An acquired taste

I put vinegar in my chili. I don’t really know why. My older sister did it, so I just followed suit. I don’t remember my father passing the vinegar, so I can’t help but think it came from my mother’s side of the family, the Midland crowd.

My brother-in-law puts mustard on his link sausage in the morning while his wife eats a dill pickle with hers. My husband actually puts catsup on his scrambled eggs.

Out of curiosity, I mentioned food around the office. Did I ever have a strange combination of replies, putting my husband’s catsup on his eggs way down on the list of favored appetizers.

What’s the deal with cottage cheese? I enjoy eating it. Yet more than one person must discuss it. Gary loves to put pork and beans on top of his cottage cheese. Myrna puts dry jello on top of hers, while Tom puts catsup on his cottage cheese.

Then there’s Diane in Jasonville who never orders just one pizza. She orders two. She loves to get up on a Sunday morning and eat cold pizza with iced tea for breakfast. Rebecca in Linton loves to eat banana and mayonnaise sandwiches.

I have found that there are a great deal of acquired delicacies out there. For instance, Bob, who likes to dip graham crackers in milk, while his wife dips crackers in buttermilk. Sarah hated to admit it, but she loves to put butter on bread with homemade sweet pickles.

Suzanna puts mustard on her fried green tomatoes while I simply smother them with salt. Kathy loves to put brown sugar on her red tomatoes, fresh from her garden. Gail puts mustard on cucumbers and Steven puts powdered sugar over pineapple.

Talking about appetites over the last few days, not one person mentioned vinegar in their chili. Nor did anyone other than Phyllis mention the mixture of peanut butter and syrup over fresh bread.

Some foods do have an acquired taste.

Nancee Harrison is a past columnist for the Greene County Daily World. Visit www.blondeladywithdarkroots.com or email her at blondeladywithdarkroots@gmail.com.