I am not a picky eater.
Approximately 99.9% of the time, I’ll happily scarf down anything resembling edible food. From blue boxes of Kraft mac & cheese to roasted pork jowls to entire baking sheets of kale chips to 3/4 of a boxed yellow cake with chocolate frosting (that one was on a dare), chances are I’ll eat it. I’ve never been much of a gambler.
Just don’t serve me olives or mushrooms or grapefruit or cantaloupe.
Then, you will lose. Guaranteed.
However, despite my adventurously curious tastebuds, there are a few other foods I’ve always been skeptical of. Seafood is a tricky one with me – sometimes I enjoy a perfectly grilled piece of salmon while other times I steer clear from that heinous, fishy-smelling aroma. Also, what is the deal with hemp protein powder? It tastes like straight-up mother earth in all her gritty glory, and while I pretended to like it for awhile, I haven’t touched the stuff since August 25, 2009.
And tempeh.
How are you even supposed to pronounce this most curious word?
Tem-pay?
Tem-puh?
Temp?
However you choose to pronounce it (I say tem-puh), this fermented soy product can be scary. I mean, when you open up a package to find your food resembles vacuum-packed brains and smells like sweaty feet, one has the right to be skeptical, no?
But you keep calm and carry on.
That’s what Kate Middleton would do.
And sInce I’m also practically a princess, that’s what I do too.
In the face of tempeh adversity, I turned to one woman and one recipe only: Heidi’s Orange Pan-Glazed Tempeh. I kept calm. I carried on. And I devoured this entire dish.
This recipe is hands down the BEST tempeh dish I’ve ever had.
And to top it off, I served it with kale chips and quinoa as well as conquered another food skepticism of mine: fennel.
Per the advice of one sweet reader named Liz, I bought a small fennel bulb at the co-op last week. I sliced it, roasted it in EVOO + garlic and grated a generous dusting of buttery parmesan cheese over the the top.
And gamble of all gambles, I liked it.
Not surprising, however.
Princesses like Kate and myself are too nice and worldly to be picky eaters.
{ 31 comments }
looks like you did wonders with such a feared food! i am the same way with artichokes. i feel that before i cook them properly, they will choke my novice-chef-in-training self, in all their arti-power. or maybe i’m just delusional?
Looks great, Holly! Gonna file this recipe away for the next time I’ve got a block of tempeh on hand. I JUST posted my favorite tempeh recipe last week too — it’s crunchy and savory/sweet and… really good. You should try it sometime!
I love tem-pay! *nom* Too bad I can’t do oranges otherwise I’d have loved to give this recipe a shot! Also, I strongly dislike fennel. I think it tastes like black licorice. This is also why I strongly dislike anise.
I just thought the fennel was a bunch of tentacles hahaha
i have a fennel recipe on my site that uses coconut oil (if you’re back to liking it and not thinking it’s too nasty..i remember that post)
great job on the temmm-peee.
That’s how i say it.
the infamous chocolate cake dare..oh the sherwin house in its glory days… love you lady
Haha, that’s funny. I usually say tem-path. I know I’m probably way off but that is what I’ve always thought it was so I just go with it.
owww! I’m staying away from olives or mushrooms (ick!). But I’ll eat all of the grapefruit and cantaloupe for you :). Tempeh is interesting. I like how it takes on flavors but I just can’t do the texture. Guess we all have our food hang ups!
The fennel looks so weird but Im sure it is really good! I have never tried it!
I love tempeh! I have not had it in a while, but this dish makes me want it!
Happy Thursday! <3 xoxo
I’ve surprisingly never had tempeh, but you’ve inspired me. You’ve also inspired me to be more Princess-like today. My Husband will (not) thank you later.
It took me a long time to finally try tempeh, but I really like the stuff. Slap some cheese, bbq sauce, and caramelized onions on that sucker and I am a happy man.
1. I still haven’t made this tempeh recipe.
2. The first time I was planning to order a tempeh dish at a local place, I googled it to see how to pronounce it :) Geek!
3. I’m not a fan of fennel based on the ways I’ve had it, but I may need to try this.
4. Seriously loving your header. It’s so you!
Happy Thursday friend!
