whatever reason, you never cook.
And then we’ll all gather back here next Friday to see what we ate, that we wouldn’t normally eat. Just for fun.
And yes. That includes you little Miss. Scurvy.
You have 7 days for this, your first homework assignment.
I’m sort of excited for homework! But as we’ve established, I’m kind of a dork. Luckily, from what I can tell, so are you.
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Rebecca
Okay, just discovered tonight that I actually like shrimp now that I’m a grown-up, so I’ll take you up on this challenge and report back. However, I’m much more intrigued by the strange fruits at the grocery store than the veggies, so maybe I’ll try one of those too.
Karen
No NO! Fruits are going to be a whole OTHERRRRRR assignment! Way to wreck everything Rebecca!
Apparently people’s tastes change ever 7 years. Or so the people who say things say. I developed a taste for asparagus several years ago. Love it now. Hated it before. ~ karen
magali
That is also because it takes 14 tries before your taste buds take a liking to something you don’t enjoy. So if you are stubborn and really want to eat a certain food, you really can start liking it. but still, FOURTEEN times is a lot of times to eat something you don’t like.
this is how I started liking grapefruit. My mom would feed me a bite every time she had one because it was so good for me. then I started asking her to feed me some. Now I moved out and have to feed myself my own grapefruit. sad thing.
Jamieson
I had a friend who wanted to like yoghurt. She started by sniffing it first. Not recommended.
Alexandra Dare
Aaaahhhhh! I got my very own “The Art of Doing Stuff” post written about me! All those years of not eating vegetables and developing scurvy is not for nothing!
Challenge accepted, Karen. I WILL EAT A FREAKIN’ VEGETABLE. Your recipe. Happy? My mom will probably write to thank you if this actually works.
Karen
Hah! Well I’ve started you on something easy. Plus you have the added benefit of adding brown sugar to it. I figured if you like sweet potatoes, you’re probably best to start with a vegetable that’s sweet. Good luck lady. ~ karen
Alisha
Perfect excuse to pickup some Daikon from China Town! Woot! Now the boyfriend HAS to eat it … cuz you said so.
Betty
Ooh, you can make turnip cakes with the daikon! It’s also delicious in soups & stews. It’s slightly sweet and takes on the flavor of the sauce it’s in very well.
liz a.
i live in california, so that i means i eat all kinds of funky fruits and veggies; you know, like kiwi, asparagus, spaghetti squash, pomegranates, etc. i guess i could try rutabaga’s……….ack! i am not sure i can go that far……….are you sure we have to do this?
mothership
yeah… my whole life in CA as well & I eat ALL sorts of weird veggies…. but not to my knowledge a rutabaga…. is that the thing they put in pies??.. oops think that is rhuBARB…
I confess.. I am not a sweet veggie person (or a sweet person for that matter!!!) so what can I try that I have never tried? not much… as I had a pre-hippie grandmother, who tortured me w/ all sorts of veggies….
IS IT OK if I RE-VISIT some scary veggie from my youth… like say….. since they are in season….
some sort of winter squash (uggghhhh)!!!
Karen
Yes Mothership. That would be fine. Just has to be something you don’t normally eat! Not necessarily something you’ve never tried. ~ karen
lori
Alexandra… U could always have corn.! – also don’t vegetables. Well,I do eat corn. But that is about it.!! I will try and do the assignment or should say homework. Do – have to cook it?? Or just eat it?? Love your blog!
Ana
SQUEE! I love assignments! This will make grocery shopping fun!!
Jamieson
Over the years my tastes have changed so much that I’ve embraced asparagus, turnip, beets, even brussels sprouts! All of my former sworn enemies are now welcomed with opened mouth. I never thought I’d fall for Brussels sprouts ever – and they were my last stand – but the artsy slaw felled me with it’s gateway drugs of bacon and asiago. I’ll pretty much eat anything now. Except some fishy fish. Ick.
Karen
If you’re asking if you can just eat bacon for this assignment the answer is no.
Lisa
Believe it or not, I hate sweet potatoes. So, ok, maybe I’ll get one and try it again.
I’m with you on the asparagus. I used to hate it and now it’s probably my favorite.
Pam'a
I was scarred by horrible, mushy, grade school cafeteria sweet potatoes at an early age because they MADE us take three bites of everything… and they were onto the shoving-stuff-in-your-milk-cup trick. I hated sweet potatoes so much that the mere mention of them in the lunch line nauseated me.
