Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Black Licorice


Image source.

My father ate black licorice constantly. Don't know if that's why I waited so long to finally try it. Guess I figured if he liked it, it must be bad. After all, these were the parents who introduced their children to vegetables in the form of canned peas and brussels sprouts. Ever see a canned pea? It's wrinkled and brownish-green. Army green, actually. They came off the stove and out of the pot at room temperature bordering on cold. And the brussels sprouts were just the most horrific things. They still are. Didn't they have frozen vegetables back then? Or ones covered in cheese? Couldn't my mom melt some beautiful cheddar cheese on a fresh piece of broccoli or a sweet carrot?

When I finally tried and enjoyed black licorice in my college years, I wanted to strangle them with it.

15 comments:

ShellHawk said...

Brussels sprouts are Satan's cabbage.

Rot said...

And until today I had no idea it was Brussels and not Brussel...which makes them MORE evil.

crudedoodle.com said...

Not to defend your folks but I've had people beg me to eat fresh brussels sprouts to convince me that they are a good thing.
Don't fall for that one like i did.
They're still small rotting turtle brains.

Mantan Calaveras said...

When I was a child, I used to go down to the creek and chew on the fennel bush, so I have always had a taste for licorice. The candy is too intense though, bordering on chemical.

I got into Absinthe recently, and if you love licorice, you'll probably love it. nothing quite like it. A lovely louche and a whiff of spring.

SPOOKSHOWS.COM said...

Canned vegetables are the worst, I'm always reminded of the Simpson's episode where Lunch Lady Doris opens a can of WWII beans and moaning ghosts fly out of the can.

Love black licorice, the best I've found are Gimbal's Licorice Scottie Dogs - HERE

Pam Morris said...

ha! had to laugh because your tale reminded me of my own mom who never much cared about cooking--we got that canned stuff constantly! (never did get served the brussel sprouts from a can tho'--never even knew what they were 'til I was in college!)

Steve Ring said...

I liked brussels sprouts as a kid. And broccoli and cauliflower. And I was still considered a picky eater by my cast-iron-stomach mom.

Sara said...

You know, you totally had me until this post. LAME. You black-licorice hater. :P I'm sorry Rot, but *NO*. Licorice-flavored jelly beans are NOT the same thing, so you still really hate black licorice all around...

Hilarious comic-NOT.
;)

Also, SPOOKSSHOWS.COM, thanks for the link! BLACK LICORICE LOVERS UNITE!

NoahFentz said...

Two words:
creamed corn.

suzanne said...

I can proudly say I've never eaten a Brussels sprout. Neither as a child nor as an adult. Their reputation and comments like these are all the reason I need to stay away :D

Rot said...

: D

I honestly LOVE black licorice!
We've even eaten those scottie dogs!

Sara said...

I'm a total jump-the-gun licorice lover as I completely missed the word "enjoyed". Lol, oops.Glad to know you're OK after all ;) And the comic really was hilarious.

Rot said...

You're like a licorice-pusher/dealer. : D

Jon Glassett said...

Dude, fresh brussels sprouts cut in half, boiled for 5 minutes, then sauteed with olive oil, minced garlic and bacon! So good.

Also, you can trim the bases, throw them raw into a food processor to shred them, then toss with lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, a little sea salt and black pepper and MOST IMPORTANTLY a really good pecorino romano or parmigiano reggiano (or both!). Unbelievably delicious.

I was a late bloomer with black licorice, too. Didn't get past my phobia until my 20's.

Rot said...

You are dead to me.