Early in our marriage, I fixed liver and onions for supper. Tim was very doubtful and he approached it as he approaches all new foods: with great suspicion. However, he discovered that he really, really liked liver. He was amazed at how tender it was and sauteed onions are always a hit with him.
William was having dinner out with his mother and stepfather on St Patrick's day. It was a nice opportunity to cook something for Tim and I without having to worry about offending William's taste buds. "How about I fix liver and onions for supper tonight?" I asked Tim.
He was amenable to the idea.
So I dredged the liver, browned the liver, and then sauteed the onions. I allowed it to simmer and make its own onion-y gravy. I left it on the stove while I walked down to meet William from school.
He walked in the door and said, "Wow. That smells great! What is that?"
"Liver and onions," I said.
"Can I have a taste?" he asked and so I cut him off a piece with some gravy. "Can you save me a piece for when I get home? he asked.
Go figure.
I plated Tim's supper and he picked at it without much appetite. I was a little surprised.
"You used to like liver."
"It's okay," he said. "It's something I don't mind every year or two."
And when William came home, he was pleased to see some liver and gravy left for him, and despite the fact that he'd had second helpings of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots at his first dinner, he ate a second dinner with great pleasure.
"I really like liver," he said.
Wow--I've never met anyone under 61 who liked liver & onions, good for William. I remember when my grandmother came to visit me at my first place in the city in 1990, we walked up the street to a corner restaurant for dinner. She asked the waitress if the cook could make her liver & onions, as it wasn't on the menu. The cook was so pleased someone asked, he came out to introduce himself. I had one taste and almost lost my appetite!
ReplyDeleteHe's such a picky fellow. That was something I wouldn't have predicted in a hundred years.
DeleteI liked liver and onions all my childhood until I learned that my Mother had been lying to me and hated it. I haven't had any since!!
ReplyDeleteWe rarely had it as kids. I remember the first time that our mother cooked it. It looked so....ackkkkk! But I loved it.
DeleteI love it too, and have since childhood. One of the few meats I now eat. But it is difficult to get the flavor and texture right and not for amateurs to attempt. Well done.
ReplyDeleteI brown it, sautee the onions in butter, and then simmer the liver atop of the onions. I really think the secret is finding liver that has been thinly sliced.
DeleteYou have reminded me that I used to cook liver and onions quite often. Not had it for probably 30 yrs now! I seem to remember that I would fry onions and chopped bacon, add a tin of chopped tomatoes and then when all was bubbling I added very finely sliced lamb's liver and briefly cook it in the sauce. Yum.
ReplyDeleteI have never had it with bacon, but that does sound good. Maybe in a couple years when I cook it again, I will give it a try! :)
DeleteMy Mum had an allergic reaction to liver - tongue swelling and other nasty effects which rather put me off although I used to like it many years ago but wouldn't eat it now
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of that. I wonder what triggered that??
DeleteMy mother instilled a dislike of offal in me as she didn't like it herself.
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of it referred to as offal. That put me off...
DeleteOne never knows about these fellas and their tastes.
ReplyDeleteOne does not.
DeleteLiver and onions was my Mom's favorite dish but none of us would eat it - not even my Dad. She would sometimes make it for herself while she made something else for the rest of us. To this day I have never tried it! :)
ReplyDeleteReally? NEVER?
DeleteGo figure is a comment that suit your whole post.
ReplyDeleteLOL. You are right, Red. I'll never figure these guys out.
DeleteI have always loved liver and bacon but don't know many others who like it.
ReplyDeleteFrances said about the bacon. Now I feel as if I have missed something.
DeleteWhen I was a boy, my mother would sometimes make liver with some sort of a tomato sauce. I haven’t had it that way since then, but I like liver and onions. Sue likes it too, but she can’t stand cooking it.
ReplyDeleteTomatoes. I will have to look at some recipes. I have never heard of that.
DeleteCorned beef, cabbage and potatoes sounds like food we would eat in Ireland and Blighty.
ReplyDeleteIt was St Patrick's day. My children are Irish. The oldest two always celebrate.
DeleteWell, as long as someone appreciated it! I used to like liver but I just can't do it now. It's too rich-tasting for me.
ReplyDeleteJust amazed me that finicky William did.
DeleteWhen my dad had a stroke years ago his taste changed a lot. He would ask my mom to make something he really liked and then taste it and say I don't like this. He knew he did like it at one time, but his taste buds changed. He did not even like the smell or look of pizza before, after the stroke he could not get enough of it. He would get upset with himself since he knew he liked certain foods so much before.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if that's it, because quite seriously, Tim is a lot more picky than he used to be.
DeleteIt was one of my parents' favorites, can't say I share that opinion.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I will ever call it a favorite, but it's awfully nice to have a nice bit of liver smothered in onions.
DeleteDad hated liver and onions, so mom made it when he was out of town.
ReplyDeleteAs children, you ate it too?
DeleteSeeing as Tim is such a chatty bloke, I'm surprised he didn't tell you this sooner!
ReplyDeleteWell, it's been quite a while since we've had it.
DeleteLove chicken livers, duck, and turkey but cannot abide beef or pork liver of any kind. As they say, go figure. Good for William discovering a new taste and food that he likes.
ReplyDeleteI have never had chicken, duck or turkey liver, to be honest. I know that liver is a high cholestrol food and we do not have it very often. I just happened to see some at a store known for its meats.
DeleteLiver and onions is one of those things I would eat to be polite but if I have other choices, I would choose other things.
ReplyDelete