Then, many years later at a fancy restaurant, I accidentally consumed a sweet potato. And I found that really, they’re quite good if you don’t annilate them and slather marshmallows and sweet goo all over them. (I hate marshmallows.)
Today, I fix them in my own home! I just wash them off and microwave ‘em like regular potatoes, then hit them with butter, sea salt, and pepper. Maybe there’s still hope for you too, Lisa.
Chris Graham
I’m offended. You made a “-gag-” at my favorite vegetable… brussel sprouts. I really think brussel sprouts are getting a bad rap. I mean, they are not one of those pointless vegetables that have never been allowed in my fridge (think beets). Brussel sprouts are yummy, I just love ‘em. I am convinced that those who do not like these little wonders, most probably do not know how to prepare them. I certainly have had bad brussel sprouts. Soft and mushy brussel sprouts, blek- previously frozen brussel sprouts, over boiled brussel sprouts. I think brussel sprouts should be your assignment for the week. I’m not going to tell you how to cook them, Karen. Because you have proven yourself a resourceful woman, and you have the proper skill to work the internets. But I can tell you to not let them near a pot of boiling water, think sauté pan… think, garlic, think wine (I’m sure you think in terms of wine, on occasion). Season well, they take on flavors wonderfully. I love to prepare them with Italian main course dishes. Fresh grated Parmesan, works very friendly-like with brussel sprouts. I am getting a bit choked up here… and hungry. I need to go to the market. Not to get brussel sprout, I always have brussel sprouts. Except right after I eat them. I need to go to the market to get something yummy that can hold the same stage as my brussel sprouts. You need to do some grocery shopping yourself, Karen. Don’t let me down.
Karen
Yeah, um … I uh, nooooooo I just don’t like brussel sprouts. I will not eat them and you can’t make me. Your method sounds wonderful, but I will not eat them I tell you. Will not. Blech. No. At this point in my life I do not like them. Blech. I will be selecting something else for the assignment. Anything else, LOL.
Lita
Will you try green eggs and ham??
More on topic, I’ve been doing this assignment on my own for the last few months. I joined a CSA, and it is the BEST way to force yourself to eat new veggies you haven’t tried. And then eat it again and again and again….that is the part that also forces you to be a creative cook. How many ways can you prepare eggplant? Hmm?
sera
Last year I tried brussel sprouts again and enjoyed them for the first time ever. I grew up with my mom stinking up the house with those frozen ones – blech! I roasted them tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper. They were delish, but I will definitely try them this wine and garlic way.
Also, these people that say they don’t like veggies? I think that is suspicious, horrible and silly. Sure there are likes and don’t likes (see above) but I don’t understand how anyone can say that they don’t like an entire food group. It’s not like veggies all taste the same; if they do, that is your problem right there. Maybe it does take fourteen tries before you like something that you didn’t like before, then I guess that explains why I do like tomatoes and brussel sprouts and eggplant and broccoli – because I kept trying them even though I didn’t like them.
I accept your challenge Karen. And to all of you who “don’t like veggies” I suggest if you don’t like it one way, try it a different way, don’t immediately turn up your nose, childishly, and throw them all out the window.
And everything, EVERYTHING, is good tossed in butter.
I’m stepping off of my soap box now.
stacey
Hey now, don’t go dissin’ beets! Have you ever had roasted golden beets? Delicious!
Karen
Stacey! – Look at THESE golden beets from an earlier post of mine!
Bonnie
I am an omnivore. I will eat just about any fruit or vegetable. I won’t eat yucky meats–innards, chicken feet, dog. However, I am a particularly unpicky person. I have traveled the world and I will enjoy any cuisine (except if it included the yuckies.) However, I cannot stand Brussels Sprouts. Every few years, I try them again. So far, no go, and I am 60 so they don’t have many more chances. The only other thing I really hate is iced tea. Yes, I am from the south, and I love hot tea. But, iced tea is just nasty, like Brussels Sprouts. I mean, if you are going to eat something from Brussels, there are delicious pommes frites, waffles, chocolates, and beer.
Karen
You make an excellent point Bonnie. ~ karen!
TracI
Awesome!! I do this when we go grocery shopping. I pick up a fruit or veggie I haven’t tried before and then give it a shot. That’s how I discovered the best apple EVER: Honey Crisp apples. Mmmmmm..I wish I was eating one right now!
