Your opinion about use of Olive Oil, do we really need to use it?"

[chowmama]

34. No, you don't need to use olive oil. Or garlic.

Me, I'm likely to use olive oil and/or garlic in anything that doesn't actually involve chocolate. But you cook for the people you're feeding, one of whom is you.

I mean, I loathe blue cheese in all its forms. Same with caviar. (I'm a very cheap date.) If someone fed me a meal with either, I'd try to be polite, but I wouldn't exactly feel nurtured. I never cook with it; the best I ever do is pick up a small block of it and some good crackers for my husband to enjoy by himself. I don't think it's a bad thing, just not a thing for me.

Canola's fine. Garlic can be cut way back, substituted for with something much milder (shallots?) or left out entirely. Following recipes to the letter isn't half as much fun as cooking with your tastes and instincts. This is how you get new family recipes.