Cub Scout

           Recently we had the Cub Scout food drive.  My daughter and I went out and bought an assortment of easy fix meals, pasta, and vegetables.  The morning of pick up we had four bags.  One I labeled Glass, Be Careful because of the pasta sauce jars.  I was sitting in my living room when I heard some feet run up the front porch stairs.  The the feet suddenly stopped when they reached the top.  I heard an excited shout of, “They have four bags!”  A few more steps and there was another shout, “One is glass!”  Moments later I heard another set of footsteps, much larger.  The excitement in the Cub Scouts voice when he found our contribution made me smile. 

Food is essential.  It is the one thing that cannot be downsized or right-sized.   Don’t forget the people who do not have food.

Taste Buds

            Food has predominantly four types of taste: sweet, salty, bitter, and sour.  These tastes influence what we are willing to eat.  I do not like bitter but sour, bring it on.  Then there is also contrast in flavors, which is the way I like to cook. 

            The difference in taste preference brings me to the subject of taste buds.  Conversations about taste buds are ongoing in my family.  It usually starts when someone suddenly decides they will not eat something that they ate when they were younger.  Then it is about how taste buds change as you grow older.  Much of my experimenting has been met with mixed results due to the taste buds of the eater.

            Despite the taste changes, there always seems to be one dislike that stays with you from childhood.  No matter how old you get, you still do not want to eat it.  Mine is asparagus.  It has been suggested to me that I have simply not had asparagus fresh enough to appreciate it.  I know this is not true as Daddy grew it in his garden.  His routine was to start the steamer on the stove, run to the garden, cut the asparagus, and immediately put it in the steamer upon returning to the kitchen.  I do not know how much fresher the asparagus could get.  He was also very particular about the doneness.  It had to be just right.

            Take the time to truly taste your food.  Trust your taste buds, and figure out what you like.