Oona
We never eat Brussel Sprouts, since the Mister is convinced he hates them. I have never tried to force them on him, I just let it go. Until now. Tuesday I went to the grocery store and decided I was going to buy Brussel Sprouts! Fresh ones. And I am going to roast them, with garlic and (turkey) bacon and lots of pepper. Yum! And he is going to like them, dammit.
But when I went to the grocery store, I couldn’t find the Brussel Sprouts in a bin that you scoop out into your bag. Instead, I found this:
http://oonafeystl.blogspot.com/2010/11/what.html
and the cashier had no idea what “it” was. I had a crowd by the time I left.
Karen
That’s so much fun! I love when vegetables come as close to their original state as possible. Hilarious! Plus should someone follow you home, you have a brussel bat to whack em with. ~ karen
Chris Graham
I love when they offer the sprouts right on the stalk like that! I don’t see them that way too often. I have grown them though. Awesome job, by the way, your recipe for preparing the brussel sprouts sounds yummy. I think you can turn the Mister around with that one. Either way, you are much more open minded than that other lady (shh… You know the one, her name is all over this website… She hands out the homework assignments like she is all food enlightened… yet practices some serious veggie discrimination… Shhh… She is always watching)
Karen
Oh for the love of God.
Langela
HA!
Karen
I sense there’s some dissent in the ranks. Insubordination if you will.
~ karen
Liz S.
I am so looking forward to this. Maybe I can discover something new that I can fix for our Thanksgiving feast. The only problem I have with some of the weird fruits and veggies is that sometimes they’re not clearly labeled, so you have no idea what it is. If you don’t know what it is, than it’s really difficult to research and figure out what to do with it.
Oh — Can you give me some tips on roasting a turkey? I am in charge of Thanksgiving for the first time. I just don’t know what to do!
Natalie
Hey Liz,
Here is a recipe for roasting a turkey that is failproof! I made it one thanksgiving, and I had never before cooked a turkey in my life. It came out perfectly. I highly recommend it. It uses a brine the night before. Good luck on your first time!
Natalie
Oooooooops. I forgot the link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/good-eats-roast-turkey-recipe/index.html
KEG
What to do? My daughters-in-law (14 and 16 -yes, teenagers *gasp*) won’t eat ANY vegetables. Zero. Nada. Their father won’t force them and I suspect their mother stopped trying. I’m trying to stay positive and sell them veggies by drowning them in ketchup or BBQ sauce, but nothing will do
.
I’m a veggie lover! I believe in good nutrition and seeing the girls not getting on board pains me. Anyhow… I discovered purple sweet potatoes last week! They are yummy! As for brussels sprouts, I eat them with mapple syrup and bacon
Karen
Will they eat potatoes? Potatoes are actually a lot better for you than people think, plus there are a million ways to prepare them. In terms of “real” vegetables a lot of people who don’t like cooked vegetable will eat them raw. See if you can try that little trick. Raw carrot sticks with dinner or raw sliced red peppers. Just a thought. ~ karen
Patti
Yes! Uncooked veggies are a good way to go. My man HATED veggies, and after eating at his mom’s a few times, I learned why!
They were overcooked mush RESEMBLING vegetables, but were no longer veggies! (Sorry Barb! Hope you’re not reading this! Your carrots the other night were delicious, seriously).
I’ve found that in cooking them properly and even leaving them a little crisp is the perfect way to get him to gobble them all up like a madman!
Also – one forum I’m a member of suggests pureeing veggies and sticking them in different foods and bread. Then they’re getting some nutrients!
KEG
They LOVE potatoes. One loves them mashed, the other one doesn’t. One will eat them in the oven, the other one doesn’t O_o.
I bought the book ”Deceptively delicious” by Jessica Seinfeld. I tought that I could hide the veggies in different foods (like spinach in brownies). They would not eat it, ’cause they said it tasted different than usual hahahaha.
Thank you for the raw idea. I’ve been giving them raw veggies as well as cooked… unsuccessfully.
Can’t wait for that 7 years to pass. Only have 4 years to go loll.
Heather
I just recently started reading your blog- found it through blog hopping- and have very quickly fallen in love with it (and you. Is that a weird thing to say?). Last week we tried your your szechwan carrot soup and Uncle Shifty’s antojitos, and they were both so good we had to share, to spread the news.
Anyway, I like this assignment. This week I’m having parsnips because they came in my co-op basket and I’ve never had them. Cheers.
