# family food traditions that you love, but make outsiders cringe **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 26, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091 "2011-03-26T22:08:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/81 "2011-03-29T22:30:51Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > I wanna know if the following is weird to others: Eggos with peanut butter. No one other than my brother and I use peanut butter, but it doesn’t seem like that odd of a combo. I do that occasionally, but it always tastes better in my mind than in reality. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/82 "2011-03-30T04:19:12Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > That was…unfortunate. I’ve now been tasked with making the family another meat-loaf type thing as an apology. 😛 What didn’t you/they like about it? ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/83 "2011-03-30T10:20:51Z")
Mostly that there was nowhere for the rendered fat to go, making the bottom of the bread a greasy, nasty, thing. But it was also BLAND. I spiced up the sauce to give it a little help, but the main take-away was…bland…with a little green pepper for color. It’s part and parcel of the era the recipe came from…see: [LILEKS (James) :: Institute :: The Gallery of Regrettable Food](http://www.lileks.com/institute/gallery/) ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/84 "2011-03-30T14:44:28Z")
Now I’ve never, ever thought of it as greasy at all…but it’s all in what you are used to, I guess. We’ve always thought of the bread as moist and crispy! And we’re not big on hot and spicy, so yes, it is a mild flavor. But I love what the nutmeg and oregano bring to it. It’s different than the regular meatloaf we make (which is also mild, with just onions and mustard powder and pepper for seasoning). But thanks for being so brave and trying it! For us, it is the ultimate comfort food. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/85 "2011-03-30T18:04:14Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > Now I’ve never, ever thought of it as greasy at all…but it’s all in what you are used to, I guess. We’ve always thought of the bread as moist and crispy! And we’re not big on hot and spicy, so yes, it is a mild flavor. But I love what the nutmeg and oregano bring to it. It’s different than the regular meatloaf we make (which is also mild, with just onions and mustard powder and pepper for seasoning). But thanks for being so brave and trying it! For us, it is the ultimate comfort food. Ghetto Pate en Croute, that is all =) There are quite a range of forms of pate, one of the most basic is essentially meatloaf, rustic, definitely ‘family style’ =) So normally Pate en Croute is very elaborate, baked into pastry and expensive ingredients. A Pate en Terrine can literally be a meatloaf baked in a loaf pan. [And yes, many forms of pate are spreadable, but those are slightly different =)] Actually I do make pate en croute occasionally, by taking meatloaf mix [the beef, veal and pork blend] a panade [dried bread soaked in milk, think breadcrumbs and egg for american style meat loaf] season with salt, pepper, parsley, thyme and marjoram and about half a cup of finely minced and sauted celery and onion per pound of meat. I also use several slices of leftover roast beef and if it is to be for someone else a brunoise of mushroom, or thin slices of portabella mushrooms decoratively layered into the pate when I put it together. I just use a standard loaf tin, and make [fancy cut outs](http://compare.ebay.com/like/310302259594?ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&rvr_id=221966801318&crlp=1_263602_304662&UA=WVF%3F&GUID=9bf5026112d0a04373f4e964fff77c89&itemid=310302259594&ff4=263602_304662) to layer on the top decoratively. It sounds like a lot of work, but really you can fake it with commercial pie crust, a basic meatloaf recipe, a bread tin [disposable would work] and extra butter to melt and pour into the crust after it is finished baking - through a small hole. The purpose of the butter is to fill in any air holes left from baking, as a preservative measure. Think of it as canning medieval style =) ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/86 "2011-03-30T18:20:29Z")
Peanut butter and sweet pickle sandwiches: Spread peanut butter on bread. Slice sweet gherkins about 1/8" thick, lengthwise. Arrange on peanut butter so as to cover as close to completely as possible, without overlap. Add second slice of bread. YUM. Also, grilled cheese (Velveeta) sandwiches on rye or Dutch Dill bread, with jam spread on top after grilling. DOUBLE YUM. ---
**Author:** ![Tamarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tamarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamarin)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/87 "2011-03-30T18:37:47Z")
Peanut butter and bacon on toast for breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/88 "2011-03-30T20:33:55Z")
\*\*Deep fried Cauliflower \*\* Need Cauliflower Flour Beaten eggs Oil Cut into bit size pieces Steam or boil cauliflower till just about done cool off and then dip in flour and then eggs to coat deep Fry until golden brown Salt to taste To me its better than popcorn ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/89 "2011-03-30T22:17:29Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > We salt our cantaloupe, never tried it on watermelon though. We eat hard-boiled eggs while still warm, split them in half and spread with butter. We used to have sugar sandwiches when I was a kid but we used white sugar. We put butter on crackers. As for the op, we used to eat white rice warm with milk, sugar and cinnamon for breakfast but we never added eggs to that. Get some good prosciutto, wrap around cantaloupe slice. Salty, hammy, melony goodness! ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/90 "2011-03-30T22:41:01Z")
> [@CWN](#): > > \*\*Deep fried Cauliflower \*\* > Need > Cauliflower > Flour > Beaten eggs > Oil > > Cut into bit size pieces > Steam or boil cauliflower till just about done > cool off and then dip in flour and then eggs to coat > deep Fry until golden brown > Salt to taste > > To me its better than popcorn Whoa, whoa, whoa. This sounds awesome so I want to make sure I get this right: You dredge the cauliflower in flour, then dip in the beaten eggs, and then drop right into the fryer? What’s the coating on the cauliflower like when it’s done? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/91 "2011-03-30T22:53:09Z")
