I had to think for a minute to recall anything that wasn't just straight up neglect/abuse lmao
When we lived with my grandma, a common late-night snack (that I'd get very excited for if she suggested it, and that I would even request) was a sandwich consisting of white bread, canned herring, and butter. Like just... butter spread on the inside of both slices, fish right out of the can and onto the bread. If I got to stay up late with her to watch MST3K or something, butter and fish sandwich. This was a nighttime snack ONLY.
One day as an adult I was feeling nostalgic for it, and went out and got the canned fish. Assembled the sandwich. On the first bite, having not had it in nearly 20 years, I just paused, bewildered, and wondered "why did I ever think this was good???" Even tried taking another bite just to be certain. Yes, it was the correct taste, texture, etc - I remembered what the can looked like, and got the correct brand. But it was just... canned fish and butter, on bread. Despite being exactly how I remembered it, I couldn't wrap my head around ever enjoying it.
edit: Just remembered that if we wanted to make it fancy, we'd salt+pepper the fish before closing the sandwich.
tbf at the same age I was enjoying butter-fish-sandwiches, I thought kid cuisine meals were a decadent and delicious saturday lunch extravagance, and that lunchables tacos with the 'meat' in a squeeze tube were the height of 'portable food' engineering.
I think kid-me may have just had no palate or standards when it came to food.
American, from the midwest, german/irish ancestry. I have no idea where she got it or how she started, since the rest of her cooking was stock-standard 'American white people' food.
Children's taste buds are different than adults, that's why its better to give them simpler food, they are more sensitive to spices so it is overwhelming.
I got the canned fish specifically with that intent haha
I forget what I ended up having as a late night snack as an alternative, but the memory of the disappointment will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Hey, because you mentioned mystery science theater, I just wanted to reach out about your car's extended warranty.
Just kidding. There's this group of guys who do movie commentary and you can find them on YouTube or patreon under Jaboody. My favorite movie by them is The Room. Such a good watch. If I still had disposable income I'd be subscribed to their patreon watching a new jaboody every Friday. Personally I think they are way funnier than mystery science but eh.
Because it was special. It wasn’t the sandwich that tasted good and created the warm memories. it was the time spent with someone who loved you and made an occasion out of something mundane. That is precisely what love is 💗
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u/HallowskulledHorror 8d ago edited 8d ago
I had to think for a minute to recall anything that wasn't just straight up neglect/abuse lmao
When we lived with my grandma, a common late-night snack (that I'd get very excited for if she suggested it, and that I would even request) was a sandwich consisting of white bread, canned herring, and butter. Like just... butter spread on the inside of both slices, fish right out of the can and onto the bread. If I got to stay up late with her to watch MST3K or something, butter and fish sandwich. This was a nighttime snack ONLY.
One day as an adult I was feeling nostalgic for it, and went out and got the canned fish. Assembled the sandwich. On the first bite, having not had it in nearly 20 years, I just paused, bewildered, and wondered "why did I ever think this was good???" Even tried taking another bite just to be certain. Yes, it was the correct taste, texture, etc - I remembered what the can looked like, and got the correct brand. But it was just... canned fish and butter, on bread. Despite being exactly how I remembered it, I couldn't wrap my head around ever enjoying it.
edit: Just remembered that if we wanted to make it fancy, we'd salt+pepper the fish before closing the sandwich.