olfactorally abnormal? (red bell pepper question)

[guavagirl]

I usually love bell peppers in all of their colors and prepared forms. In making Moosewood's Middle Eastern Chickpeas and Spinach last night, I was reminded of an exception to the pepper rule.

The recipe called for a red bell pepper, which I used. But,despite looking ok inside and out, this particular pepper had this horrid quasi-rotten smell -- at least to me. DH wasn't bothered by it. I don't always have this reaction to red bell peppers, but occasionally strike yuck (and it never occurs with other bells).

So, my question is: am I totally off my rocker? do I have some sort of olfactory receptor that responds to a particular variety of red bell peppers? has anyone else had this reaction? if so, any tricks for avoiding the stinky stuff?

many thanks.


p.s. the Middle Eastern Chickpeas were otherwise excellent. :)

[lisas3575]

I was just doing some research last night into Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, and came across this, which I found fascinating. I'm not saying that you have this, mind you, but I didn't even know it existed.

http://www.doctorhoffman.com/wwphant.htm

[guavagirl]

Hmmm, well, seeing as I've been this way for a long time, I was shooting for the genetic-make-up explanation (hey, we don't all taste things in exactly the same way, right?) rather than the brain-tumor explanation. :eek:

But that link was certainly interesting!

[laughsandlaughs]

I had this problem (still do, actually...) where I occasionally smell ammonia that's not really there and actually went through the process of a major neurological exam complete with a brain MRI. Thank God everything was normal and though they don't know the cause, they know it's not the most serious possiblity (brain tumor). This proved to be extraordinarily worrisome so at least eliminating this was a great relief.

:)
e.

[JHolcomb]

My sister used to smell bananas (or oranges?) that weren't there before she got a migrane...no brain tumor there, either.

[Luiza]

I incline to believe that the pepper had a soft spot somewhere (possibly on the inside ribs where it's not that noticeable). Red bell peppers do have a characteristic smell when they start going bad.

[funnybone]

Peppers do smell bad to me from time to time. I notice this more if I have had them in the fridge for a few days. I guess it is a sign of them going bad.