Cooking with the Baron Part iv

[BaronC]

Cottage pie

Happy Easter all

[cat3]

Oh that takes me back to better days ! I always loved cottage pie and made it weekly when my kids were still at home. But since my Bi I can't tolerate the taste of red meat (tried many times) since my taste and smell became so corrupted. My only meats now are chicken & fish, and neither make a good cottage pie.

I tried mind over matter one day by buying prime lamb chops, cooking all the trimmings and making fresh mint sauce, whilst all the time refusing to acknowledge the 'weird' smell coming from under the grill. It was a disaster ; chops tasted like something from a sewer. My resident fox & his mate had a treat that night !

But I still remember the old days when the smell of cottage pie cooking was mouthwatering...….so tasty and comforting …... I'm jealous ! xx

[BaronC in reply to cat3]

I had no idea! I'm not sure this side effect of your BI has ever been discussed before, it must be a strange one to live with. I really can't imagine suddenly not being able to tolerate red meat. I'm not a huge eater of it myself, but like the occasional cottage pie, making my own burgers, etc. Do you miss it?

[cat3 in reply to BaronC]

I did, for a couple of years, and tried to convince myself the taste would improve with time and perseverance. So I bought small pieces of lamb, beef, or pork from time to time.....but each time knew nothing had changed as soon as I smelled it cooking. Most accurate description of the taste (and smell) is 'rancid'.

My son got me to try a small piece of his rump steak about a year ago and it was dis--GUSting. Funny thing is I can enjoy bacon, or pork sausages, but not actual pork meat !

I've read a plenty about olfactory disturbance and my particular type is Troposmia which corrupts smells and tastes. Another, where smells/tastes are lost completely is Anosmia, and where phantom smells occur it's Phantosmia.

Not that uncommon either ; there are many folk on Headway who've reported identical or similar issues. Also, back in the day in my 4 bed rehab ward, all four of us had that same issue (all SAH survivors) and the consultant commented that any one of us one of us could be back to normal soon : another might take months : another years, and another never ! …….guess who came last ! 🙄

Hope lockdown isn't too painful !

Love to all, E. x

[BaronC in reply to cat3]

Must have played with your mind, back in the day. I think I would have struggled with it myself, trying to get to grips with the fact that something I used to like now had the door closed to me.

And lockdown is a pain in the posterior if I'm honest, but then it is for everyone. We were supposed to having a five day break in Scotland next week, was really looking forward to it. Hopefully we can get it booked for much later in the year, maybe even our wedding anniversary, we shall see...

You keeping well? Our visit seems a bloody long time ago already. We really must do it again, we had a really lovely day back in December

[cat3 in reply to BaronC]

The loss of Sunday roasts such as pork with stuffing & apple sauce and lamb with roasties, & mint sauce......not to mention beef, was a blow, but I was just as upset about my passion for tomatoes being curtailed ! I make myself eat them out of bloody mindedness, but usually with screwed up face.

Sorry about you break in Scotland. I read earlier about a multimillionaire hiring a private jet from London headed for a villa in Cannes with 9 other people of various nationalities. When stopped at Marseille airport by security police, he stated " I have money - let's talk"....….nice try Mister, but money didn't talk this time and all were refused further travel and sent packing. Clowns ! 😒

We'll meet again m'love, I'm sure… 😏x

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to cat3]

I've lost my sense of smell which I understand is fairly common but I hadn't heard of phantom smells. Often I am convinced I can smell smoke, other times everything smells sour. My taste is usually ok but sometimes everything also tastes sour or acidic 🤔

[cat3 in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

The smell of smoke or burning are the commonest phantom smells associated with brain injury, and your occasional taste issues are probably tied in with general olfactory disturbance. It's a more widespread phenomenon than most people realise.

Take care Huffle… x

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to cat3]

I didn't know that, thank you 😊

[walkingtalking2 in reply to cat3]

How interesting cat3, I also lost my sense of smell almost entirely and my taste buds have not been my friend since! I always loved cheese and now I do even more so, mostly stronger cheese as I can taste them better, but a lot of foods have no flavour at all or worse still taste very bitter. I tried my first tomato weeks after the event and was almost blown over by the flavour, it tasted like i'd put a battery in my mouth. Taste has improved with time but I don't think it will every be like it was. Although, I still manage to consume plenty!

[cat3 in reply to walkingtalking2]

I think the issue does become more manageable in time. I hardly ever think about it now unless the subject of taste or smell comes up, and also I've learned to avoid foods which I've tried & tested enough times to avoid.

At the outset I was downhearted at the thought of so many 'out of bounds' foods, but now I've found so many alternatives I'm eating well and really enjoying my meals despite certain limitations.

Good to see you again m'dear…. Cat x

[sospan]

Takes me back to when I started rehab by myself. The first thing I cooked was a cottage pie. It took 3.5 hours to prepare and cook!