Terry's meal with three forms of potatoes.
I will never forget the first meal I ever prepared for my now fiancé. Terry and I had been out on a few dates and this particular night I made tacos. I had everything ready: spicy taco meat, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream and salsa. I took a deep breath – I was proud of myself.
Terry walked in the kitchen, his eyes scanning the counter top. I could see his wheels turning.
Finally he looked at me and said, “This all looks great,” he paused. “But where are the potatoes?”
What do you mean where are the potatoes? It’s taco night. Potatoes are a natural at many meals, but with tacos?
Terry’s obsession with potatoes has continued throughout our relationship. Potatoes are present at every meal. When we had dinner at a restaurant with his parents, he had cheese fries as an appetizer and when it came time to choose two sides with his meal he ordered mashed potatoes and a baked potato. Count ‘em folks – that’s three potato options in just one meal.
I thought all of this potato business was just weird. I couldn’t figure out where it started. Terry didn’t grow up on a potato farm – which would be the logical assumption – he grew up in Fargo.
In the process, I have learned everything you can do to potatoes – slice, dice, fry, bake, boil, smash, mash, sauté, grill, microwave and I’m sure I’m missing something. In case you’re wondering, Crispy Crowns are great options for taco night. They can be incorporated right into the tacos or they can be dipped in a cheese sauce.
As far as “food quirks” go, don’t most people just pass on the tomatoes or skip certain vegetables? Really, what more is there? Maybe other people are normal.
Some time later, I had a profound moment: I was reminded that we often judge in others what is reflected in ourselves. I started to think about my food quirks, of which there are many.
If I drink soda, I need a glass full of ice and a straw. On the rare occasion I chose to eat a dish that has gravy, I refer to it as “sauce” because I don’t eat gravy. I don’t eat eggs – unless they are scrambled into fried rice, then I pretend I can’t see them. Hotdogs must be bun length, or they are not allowed. When I eat a Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup, I eat the chocolate first and then savor the peanut butter. (Remember, there’s no wrong way to eat a Reece’s.)
If Terry can accept my food quirks, I can certainly weave potatoes into the menu at each meal.
This is going to gross you out, but I like my eggs sunny side up – on the runny side. Then I like to dip my spoon into the runny yolk and eat that first before I eat the cooked yolk and the egg whites. That’s just one of my many food quirks!
Yes, everyone has some food quirks. I have several, but the most practiced is adding cinnamon to chicken noodle soup. mmm….
Love it Sarah! I too eat my Reeses as you do…I also eat the chocolate around the edges of a Kit Kat before dissecting it layer by layer AND suck off all the nacho cheese of Doritos before eating them entirely. These quirks make us unique, therefore not boring. :o) Thanks for sharing your story!