Karen
Heather! Parsnips are a perfectly delicious vegetable. Sweet like a carrot, but a teensy bit more earthy tasting. They are wayyyyy under-utilized. ~ karen
Lynda
Well, this will be a fun weekend. (Major dork)
I love vegetables, all kinds of them. I have enlisted my 6 yr. old grandaughter in the mission and she’s pretty excited too. We’re going to visit every store in town and see who has the most exotic.
There are only 3 grocery stores in town.
Then we are going to pick a fancy way to cook, whatever it is. Her idea.
ModFruGal
I love that Miss Scurvy’s last name is DARE!
Alexandra Dare
Hahahahaha…
Hey, I accepted the challenge, my friend!
Alison
I picked up an acorn squash this week at the grocery store and thought, well i have no idea what to do with this. Tonight I’m attempting stuffed acorn squash… however since I wasn’t prepared the ‘stuff’ will be whatever is in the fridge…hmm. Lets hope my random stuffings won’t ruin the acorn squash experience for me. I’m sure I’ve had it before but never attempted to make it myself… does that count?!
Barb
It’s on! Should we include pictures of our homework?
Karen
That’d be GREAT. I love photos! No one ever includes photos when I ask them to! And remember … everyone has until next Friday, when I’ll do another post where we can all reveal what we did. ~ karen
Kathy
I have a friend in Ontario that doesn’t do veges. I am going to send her your web site so she can see how excited people are getting about trying something new! My husband and I are nearly vegetarian (we will eat animal about once a month) so I am looking forward to see what yummy ideas your readers come up with for their new veges. Great idea Karen!
Langela
Does it count that I have already tried something new this past week? Two veggies in fact. I tried steamed Kale and butternut squash. I am not a squash person but really liked it. The kale, however, was kinda bitter. Any suggestions? We are eating 2-3 veggie sides a night with our supper. We also found a way to eat brown rice that we all love. None of us like it done the normal way. We are not a rice-loving family.
Leah
I cant live without kale!! Try this recipe – its fantastic! http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/garlicky-greens-recipe.html
Langela
That looks good. I’ll give it a try next time. Thanks!
Patti
Seriously? I have Kale growing in my garden, and it’s STILL growing (it is really quite a hearty little guy). So, like, it’s actually yummy? Every time I try it, my upper lip curls up in distaste.
On the flip side. Anyone in Kitchener want some kale?
Rebecca
kale is so bitter! try dehydrating them into kale chips. yum.
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/11436
Betty
Kale chips rock! I don’t have a food dehydrator so I just cut it up, toss in olive oil, and put them in the oven for 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees F. I tried both dino kale & the curly kind, and the dino is far less bitter. The trick is to take them out of the oven right when they get crispy, but before they become too brown. Burning it only enhances the bitterness.
Chris Graham
Mmm… Kale is yummy. It is somewhat bitter though. Pretty much always that way, so it is an acquired taste. There are things you can do to keep the bitterness from being overwhelming. The main one, is to not overcook. Also, some sweetness added to the kale helps. Like- some sliced caramelized onions in the pan before you sauté the kale. A nice tossing with EVOO helps too.
[Full disclaimer: I am not from Brussels. Also, while I am not particularly tall, I am not a sprout.]
Karen
No.
Langela
Is this no to me? As in already trying something new is not allowed? Or as in you have no ideas for kale. Or is it not for me? Your no is so unspecified. Are we to leave that no just hanging there? Impart your wisdom in this matter, and quick, Karen!
Lita
Cooks Illustrated (www.cooksillustrated.com) has some great recipes and also a short article called “Taming Bitter Greens”. Believe me it is possible to eat this green and love it! There’s also a recipe in their cook book for assertive greens that uses heavy cream and fresh nutmeg. It is AMAZING.
Heather
I love kale this way: http://www.tuscanrecipes.com/recipes/olive-garden-zuppa-toscana.html
linda
I have a suggestion for all: try rapini (If you haven’t had it already). Doesn’t take much to make it delicious, a little olive oil, garlic, salt and some chili pepper if you like spice.
Langela
Now I’m going to have to google it just to see what you are even talking about. I have never heard of this one before.
linda
It’s an italian vegetable! They compare it to broccoli but it is really similar to spinach. It is amazing on pizza, white pizza specifically (no sauce).
Leah
HaHA! I accept! There are these two strange looking vegetables at the farmers market i keep seeing….they are called kohlrabi and Jerusalem artichoke.
RoseCampion
kohlrabi is awesome. I love it peeled and cut into sticks, then eaten raw. It’s crispy and crunchy. I’ve never been sure what to do with jerusalem artichokes though.
