Tried It...Liked It...Done it Ever Since

And so it begins for me to pass on my immense culinary knowledge on to my son...

We were at the dinner table tonight and I accidentally placed his croissant a little too close to his "all-important" condiment of ketchup on his plate and, well, the marriage takes place between the two. Now...being that I've had this combination before, I'm not worried. Furthermore, being that he is all about trying new things right now, I continue forward with my plan.

"You know," I start off. "Sometimes when I have biscuits, I dip them in ketchup."

"What? That's gross!" he replies.

"Have you ever tried it?" I implore.

"No..." he says.

"Then how do you know it's gross?" I ask in all my immense wisdom.

"I don't I guess. I'll try it." He decides.

You guessed it. He liked it.

It started when I spent the night with a friend in grade school and she was combining the two at breakfast the next morning. I basically had the same reaction as my son and she basically replied in the same manner I did. Obviously, I ended up liking them and have done it like that ever since. No, not every time. But the option is always out there!

Something else I decided to mix as some point in life (who knows when - who knows why) was mixing hamburger dill pickles slices and Frito's. Have you tried it? Then don't judge... .

It's the perfect mix of salt and sour. And - now my mouth is watering.

Keeping on the "chip" ingredient, in high school a friend of mine put Nacho Cheese Doritos on her sandwich. What? Being that I'd learned earlier in life that "Have you tried it?" question and knowing how it ended up, I decided to give it a go. Afterall, I like my sandwich. I like Nacho Cheese Doritos. And, hey...why not add a little crunch to my sandwich? The result...yummmmmmm.

Here's one that every person who I've told about loves. Jalapeno Corn Dip. Yep...jalapenos and corn...together...loving it. Soften a box of cream cheese in the microwave, add a can of drained corn and as many jalapenos as you can stand and mix it all together. You can thank me for this later as - believe it or not - it's the next dip you will take to a party and everyone will be talking about how they can't believe how great it is and you'll be a hero. What to dip it with you ask? Hello? Corn chips!

I've saved the best for last. It's is a recipe I got courtesy of Cardinal Puffs on Lower Greenville in Dallas. It's not there any more (but Ozona Grill took it's place and I'm pleased to announce after a recent visit...it too rocks! Beer picture to right is some proof). Cardinal Puffs had a fabulous outdoor patio (which is still there at Ozona's) and at one of our treks out to this fine establishment, we ordered a pitcher of Coors Light.

When the waitress brought it out, there were "things" floating up-and-down in it with little trails of bubbles following them every time they journeyed up and down the pitcher. They were Spanish Olives. Ummm...Oh my word! This is my absolutely most favorite combination ever. I have passed this on to many, many a friend and every single person has loved it. Of course, you have to like olives, but if you do...ooooooooooohhhh mamma like!

So, next time, before you judge the person sitting next to you about what they are eating...try it first! You may find out you like it. Or even love it! And you'll create a lifelong culinary combination that you can share with others. Or not.

Regardless...Try it...you may like it...and do from there on out.