Even now, the smell of Brussel sprouts cooking is enough to make me gag.

Amen.

Spinach I never minded, uncharacteristically since I hated just about anything green in food. I mean the cooked kind with a bit of vinegar. I didn't really like it, but I could force it down, and got used to it. Brussels sprouts or asparagus? never.

I NEVER had spinach as a child.
I didn't even realise it was a real product when watching Popeye cartoons.

I was introduced to it as an adult and yes, it's fine.
Not a favourite - when cooked it can be slimey - but I would eat it if it's on my plate.
I prefer it raw.
I prefer rocket to either, though. (arugala?)

I love spinach now. Hated it as a kid.

I regularly have it raw or steamed (or do I mean wilted?). A lot of times I'll open a package of chopped frozen to throw into a bowl of soup or curry.

Spanakopita and palak paneer are two of my favorite dishes. They are very rich, and I never make them myself.

A neighbor makes delicious spinach balls. I'm not sure what the other ingredients are, so I don't know how much of their deliciousness is attributable to the spinach.

Other than that, I'm pretty ambivalent on spinach.

We have a lot of spinach in our house. Mostly baby spinach which goes into salads, or steamed and served under eggs (benedict), cooked into spanikopita, in soups. I don't recall ever just cooking it and serving a pile on the plate though. It's how I had it as a kid (a lot) and I couldn't stand it, but like glatt, was forced to eat it.

There's a really yummy spinach dip you can make too which you serve in a cleaned out cob loaf.

Spinach Artichoke dip is the biz..... (as long as they don't stick red peppers in it)

Yep, arugula.

The thing about Brussels sprouts is that too many people overcook them, and that brings up the objectionable bitter-sulphurous-compounds taste. Don't overdo -- keep 'em blanched-green! And like any cabbage, drizzle with a favorite olive oil at the table. We never had our Alien Heads any other way.

If you really want them to look like little green alien heads, cut slanted slits and insert wedges of black olives into the slits. Anoint with olive oil and serve -- particularly effective with the Calvins of the dinner table.

Perry W, might as well think wilted, as the steaming of spinach is so brief, and *Wilted Spinach* is reliably not overcooked, but still hot enough to melt a bit of butter onto. Or in the pot. A toss in there with olive oil for the non-dairy or unsaturated set.

*chuckles*

I used to say garbanzo beans (chickpeas to some) look like embryo heads. But I luvzzzzzz some G-beans, and by extension, hummus. :)

fify

When my brother was 7 or so, he decided that Popeye had it right, and he began demanding canned spinach from mom. Mom knew he'd hate it, but after so much pestering, she finally bought a can and served it to him.

Of course, he hated it.

Me? I never cared for spinach the way it used to be prepared (canned or frozen, and cooked to death), and frankly never knew that spinach could (SHOULD) be eaten raw. Seriously - never ever saw or ate it raw as a kid, I guess people just didn't know better back in the day. (?) As an adult, I've remedied that little problem - I LOVE fresh spinach in a salad and eat it often. Still can't take the cooked stuff, though.

Raw peas. Can't beat 'em.

I used to put peas straight from the field into the sheller at my HS/college job, to pack up in baggies for sale as shelled peas. I also would eat a bag as if they were potato chips. We would also shell for u-pick people but I didn't get to eat those!

This summer I WILL remember to get to the farm during pea season and get some before it's too late. They're like nature's candy.

and after raw peas are frozen peas. they are teh awesome.

raw peas are . . . appealing?