Thread 8 - TalkLair: “Brewing Russell's teapot”

[Kucinghitam]

Continuation of previous threads (thread 7).

The new lair of JTT escapees is all cosy and homey; we have truly settled here. Outside, the garden is blooming with spring flowers. Inside, the hearth is glowing, pictures are up on the walls, rugs are down on the floors (and assorted pets curled up on them).

We just won’t mention the gnawed bones of our prey over there in the corner of the cave…

Nope, got nothing. I’d throw it on the compost, personally.

I tend to slice them, put some kind of herbed meat (chicken breasts or pork meat balls are favourites) on top and bake them. Sometimes with a little fresh tomato sauce, or even just tomatoes baked at the same time with finely chopped onions and little parsley.

That sounds delicious!

Very easy, endlessly tweakable and (if you like fennel) delicious. I find it good is I want a low carb meal, but obviously pasta/rice/spuds/bread can top it up if needed.

I think I’m going to just cook for the adults and do mushroom and fennel risotto as that uses up a few things needing used.

I use it in risotto or stir fry mainly, if I want to cook it.

Just saw this at the other place, and - minus the actual hobbyhorse - this is how my best friend and I spent our prepubescent years, on our imaginary ponies.

The music blots out all the realistic whinnying the competitors are almost certainly doing as they canter round the course.

Oh, and I LOVE the dressage!

MavisMcMinty · Today 18:59

Nope, got nothing. I’d throw it on the compost, personally.

At least your compost heap would smell nice. I like to crush it and smell it, but can't abide it in food. My sister went mad for it, some years past.

She put some in a bottle of vodka and asked, "It's exactly like Pernod, isn't it?"

No, Sis, it's exactly like ruined vodka - sorry!

I’m not keen on fennel (of any of those aniseedy flavoured things) so I’d probably take the compost route too.

Love the hobbyhorse video!

all the more lovely fennel for the rest of us. I wish I could but those Dutch sugared aniseed thingies.

Someone should do a large and detailed study of all the different strong reactions to foods - aniseed haters, coriander leaf haters (that me), asparagus pee smellers (that me as well) brassica dreaders etc etc and see if and how they overlap

buy Muisjes not but Muisjes

Do aniseed haters dislike licorice as well? To me the flavours seem similar but that may be because I'm missing some part of it.

Someone should do a large and detailed study of all the different strong reactions to foods - aniseed haters, coriander leaf haters (that me), asparagus pee smellers (that me as well) brassica dreaders etc etc and see if and how they overlap

Hmm. I can be one of your data points, we could do a non-quantitative thread study!

I really really loathe liquorice, to me it's way more EXTRA than other aniseed-type flavours, to the point that it makes me gag. On the aniseed spectrum, I rather like fennel and genuinely like star anise, otherwise I'm not keen on other aniseedy things. I adore coriander, I can smell asparagus pee. I also love brassicas of all types.

Furthermore, according to those gimmicky taste-test strips (thiourea/phenylthiocarbamide, can't remember which ones I tested) I'm a supertaster. Allegedly, being a supertaster is linked with being a fussy eater and hating bitter vegetables like brassicas so 🤷🏻‍♀️

I love aniseed and the others on your list, Kuc. Brassicas are a must in my diet and imho, anyone who thinks they're bitter just doesn't know how to treat them with respect. Cooked well, they are the Food of the Gods.

On the other hand, I absolutely loathe marzipan. In its presence, my nostrils close up tight, like a camel's nose in a sand storm. Disgusting stuff.

On the other hand, I absolutely loathe marzipan. In its presence, my nostrils close up tight, like a camel's nose in a sand storm. Disgusting stuff.

OMG. I may have to declare pistols at dawn.

You and my twin, he'll eat marzipan by the pound.

My foodie cousin is a supertaster and does find most brassicas overwhelmingly bitter. It's very hard to imagine if you like them. otoh he is happy eating hot chillies, which I am not. Lurve marzipan, but yes it is another divisive thing, like your actual marmite. And I hate coffee, the aroma and the flavour (though I can tolerate it if it's made on milk and well sugared).

I like aniseed and most aniseedy things (especially fennel) but can't stand liquorice.

My real aversion is to marzipan (not keen on almond-y flavours gennerally), glace cherries and that mixed peel stuff that goes in fruit cakes. That just about wraps it up for me with Christmas cake!

That physical nose-closing thing sounds a bit like me with coriander leaf - it seems like something that contaminates.

It's all very odd, and I'm sure some of it is cultural, but I'd love to know more about the science.

Here's my data for Kuc's qualitative thread study:

Brassicas - don't find them bitter but can't stand the smell. Just no.
Fennel, anise - love them; licorice was better as a singer in the increds
Marzipan - vile if commercial with nasty almond poison flavour, a delight if you make it yourself
Coriander leaf - fine
Asparagus - sensitive
Coffee - my delight but can't smell it so well since covid

I made a chicken casserole the other day to family acclaim. Nothing special but the herb/spice mix was (to us) really lovely. Dried thyme, basil, a little tarragon; garlic; fennel seeds and aleppo pepper; fresh basil before serving. The thyme and the fennel seeds were the ticket.

My real aversion is to marzipan (not keen on almond-y flavours gennerally), glace cherries and that mixed peel stuff that goes in fruit cakes. That just about wraps it up for me with Christmas cake!

Same here!

angelico, that casserole sounds very fine.

Oh yes! I like coffee, too. Unfortunately, a couple of years ago I developed an intolerance to it (results in digestive unpleasantness) and had to give it up. Thank goodness I can still drink tea, or life would not be worth living!

There's definitely a cultural element to food preferences. I remember really struggling with the bitterness of brassicas as a tiny child, but my SE Asian family had the attitude of "You just haven't learned to appreciate this yet" to all foods. When you consider some of the strong/pungent/strangely textured things in our cuisine, this approach kind of makes sense!

Conversely, I don't have much of a sweet tooth. I do like cake and biscuits, but definitely prefer home-made because I find most bought ones unbearably sweet. I only like dark chocolate. I actively refuse offers of sweets and candy. I experience "oversweetness" like a sweaty shaky physical discomfort.

I love all of those flavours but despite having a generally good sense of smell, I cannot detect asparagus pee. Which gives me FOMO.

I experience "oversweetness" like a sweaty shaky physical discomfort.

It's nice to see that someone else reacts to sweetness the same as me. I can do biscuits, but only two in one session, and I generally refuse cake. Sweet things often make me feel like I've been poisoned and I can feel quite unwell until it wears off. I'll take a crispy chicken wing over cake any day.