Buttered

I never met either biological grandfather, both long dead by the time I was born. My paternal grandfather died when my father was still young. My mother's father was separated from Granny (not divorced, never divorced) but still alive, when my brothers were young.

The story goes that he came to visit my parents for a holiday meal, and insisted on butter, wouldn't eat margarine. So, my mother bought real butter, and genuinely forgot to put it on the table. Grandfather ate it and didn't notice, apparently the sort that if he had noticed would certainly not have been gracious enough to pretend otherwise. This was my mother's proof that margarine was just as good, and cheaper - so, even better.

Of course, this was in Detroit, and margarine sticks looked exactly the same as butter sticks. While in Canada, margarine, or oleo, was colored orange to prevent deceptive sales. How well would an old alcoholic and (I assume) smoker notice the taste? The color would have suggested butter.

So, like many kids my age, in the lower stretches of the economy, I grew up on margarine. And now I eat butter on my bread, when I eat bread. Which is not all that often. But butter does taste better on rice or noodles, too. And fats aren't the real problem, carbs are. Not that any food is morally clean, as the more extreme religions expound. I figure everything eats everything, and we are part of the natural process, however currently unbalanced. Eventually, the microbes will eat us too. So, I try to tread lightly and act kindly.

Article about how MSG is not bad for you, and why. I did used to get ill and migraines, after eating at some Chinese restaurants. I wonder now if this is due to my reaction to garlic, not MSG. Seems likely.