Natalie
I’m very excited about this homework! There is something about being assigned to do a task, that makes me much more likely to follow through. I’m in California too, so it will be something weird with mutant spikes and such.
Valerie
While quite labour intensive and picky, raw brussel sprouts chopped up like cabbage with the addition of raw apple,pine nuts and a cold slaw dressing creates a great salad.
Evalyn
I have never met a vegetable I didn’t like.
But here’s my famiies’ fav: Fried Cabbage. Slice cabbage in wedges or strips, steam in a skillet with a littel water or broth until tender. Remove lid and brown the cabbage stightly, reducing the liquid. You can add onions to the frying process,and / or add crumbled bacon when served. We like it with vineagar sprinkled on. Some folks like a bit of sweetening, but I don’t care for it.
deborahinPS
I triple dog dare any of us to prepare and eat Napalitos…or in plain English Cactus Paddles
I made cactus apple jelly last year…you know, using those pretty purple fruits growing out of that prickly ole cactus? Yum! I had to burn the stickers off of a gergillion of those cuties, but hey, it was interesting to say the least
Patti
Okay. So I’ve done all the regulars, as a veggie lover. Celery, zucchini, peppers, broc, cauliflower, onions, carrots, snow peas, snap peas, corn etc (in fact, those were all pretty much in my stir fry last night), parsnips, eggplant, corn, asparagus, all potatoes, cabbage… I like asian and Indian food a lot, but I HATE beans and chickpeas (on another note, does anyone know a bean and chickpea substitute for all those yummy indian curries?).
SO! I AM REALLY ASKING YOU! What veggie should I even try!? Oh yeah. And I LOVE brussel sprouts!
Karen
Something Jamaican! ~ karen
Patti
Okay. Here’s a moment of ignorance for you:
There are vegetables in Jamaica?
No, just foolin’. I knew there were vegetables in Jamaica. I just haven’t the foggiest what would be considered a Jamaican vegetable. I feel like it’d be delish, though.. especially if it gets all reggae at the dinner table.
RoseCampion
If you don’t like the beans, just leave them out. There are all kinds of great Indian recipes for veggie dishes that don’t use beans or chickpeas. If you’re concerned about the need for protein, you can make one of the recipes that use paneer cheese, like saag paneer or even use tofu instead of paneer cheese. Tofu isn’t really an Indian food, but it still tastes really good in a curry sauce.
Patti
ooh! Tofu! What an amazing suggestion! Love it! My friend also suggested soy beans. That’d be a tasty treat. I love curries, love love love curries. And I just received an epicure order of curry, garam masala, more curry, and more curry. And I have another party to go to tomorrow, so I guess I’ll be getting more curry! So it’s good to know these things, you know?
mary
I never would eat brussel sprouts until last thanksgiving tried them this way – I had seconds!! This recipe from Barefoot Contessa:
1 1/2 lb brussel sprouts
3 T good olive oil
3/4 t kosher salt
1/2 t freshly grd pepper
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut off brown ends and any yellow out leaves from sprouts. Mix in bowl with indgredients and pour on a sheet pan, roasting for 35-40 min until crisp on outside and tender on inside. Sprinkle with more kosher salt and serve immediately.
Yummm.
Josie
I tried baked acorn squash the other day. The way I cooked it it tasted like mashed maple syrup. I wasn’t a fan but my husband (who’s diet consists of meat and cheese) really loved it.
Vivian Truong
Karen, I think you should try the bitter melon if you haven’t done so yet. Does that count as a vege btw? Haha it’s definitely an acquired taste but it should make things interesting.
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/vegetablesrecipes/ig/Chinese-Vegetables-Pictures/Bitter_Melon_Photo.htm
Caroline
can it be something I think I like, but have never bought? I love my aunt’s canned beets, but I never have bought a beet myself.
Karen
Absolutely. Just any vegetable you don’t normally buy. It certainly doesn’t have to be something you don’t like! ~ karen
coralie
Oh I am SO IN! Last fall I was introduced to Kohlrabi and Pattypan squash, and I am so overdue for the addition of a new vegetable to my routine.
Karen
Coralie – Excellent! I can’t wait to hear what everyone ate! ~ karen
Janelle
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: kale is a garnish. I am pretty sure we’re not meant to eat that sh–stuff.
I fear artichokes. Don’t get me wrong, I love the way they taste (especially on pizza) and eat them when I’m out, but I the thought of preparing them gives me rash-inducing anxiety, so I never buy them fresh and cook them at home. Maybe I will try that…which may not count because it’s the cooking part that’s new to me, not the eating part, but what the f–heck.
