~~~Thirteen Things I Refuse To Eat~~~

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I like Menudo, have eaten fried grasshoppers and escargot. I have eaten a variety of exotic things but there are a few I won't try and a few I won't repeat...
Here they are:

1. OYSTERS - Bleeeech. I've tried them fried, raw, and in stews. My mom loved them on the half shell but these little buggers make it as far as my throat and come right back up again.

2. STEAK TARTAR - I love my steak bloody rare, at least I did before all the "mad cow" nonsense; now I ask for medium rare. But the thought of raw meat put through the grinder with some spices and called dinner, uh - no thanks.

3. SUSHI - I've tried several kinds. I love grilled tuna but raw tuna, uh uh. Can't do it...California Roll? Nope!

4. FROGS LEGS - Tastes like chicken? What, two-week old chicken left out in the baking sun?
Yak...And I have visions of all those poor little frogs on crutches...

5. LAMB - Now this puts me a quandary. I love lamb but as I've gotten older I've gotten weird (er). I see the sheep out grazing in the fields with the newborn lambs and I can no longer eat them. I just can't bring myself to do it. They're about the same size as my dog and the comparison makes me think of the dog markets in parts of Asia. Nope, no more lamb for this ol' girl.

6. ROCKY MOUNTAIN OYSTERS - They remind me of gizzards. Too much chewing and too little flavor. It's a guy thing.

7. PATE DE FOIS GRAS (Goose Liver Paste) - I love liver and onions, if I cook it so I know it's not dry. But goose liver is a tad strong and after I heard how they cage and stuff them the poor geese, that did it. No more goose liver for me!

8. PICKLED PIGS FEET - Uh, why bother? Not only do they look disgusting, who likes the idea of chewing on a hoof?

9. TRIPAS - For the uninitiated, these are intestine, cleaned and fried. Most importantly, the word "cleaned." Sometimes they smell a little ripe and I've never managed to even try this delicacy. There's no amount of salsa that can get that smell out of your nose...

10. HORSEMEAT - I know we ship it to France for human consumption, but unless I'm starving I don't ever intend to find out what it tastes like!

11. A HOT DOG FROM 7-11 - or anyplace where they've been spinning around on a spit for who-knows how many days!

12. TURNIPS - I can eat cauliflower, I'm not wild about brussel's sprouts but turnips? Nasty little things - even with cheese sauce and that kills the taste of just about anything.

13. HABANERO PEPPERS - I made a huge fool of myself at a luncheon once. I didn't know these hotter-than-hell peppers were in the food at this Thai restaurant (this was about 20 years ago before the pepper police posted warnings). I almost jumped right out of my chair! I tried to regain my composure but it was impossible. It burned the hide off of my tongue and I couldn't taste anything for a couple of days.