It's hunting season here in Pennsylvania. More specifically, it's deer season. This always leads to me being asked if I'd like some deer meat.
"No thanks, I don't like deer meat," I say. I keep to myself that I did my time when we were poor youth pastors without much extra money for real steak. Year after year, deer after deer. BTDT.
My response inevitably leads to, "Well, you just haven't had it cooked right," followed by them acting as though I've done something wrong because of what I said.
I mean, this does happen, I do say things that get me in trouble but I'm generally a pretty easy going girl. Give me chocolate and all is well.
Can we talk about this though? Because I love to cook. I cook all kinds of things and have cooked recipes of all different skill levels. I know how to cook deer meat. I just don't like the taste of it. It doesn't matter how it's cooked. I don't like it.
And that's okay.
Me not liking something that you like does not equate to me not liking you.
I also don't like asparagus, okra, peas, and cauliflower. It doesn't matter how they are cooked or how much cheese you put on them, I don't like them.
I don't like lasagna. I don't like sloppy joe's. I don't like stuffing. I don't like salmon.
And I'm very happy.
I believe in enjoying what I eat. I'm not going to force something down because you're sitting next to me and you are digging out thick, cheesy scoops of lasagna.
I spent the night with my friend Aimee my senior year of high school. Her mom cooked a wonderful spaghetti dinner and served it with a side of asparagus. Normally this wouldn't be a problem because I would just not take any, but she plated the food for us.
This was back in the day when we were expected to eat what was served to us. And clean the plate. I forced down every bite of that horrid green vegetable. The thought still makes me shudder. These days I have more respect for my palate and would simply not eat what I didn't like, which I do regularly.
Different tastes is what helps maintain our individuality.
We should be different from each other. How boring would it be if we were mirror images of one another? My likes and dislikes will never be the same as yours and that's okay. I'm not going to be offended if you say you can't stand chocolate.
It means there's more for me.
Go. Be yourself and don't be offended because we are different.
I love this! And I can relate. I don't eat meat, except bacon on occasion and when my body tells me I need red meat, I may try to eat grass fed beef. People always tell me that I would like deer more if I had it cooked correctly, but the truth is, I dislike the taste of venison. This does not make me strange. I just don't like the taste, and as far as other animals go, I feel like I have eaten enough meat for my lifetime quote. I prefer other foods. Great blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nicole
ReplyDelete