Every home has their “staples” that regularly get made.

My mom was a pretty solid cook, and she had a few foods I fondly remember and wish I could have one more time.

But there are other dishes I’d rather forget.

My mom didn’t know how to cook Chicken. She had three main staples:

“Baked” chicken breasts, which were seasoned with a light sprinkling of seasoned salt and cooked until they were dryer than dirt.

Chicken crockpot pasta which was made with three ingredients: Chicken breast, spiral pasta, water. Not even stock. Nary a dash of seasoning. Just pasta, water, and chicken. On top of it, she always used too much water, so it wasn’t just bland, it was watery.

She made these tomato-based dumplings, which I loved. But she always served them with Chicken, which were just boiled in tomato broth. And again, they were dry as dirty despite being boiled in liquid.

So what foods haunted your childhood?

Zucchini, was cooked fine but I just absolutely hated it as a child and would be made to sit at the table until I ate them & would sit there for 1/2 or hour so until I finally gave in.

My dad is a horrible cook and would constantly made fun of his mother’s cooking, whenever I visit I make sure we go out to dinner or something as it’s almost inedible.
Not so much that he can’t cook he just makes stuff in the most bizarre way.

I’ve tried to cook more recently and bought an air-fryer but I’m honestly not seeing much financial benefit from it. I live alone so if I buy stuff in bulk it just ends up going to fast and I’m at work 5 evenings a week and have a discounted dinner there so I’m rarely in a mood to make myself a huge lunch.

My mother is a great cook, but for whatever reason it felt like we had a lot of chicken growing up. It was never bad, but when it feels like you're eating twice a week, once I grew up and moved out, I never cooked chicken for that reason.

Feb 8, 2024 5:09:57 GMT System said:

Zucchini, was cooked fine but I just absolutely hated it as a child and would be made to sit at the table until I ate them & would sit there for 1/2 or hour so until I finally gave in.

My dad is a horrible cook and would constantly made fun of his mother’s cooking, whenever I visit I make sure we go out to dinner or something as it’s almost inedible.
Not so much that he can’t cook he just makes stuff in the most bizarre way.

I’ve tried to cook more recently and bought an air-fryer but I’m honestly not seeing much financial benefit from it. I live alone so if I buy stuff in bulk it just ends up going to fast and I’m at work 5 evenings a week and have a discounted dinner there so I’m rarely in a mood to make myself a huge lunch.

I hate zucchini, always have. Just the smell of it makes me want to throw up. Raw pumpkin as well. I do love pumpkin pie.

^zucchini is of the devil. Right up there with Brussel sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower. 

I feel bad for my kid. I am a serviceable cook in that our meals were very utilitarian. She didn't luck out with my mom living with us either, as my mom is a much better baker than cook. Both my Gran and Nanna were the same. We ate, but it weren't nothing fancy and I'm pretty sure the only spices they had were salt, pepper, garlic & onion powder. She is fortunate that her Grandma on her dad's side is a phenomenal cook cause it sure doesn't come from our side. That's why I tell people when I buy something to bring to potlucks how lucky they are.

My mom insisted on making this ambrosia salad for every event or holiday dinner for years. You know the one: whipped cream, yogurt, marshmallows, canned orange slices, pineapple slices all melded together and refrigerated. I got so sick of it it's now banned. For some reason she thought I liked her scalloped potatoes so she made them for me all the time and I dutifully ate them. It was just recently (past 3-5 years) she found out I've never liked them. I would have gone to my grave with that secret, but I couldn't take it anymore.

When I was growing up the staples at dinner were mints & tatties, ground beef casserole and a tomato based beef stew. We still make all of those. I remember a lot of ground beef for some reason and a lot of meat and potatoes. If there was chicken it was legs or thighs, never breasts. It's the opposite now. We eat mostly chicken and usually breasts.

My grandpa had a heart attack when I was growing up so my grandma changed her family diet significantly after. The baked chicken breasts that were dry hit worse with No-Salt and grilled burgers which are already dry and overcooked became a real struggle when she went to 93% lean ground beef.

My dad owned a bakery growing up. He also went through culinary school. So when he made dinner it was generally great. My mother though, not the greatest. And at least a few times per week my dad had no interest in making food after doing it all day everyday.

Some of my least favourites:

- Boiled brussel sprouts with a glob of mayo on top
- Baked pork chops with applesauce. Good lord so so dry
- Liver and onions. Legit had this a couple of times per year until I was about 10 and finally said no more no way
- veal just ugh

My family ate fish regularly despite my allergy. So I'd often get a replacement meal of either fried egg on toast or beans on toast. Not even anything fun like chicken nuggets and fries.

To this day I regularly make brussel sprouts. Roasted with oil and seasonings. Pork chops only a few times, smoked and reverse seared. Not my favourite but at times they are so so cheap. Haven't touched liver or veal since I was child and won't again.

KJ - I just can't. Unseasoned boiled chicken and pasta...I thought that as I was reading the third ingredient was going to be a can of mushroom soup or something. Not just water.

Foos liver and onions is banned from being cooked in our house. My dad used to call it fried farts and onions and yet still ate it. Was one of my mom and dads favourites. I take her to a restaurant to have it when she likes.