I’m not a picky eater, either. Sometimes I wish my palate was a bit more refined – but a dare to eat a whole boxed cake sounds delicious to me.
Also, I tried making tempeh once and it didn’t turn out well, at all. I may have to give it another shot seeing as how delicious this looks.
hm. still not sure about the fennel. or maybe it’s because i’ve only had it in restuarants where they pair it with mandarin oranges and a sweet raspberry-esque dressing…?
Tempeh scares me. I still haven’t tried it. I bought it once and gave it away because it freaked me out so much.
Mushrooms and shrimp are my do not eat items. Most everything else I can do. I’m iffy on fish too. I hate salmon but I like some of the milder white fishes.
Oooh I can’t get down with the fennel. It’s too licorice-y for me!
However, I love me all the things you listed that you hated AND I love me some tempeh. The people at VegNews pronounce it “temp-ay” and they know more than I do, so Imma roll with that.
OK, but onto a more pressing issues: Why haven’t we caught up yet? How about THIS weekend??? Pleeeease, I miss you and feel disconnected and don’t like that.
LOVE YOU!!! xoxoxoo
That’s the most beautiful tempeh I’ve ever seen!
Tempeh is one of those things I want try, but still never have. You make it look/sound delicious though.
Glad to hear I’m not the only foodie who just DOESN’T DO grapefruit! When I tell people, they act like I have just spoken a horror — “BUT YOU’RE SO HEALTHY!” they demand.
Don’t care. Grapefruit is the pits, every time.
Mushrooms are great, though. I’ll take yours!
I used to hate tempeh until I had it marinated and grilled on a panini. Mmmmmm
Yummer McTummers. Looks good! I’ll admit, I’m skeptical of fennel and tempeh, too. But this post may have me changing my mind.
Oh, tempeh. Since I recently found out that it’s actually really good for you (the fermentation does good things to the soy, apparently) I feel like I need to eat it more. But it is kinda freaky, I agree. :)
Tempeh has been on my “list” for a long time, but I still haven’t made it. Thanks for the warning that it resembles vacuum-packed brains and smells like sweaty feet! ;)
i love fennel. but your fennel looks like white worms in dirt. just sayin. the only food i hate is hot dogs but i will eat them. i mean, i had to in chicago. i didn’t like it though. bleh.
I despised olives until about two years ago, when I tried some really fancy, big, green imported olives marinated in garlic and red chilies. Those are the ONLY kind of olives I will eat!
Your tempeh looks great, I’m not a huge fan of tempeh but, like you, I try to be open-minded. Sometimes I have to try a new food a few times before I start to like it.
I don’t like tempeh either, but this actually sounds good!!!
can I just say YUM? I’ve never been a fan of tempeh either, but your photos make it look oh so yummy!
As for fennel, I’m a huge fan and yours looks like it would do my taste buds a favor yum!
the fennel looks like WORMS!!! i keep meaing to make that tempeh and havent yet….but it always looks so good
i wanted to come back and tell you (because i was reading your posts yesterday but didn’t get a chance to comment) that every time i get on a plane i think about who would be my ‘jack’ and ‘sawyer’
i’m also glad you’re on the ground. love you mama!
Love fennel!!
I agree with hemp protein powder. I remember trying it about a 2 years ago and thought how do people eat this. Hemp seeds I love, but the powder another story. But lately I am trying to get more protein so added it back. Still do not like it, so have to add a lot of other things to help get it down haha
ewwwww! tempeh still weirds me out! you described it perfectly! totally brainy and smelly and just plain weird! even as a vegetarian i know that seitan > tempeh TIMES A THOUSAND! i sometimes wish tempeh and olives and beets would go jump off a cliff together.
is that mean?
i think it’s kind of just. :)
So, I just got my first bunch of Kale. It was one of THOSE foods that I didn’t know what to do with it….but I kept calm and added it to a smoothie to start….eh…I like spinach in my smoothies more. However, I am sitting with my first bowl of kale chips….and oh my!! If I could buy stock in Kale I would. This is great, why am I just now making this. THanks so much for sharing this with us!!
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