Except for the beaten eggs, that sounds like an Indian pakora. Although I suppose the lesson is that there’s nothing new under the sun. ---
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/92 "2011-03-30T23:24:44Z")
> [@Shark\_Sandwich](#): > > Whoa, whoa, whoa. This sounds awesome so I want to make sure I get this right: > > You dredge the cauliflower in flour, then dip in the beaten eggs, and then drop right into the fryer? What’s the coating on the cauliflower like when it’s done? That’s how you do it. It gives it a soft but firm crust and I make it as a snack - best fresh but not bad reheated as leftovers ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/93 "2011-03-30T23:38:20Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Peanut butter and sweet pickle sandwiches: > > Spread peanut butter on bread. > Slice sweet gherkins about 1/8" thick, lengthwise. Arrange on peanut butter so as to cover as close to completely as possible, without overlap. > Add second slice of bread. > YUM. > > Also, grilled cheese (Velveeta) sandwiches on rye or Dutch Dill bread, with jam spread on top after grilling. DOUBLE YUM. Peanut butter and sweet pickle sandwiches are good, but peanut butter and dill pickles are better. 🙂 Growing up, my family tended to go through an economy jar (2lb) of peanut butter a week. I think I’ve tried just about every PB combo known. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/94 "2011-03-31T00:17:40Z")
My dad always liked to make savory pancakes. Either with tomato sauce and mozzarella or salsa and cheddar. I can’t even imagine eating them now. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/95 "2011-03-31T00:45:04Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Potato-chip chicken > > Dump about 3 or 4 cups of potato chips into a ziplock bag. Add garlic salt, dried parsley and about 1 cup of cheap, green-can parmesan cheese. Mush everything together until the pieces of chips are no bigger than corn flakes. > > Beat a couple of eggs together with just a bit of water. Dunk the chicken (whole chicken, cut up, bone in, skin on) in the eggs and roll in the potato chip mixture. Put on baking pan. Put a pat of butter/margerine on each piece. Sprinkle the remaining chips over the chicken and baking pan, drizzle with the remaining egg. > > Bake at ~350 for about 45 minutes. After you remove the chicken, serve the remaining pan-glop of chips/eggs/ over a mixture of white rice and peas. > > Feel your heart come to a complete stop as you realize you’re eating something like a 3 day supply of salt and grease. Enjoy the taste though. 😉 > > I remake this once a year or so, just for the memories. . That is basically the same as one of my favorite halibut recipes. I use Pringles potato chips and the cook time is much shorter but it’s great with white fish. Made cheeseburger pie the other night, I used 2 lbs of burger in my large cast iron fry pan so I fry/bake in one dish. I really liked the bisquick crust but thought the dish was a little bland until I added ketchup, mustard, mayo and pickles. Like an open-faced cheese burger. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/96 "2011-03-31T00:46:18Z")
In terms of TRADITIONS, my family never has Thanksgiving turkey; my mother always makes roast ducks stuffed with apples. It’s an old family recipe, and she hates turkey, so she’s always reasoned that if she’s gonna be in the kitchen all day, may as well like the food. People’s reactions vary from aghast horror at breaking tradition to intense jealousy. ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/97 "2011-03-31T01:55:13Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > In terms of TRADITIONS, my family never has Thanksgiving turkey; my mother always makes roast ducks stuffed with apples. It’s an old family recipe, and she hates turkey, so she’s always reasoned that if she’s gonna be in the kitchen all day, may as well like the food. > > People’s reactions vary from aghast horror at breaking tradition to intense jealousy. You can count me in the intense jealousy column. ---
**Author:** ![D-bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@D-bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D-bear)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/98 "2011-03-31T01:55:18Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > This isn’t so much a family tradition as just something my sister started doing, which then in turn my brother and I started doing, but I still get funny looks from people when I tell them. > > Pickles on pizza. > > They have to be dill, and thinly sliced, like ones you’d find on a McD’s hamburger. There is really only one pizza place that does it well, and it’s the one in our hometown she started ordering it from. I like it paired with pepperoni, and I actually managed to get enough of my friends in high school to like it that pickles eventually made it onto the official list of toppings. > > People cringe, but it’s so good! The pickles dry out a bit, and are like salty, sour islands of awesome in the sea of cheese. I had a Pizza place next to a business I ran in Arkansas once upon a time ago that made a Big Mac pizza. Thousand Island dressing on the Crust, Beef Crumbles, Cheese, Onions, Pickles. Bake it up and when you pull it out of the oven, sprinkle shredded ice burg lettuce over the top. It was not “officially” called Big Mac, (let let lawyers get ahold of that…) But BOY was that yummy. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/99 "2011-03-31T17:35:53Z")
The food service at my university used to make this cheeseburger pizza that was absolutely awful. It had ketchup instead of pizza sauce, ground beef crumbles, American cheese instead of mozzarella, shredded iceberg lettuce, (IIRC) sliced or diced tomatoes, and pickle slices. It was absolutely gross. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091/100 "2011-03-31T18:25:08Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Get some good prosciutto, wrap around cantaloupe slice. > Salty, hammy, melony goodness! That’s an appetizer I’ve had in fine Italian restaurants. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-food-traditions-that-you-love-but-make-outsiders-cringe/576091.md?page=6)