Recently after years of enjoying my nightly glass of red wine, I suddenly lost my taste for it. Within a couple of weeks it went from being a delicious experience that I looked forward to every day, to something I couldn't stand. That was kind of extreme, but on a smaller scale it happens all the time. Maybe we eat so much of something we get sick of it. Maybe it's nature's way of insuring that we eat a variety of foods. Or maybe our body chemistry and sense of taste evolve over time. I'm especially noticing this as I get older. I'm even sensing that my lifelong craving for chocolate is fading. What's taking its place? The unassuming looking but explosive tasting vanilla bean.
Par cook some rice, (3/4 cup rice to 1 1/2 cups water, simmered for about 10 minutes until the water is absorbed) add to it 3 cups fresh milk and 1 cup cream, a bit (1/2 cup) of sugar and a vanilla bean, seeds scraped out; simmer for about 35 minutes until it's thick and creamy. Ladle into bowls, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. You'll have heavenly vanilla bean rice pudding. Eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
It's just astounding how much flavor the shriveled bean imparts. The little black specks are awesome.
I have lost my taste for chocolate, though I keep trying to rediscover the joy. Too waxy. Too smooth. To unctuous. No brightness. I never saw this coming.
ReplyDeleteI intentionally lost my chocoholic proclivities. However, every once and a while I have a great piece of chocolate, but it satisfies me much more quickly than before.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you about the wonders of the vanilla bean and especially vanilla shortbread and vanilla yogurt.
<3 Darby
I also think it has something to do with the crummy chocolate that they sell today. Waxy is a great word for it, Barb.
ReplyDeleteI agree about crummy chocolate. American chocolate tends to be a lot more waxy than European chocolate (Kitkat bars from England or Switzerland taste better than their American counterparts), and milk chocolate is a lot more waxy than dark.
ReplyDeleteSomeone recently gave me a bar of Theo 70% Dark Chocolate. It was incredible, although its taste bore little resemblance to any chocolate I ever tasted. Rich and creamy but with an almost tangy after-bite and not very sweet.
Have fun with your vanilla recipes.
<3 Darby