Jennifer H.
Count me in. If I can think of a veggie I haven’t cooked. Growing up with a macrobiotic mother, I’ve pretty much done it all. (But I will *never* do eggplant again. Ever. Not even battered, deep fried and smothered in cheese.)
Stefanie
A few years ago I attended a Christmas White Elephant party. Everyone brought a wrapped gift of the ‘I couldn’t unload this at the Goodwill shop’ variety – sort of a wrapped potluck junk table event. At the end of the night, I ended up the proud owner of a beautifully wrapped stalk of fresh Brussel sprouts. The anonymous gifter had thoughtfully enclosed a note: THIS IS NOT A SEX TOY. Heh.
Natalie F
My new favourite veggie (just started eating it in the last month, seriously!) are BEETS. I really like pickled beets but wondered if I just really liked the pickled part and not so much the beets. I was wrong! I LOVE beets! Everything about them – the texture, taste and beautiful colour. I just realized I even have my nails painted the same colour.
Clean the beets, make a tinfoil boat for them, toss in some water, wrap up and roast in the oven for an hour. DELICIOUS! Plus the skin peels right off after they’ve been roasted.
Karen
Natalie! If you’ve just discovered beets, look at this post of mine from a while back. Tie Die Beets!
Brook
A couple of years ago I fell in love with chard and kale, then last year was the winter of roasting: cauliflower, fennel, brussels sprouts, chickpeas, etc. I’ve been living in New England for years now, and unlike what seems to be most people here, I don’t feel the love for winter squash of any kind. But I haven’t tried it in years, so maybe it’s time to give it another chance. Has anyone got a good winter squash recipe?
Lizzie
So I had no idea this little challenge was going on because I have been living in a cave (i.e. the library) not checking this lovely blog as often as I CLEARLY should be. BUT the planets must have aligned because on my own (and because of my CSA), I tried a new vegetable Sunday! Romanesco broccoli! I mean, it is pretty much regular broccoli but I had never had it before! My husband is a chemistry guy and he thought it was hilarious- all looking like fractals and such. Now he calls it math broccoli. Very tasty!
Kate
I love vegetables, but I am scared by your perverted sweet potato man, Karen. That grin of his is WAY disturbing.
I will not eat sweet potatoes under any circumstances. And certainly never sweet potatoes with teeth!
Ellen
I know I’m late…. but I’m playing anyway — I bought long beans -possibly the same thing as yard long beans – I’ve always been curious about them….. then, in case they were the same as ordinary beans & not daring enough, I bought a Batata – all I know so far is that it’s a hairy looking root veg…. will let you know how they turn out…
Barb
I’m not sure if this counts but I have eaten daylily flower buds as a vegetable. They’re actually quite tasty – a bit of a peppery tang, but also kinda sweet. It’s hard to describe.
Most people prefer to let their daylilies bloom rather than eat the flowers, so probably not many people have done this one.
In real life,(not just an experiment because I read that they were edible) they would be good as a garnish in a salad.
A weird salad.
Bill Grigg
I eat veggies already. In fact, I had a salad for supper just last night. Okay, maybe it was a Taco Salad, but it _was_ mostly lettuce and onions.
Soooooo, can I try a different cut of meat, instead?
No? You are a harsh taskmistress!!
I have found that, with the exception of root veggies like potatoes, or most of the Brassica Oleracea family (oh, go look it up!), I prefer most of my veggies raw. And not even with dip.
Bonnie
Does anyone eat rhubarb in any way other than in pie with strawberries? I don’t think a vegetable should exist for just one use, especially when it needs to be with a luscious berry to make it.would like to issue a challenge for people to send in rhubarb recipes. Oh, only you can give homework, Karen. Sorry, I let my career as a professor get the best of me.
angie
After reading this post, I finally made the effort to try some parsnips. Rachael Ray is always using them and calling them “carrots sassy cousin”, so I pulled up one of her recipes for roasted carrots and parsnips topped with a brown butter shallot sauce. Best sauce EVER, but I made the mistake of taking a tiny taste of raw parsnip…ohhh so gross. Cooked parsnip, yeah, not much better. So I guess I’ll stick with the 10 veggies that live in my fridge, ’cause sometimes the sassy cousins just need to stay at home!
Karen
Angie – That’s fine. You tried. You pass the assignment. ~ karen