Bell Pepper - It's supposed to be hot, it's a pepper right, but it's not. And the crunchy texture? And when you cook it, it spreads that sweet not hot flavor throughout everything? No thank you.
I can eat raw bell peppers. I'm not crazy about green either cooked or raw. Reds, yellows, oranges... ok. But keep that shit out of any dishes where you want cooked peppers. Fucking disgusting! And yeah... it permeates every ounce of ANYTHING you cook it into. That is all I taste is that unmistakable cooked bell pepper stink.
I love Vineager. There are so many types to choose from. It is so versatile and a little can add so much flavor to many dishes.
I cook with it all the time.
As far as making kids clean their plates? I'm completely against it.
We grew up in a time where that just the way it was. If my parents made something that I didn't like, I still had to eat it.
Oddly enough, they never cooked food that they didn't like. Which I always thought was a bunch of Bullshit.
If my kids don't like something, I don't make them eat it. I do make them try it though.
My kids are 9, and eat most any vegetable I make. Foods like broccoli and brussel sprouts aren't a problem at all.
They are also a bit adventurous. We went out for tacos one time and my son asked what Lengua was. I told him it was cow tongue. He wanted to try it. Both my kids tried it on their own and liked it. They ate it all.
I also try to teach them to stop eating when full. The problem with getting in the habit of cleaning you plate isn’t always a healthy decision. Especially when eating out, because most restaurants put enough food on a plate to feed 2 people.
I use all kinds of vinegars as well. Not sure what I'd do without it.
My parents and subsequently we have never made up kids plates either. When we were out and they were REALLY young, we would bring some pureed veggies and things like that. My wife would also carry with her a little blender type thing that she could make baby food out of the food we ordered. As they got older, she would simply cut the food up in small pieces. I remember my oldest when he went with us to a Chinese restaurant. We ordered some General Tso's chicken and it was really spicy. As soon as he tasted it, his little eyes lit up (he was I think a year old or less at the time). He just kept stuffing it into his mouth and then saying "more" while his eyes were watering. He's still a spice junky. And both my sons are foodies and I really don't think there is any kind of real food they wouldn't at least try. Well... maybe bats from an open air market.
We have a lot of all you can eat places here in Reno. We have beef tongue all the time. It's great.
Now we don't cook stuff we don't like just to make them eat crappy food. I never understood that. My parents only seemed to do it with Lima Beans.
Gross little green dirt clods. And my parents hated them too. It made no sense.
I also subscribe to the eating until you are full. My wife grew up with the clean your plate mantra. It took years to break her of that even though she has never really been fat.
Anyway, not sure if Lima Beans count as common food but those nasty little things will NEVER be allowed in my kitchen or at my table.