How some bitter things change over time

Bitter gourd. I used to wonder how someone actually thought this is an edible thing and started to consume it. When some people tell me they like bitter gourd I found that funny. 'Like bitter gourd??? what is there in it to like it?" I used to hate it truly. But off late I have this mouth watering liking for bitter gourd. This morning I was cooking bitter gourd and I couldn't resist it. In the pretense of checking for salt I kept eating it. And that triggered my thoughts on how and when I started to like this so much.

It all started with danesh (my husband) he is one of the bigest bitter gourd lovers I know. Though occassionally I have cooked BG (Bitter gourd is BG from now on) for him I won't even taste it. What is there to taste, by cooking it will become a better bitter but still bitter (sounds like the tongue twister eh?). When tejas was about 2 years he started eating BG and that surprised me. Only that minute I realised maybe there is something nice about the BG. Ventured into cooking BG with lot of oil, onions, tomato, all types of masalas to over rule the bitter taste and kind of liked it... and as days went by I reduced the masala bit, then tomatoes and then onions. Today I made this receipe which is just the BG and nothing else. And I'm loving it :). Now even I am a proud BG lover.

Moral: Bitter things in life may stay bitter for ever but I guess we should develop a taste for it. Be it Bitter gourd, people, work etc. :)

Here's the receipe I cooked this morning.

In a pan pour some ghee, saute cumin seeds and curry leaves. Add the bitter gourd to it (either as thin slices or cut to smaller pieces) after it is kind of cooked, add some salt and water and close it. Keep eating it... oops tasting it until it is fully cooked.

Now let me know if you have hated something before and started liking it now.