Feb 8, 2024 14:23:09 GMT Foos said:

KJ - I just can't. Unseasoned boiled chicken and pasta...I thought that as I was reading the third ingredient was going to be a can of mushroom soup or something. Not just water.

No sir. Just good ol' midwest tap water. Mmm mmm.

My dad liked all his food cooked well done so that is how all our food was cooked. My mom worked full-time and wasn't taking special orders when she got home.

At least 3 nights a week we ate overcooked chicken breasts with mashed potatoes and corn. If it was warm enough out she barbecued and burnt the chicken, but at least we got corn on the cob instead of the microwaved frozen crap.

I doused my food in barbecue sauce just to be able to swallow it.

When I moved out on my own I would rarely cook chicken because of this. I was just so sick of it, even if it was done properly. Also being in college and poor I was pretty lazy when it came to cooking anyway so I lived off pasta and whatever frozen meat was on sale.

Chicken Stir Fry.

I was a very fussy eater as a child but now I am basically of the opinion that there are no bad foods, just people who don't know how to cook them in the best way. We've talked about this in another thread but cruciferous vegetables like Brussels sprouts, broccoli and kale taste pretty terrible steamed but are magic when roasted. My parents are both very decent cooks but they didn't set me up for vegetable success. 

I'll go into bat for zucchini too - I grow them in my garden. Try shaving them into thin strips using a potato peeler and fry them with some lemon juice and garlic. I like to put it in a mezze-style sandwich with halloumi and baba ganoush.

Feb 8, 2024 13:39:40 GMT mikec said:

My grandpa had a heart attack when I was growing up so my grandma changed her family diet significantly after. The baked chicken breasts that were dry hit worse with No-Salt and grilled burgers which are already dry and overcooked became a real struggle when she went to 93% lean ground beef.

First I hope what I’m about to say isn’t out of line. But your grandma was a great cook. In Appalachia we have a saying. If you are a grown man and your papaw is alive… your mamaw can’t cook.

As to the topic. Yknow I can’t really remember the bad stuff. Like some of it I can remember hating at the time. But as an adult tastes change and I’d really like to have some of it again.

Feb 8, 2024 14:23:09 GMT Foos said:

My dad owned a bakery growing up. He also went through culinary school. So when he made dinner it was generally great. My mother though, not the greatest. And at least a few times per week my dad had no interest in making food after doing it all day everyday.

Some of my least favourites:

- Boiled brussel sprouts with a glob of mayo on top
- Baked pork chops with applesauce. Good lord so so dry
- Liver and onions. Legit had this a couple of times per year until I was about 10 and finally said no more no way
- veal just ugh

My family ate fish regularly despite my allergy. So I'd often get a replacement meal of either fried egg on toast or beans on toast. Not even anything fun like chicken nuggets and fries.

To this day I regularly make brussel sprouts. Roasted with oil and seasonings. Pork chops only a few times, smoked and reverse seared. Not my favourite but at times they are so so cheap. Haven't touched liver or veal since I was child and won't again.

KJ - I just can't. Unseasoned boiled chicken and pasta...I thought that as I was reading the third ingredient was going to be a can of mushroom soup or something. Not just water.

Foos , Liver and onions is the best. Thats some good eating right there

Lima beans hands down. They are the Devil's vegetable.

To this day my mom is an awful cook. Typical white cook that does not believe in seasoning and rarely even salts stuff.

Two worst things we ate were grilled cheese with government cheese and pre-genetic alteration brussel sprouts. I know some swear government cheese was great but I thought it was disgusting. For people who never had it, think Kraft American cheese singles but as cheaply made as possible.

Now I cook it is funny my mom is the fussy eater and I have to hide veggies in her shit or split what I cook into seasoned and unseasoned batches. Also need to plan like balanced meals or else she eats microwaved meals.

My mom is another who loves well done shit. It is funny she keeps asking why stuff is always so tender, and I simply tell her that is how meat is supposed to be and she just overcooks stuff way, way too long.

While I am ranting my mom also is the classic cook who half assed stuff and walks away from the kitchen while cooking and wonders why she burns or fucks up her food so much. Not sure why it is so hard for people who are cooking to just stay in the kitchen for the minutes or so something needs to pan fry, or prep stuff in advance.

Feb 8, 2024 5:39:15 GMT N A T H said:

My mother is a great cook, but for whatever reason it felt like we had a lot of chicken growing up. It was never bad, but when it feels like you're eating twice a week, once I grew up and moved out, I never cooked chicken for that reason.

Sounds like my wife.  We did chicken with rice, asparagus or salad four times a week or so.  Was like all her kids would eat for dinner.  Then waffles, chicken nuggets and corndogs for lunch since that is what the kids ate.  Was before I learned to cook so I was useless in meal planning.

Feb 10, 2024 11:48:40 GMT c said:

To this day my mom is an awful cook. Typical white cook that does not believe in seasoning and rarely even salts stuff.

Two worst things we ate were grilled cheese with government cheese and pre-genetic alteration brussel sprouts. I know some swear government cheese was great but I thought it was disgusting. For people who never had it, think Kraft American cheese singles but as cheaply made as possible.

