Uncomfortable food....

Rice intimidates me.  Try as I may, I just cannot properly cook it.  My rice is either hard or half cooked.  Growing up, I watched my sweet momma cook rice in a Pyrex dish in the microwave. It was perfect every time.  I'm fairly positive that the reason I stay away from rice is my inability to achieve fluffy perfection.  When I make a gumbo or etouffee, I've resorted to the steam rice I buy in the freezer section of the grocery.  It never lets me down, & it even comes in brown rice!  So, when the quarterly newsletter/recipe/coupon circular came out at Whole Foods, I surprised even myself when I clipped the $1.00 off coupon for arborio rice.  This is the rice used to make risotto.  You know, the creamy dish that requires constant stirring & special attention & even gets contestants kicked off 'Top Chef'?  Yes, THAT type of rice. I marched straight to the counter with it & walked out the door proud for facing my fear of rice, yet still scared to make risotto. Well, my friends, I had my first go of risotto today with a recipe from the Barefoot Contessa (Ina Garten) of the Food Network.  I'm thrilled to say my rice came out perfectly!  The dish is actually a risotto cake, so the mixture must sit overnight.  I can't wait to post pictures & tell you all about it.  I tried another Barefoot Contessa dish this past week with yet another ingredient I had never prepared:  lamb.  It was absolutely fantastic!  My dinner guests went back for third servings.  I roasted it for four hours & served it southern French style with white beans.  Here's a picture of the deliciousness before it was devoured. 

What foods make you uncomfortable?  Are you intimidated by a single ingredient or a whole dish?  Let me know, & we can overcome our fears together, one dish at a time.