Now I cook it is funny my mom is the fussy eater and I have to hide veggies in her shit or split what I cook into seasoned and unseasoned batches. Also need to plan like balanced meals or else she eats microwaved meals.

My mom is another who loves well done shit. It is funny she keeps asking why stuff is always so tender, and I simply tell her that is how meat is supposed to be and she just overcooks stuff way, way too long.

While I am ranting my mom also is the classic cook who half assed stuff and walks away from the kitchen while cooking and wonders why she burns or fucks up her food so much. Not sure why it is so hard for people who are cooking to just stay in the kitchen for the minutes or so something needs to pan fry, or prep stuff in advance.

c thinks women belong in the kitchen!!!

My Mum was fairly kind, we weren't made to eat anything we truly hated... But this was the 80's and people were trying to get a bit fancy.
I really didn't like Apricot Chicken but it was edible.

We never had to eat Tuna Casserole because I could nearly vomit at the smell.
But she did make Chicken Casserole with a white source and breadcrumbs on the top, the texture did me in.

One time we were out for dinner at some family friends house.
They served Tuna Casserole, my Dad wasn't a fan either, but he shot me one of those "You eat this and say nothing or you won't sit down for a week" looks... Corporal punishment was a big thing in our house.
Using my entire will and perseverance, I finished the whole plate while suppressing heaving, true mind over matter stuff.
I get to the end and the lady says "What a good boy, you must be hungry" and puts another massive ladle full on my plate.
I look at my Dad and he shoots me a look that says "Sucks to be you" and I wallowed in my betrayal.
Never again have I eaten Tuna casserole and I never will as long as my sphincter points to the ground.

Feb 10, 2024 11:48:40 GMT c said:

To this day my mom is an awful cook. Typical white cook that does not believe in seasoning and rarely even salts stuff.

Two worst things we ate were grilled cheese with government cheese and pre-genetic alteration brussel sprouts. I know some swear government cheese was great but I thought it was disgusting. For people who never had it, think Kraft American cheese singles but as cheaply made as possible.

Now I cook it is funny my mom is the fussy eater and I have to hide veggies in her shit or split what I cook into seasoned and unseasoned batches. Also need to plan like balanced meals or else she eats microwaved meals.

My mom is another who loves well done shit. It is funny she keeps asking why stuff is always so tender, and I simply tell her that is how meat is supposed to be and she just overcooks stuff way, way too long.

While I am ranting my mom also is the classic cook who half assed stuff and walks away from the kitchen while cooking and wonders why she burns or fucks up her food so much. Not sure why it is so hard for people who are cooking to just stay in the kitchen for the minutes or so something needs to pan fry, or prep stuff in advance.

My mom is normally an excellent cook, but when it comes to steak, she ALWAYS overcooks it.

But her flan is to die for, and she can cook the hell out of chicken and pork.   

There is a dish that is very popular in Greece. Its called Horta, which is wild leafy greens that are boiled in water and then doused with olive oil and lemon juice.

You would think that my parents (or any Greek family) would buy the greens in a supermarket. This was never the case. My parents would go to any wide field, wade in the field which a knife and garbage bags and gathered as much of the greens as they could.

I would always get annoyed whenever they came home with these bags filled with greens, only because I would have to be the one to wash the dirt and bugs out of them.

I remember loudly complaining why I was the one doing the washing since I never ate the stuff. My mother responded that since I never ate the Horta, I could at least help by cleaning it.

How does it taste? Very oily and bitter. My husband tried some once and excused himself. Lets just leave it at that.

Feb 16, 2024 6:39:12 GMT thereallt said:

Feb 10, 2024 11:48:40 GMT c said:

To this day my mom is an awful cook. Typical white cook that does not believe in seasoning and rarely even salts stuff.

Two worst things we ate were grilled cheese with government cheese and pre-genetic alteration brussel sprouts. I know some swear government cheese was great but I thought it was disgusting. For people who never had it, think Kraft American cheese singles but as cheaply made as possible.

Now I cook it is funny my mom is the fussy eater and I have to hide veggies in her shit or split what I cook into seasoned and unseasoned batches. Also need to plan like balanced meals or else she eats microwaved meals.

My mom is another who loves well done shit. It is funny she keeps asking why stuff is always so tender, and I simply tell her that is how meat is supposed to be and she just overcooks stuff way, way too long.

While I am ranting my mom also is the classic cook who half assed stuff and walks away from the kitchen while cooking and wonders why she burns or fucks up her food so much. Not sure why it is so hard for people who are cooking to just stay in the kitchen for the minutes or so something needs to pan fry, or prep stuff in advance.

My mom is normally an excellent cook, but when it comes to steak, she ALWAYS overcooks it.

But her flan is to die for, and she can cook the hell out of chicken and pork.   

Our house was the same, when it came to beef it was well done at a minimum.
I thought for years I didn't like steak... Until my eyes were opened

Yep it's always well done so I was confused the first time someone asked me how I wanted it. Regular? I didn't know there was an answer other than cooked. I really didn't try any other steak until about 30.