When I lived in Texas, someone served me boiled okra. When I picked up that first piece and saw the 'snot' running from it, I barfed right there at the table before I could even cover my mouth or get up and run. Yet a couple of years later, someone offered me a small piece fried. I likened it to fried zucchini. Another veggie I can live without. No matter what the texture is.
I can no longer digest raw crispy veggies. And I miss them. Everything I eat has to be cooked at least to the point that if I can break them down with just my gums, then I can eat it. If I am out in a restaurant and have my teeth in, then I can tolerate a bit more texture than I usually have at home. But I do miss real texture in my food. Cooked celery turns me off completely, but I will add big chunks in stews so that I can pick it out later. I love the flavor of celery. I love OJ juice with extra pulp. To me it is like eating a juicy orange. I also found out that it is the pulp that keeps the OJ from doing its job faster when I need it for a sugar crash. Plain OJ is the order of the day. Therefor, I keep a small pint on hand at all times.
I love liver. I think it is the texture along with the taste that I love. Have eaten it since childhood. Also love liverwurst. I like my rice plain cooked with a small amount of soup base for flavor. It must have some bite. Pasta cooked just a smidgen beyond al dente is fine for me. But don't smother it in sauce. No wonder Italian grandmothers love me. I love a bite of hard cheese, but not grated. No wonder Italian grandmothers hate me.
I like my beef cooked rare, but my pork products cooked slowly til well done. And I want gravy on it. But not my beef. I like my fish cooked til just done, but no rawness should be in it.
As a child, my idea of the perfect meal was to go to the garden and pick veggies and eat them right there and on to the next one. Around three o;clock each day this would happen. Of course that ruined my supper. I was already full. (So how come I ended up with rickets?) I think I enjoyed the texture more than the taste.
I want my veggies cooked enough so that I can at least stick my fork into it. I want color on my plate. Serve my gravy on the side. I will make the decision on where I want it. Don't make my plate so fancy, that I don't want to spoil the picture. Make it pretty enough so it will look appetizing and I will want to eat it.
Don't cook my fruit pies till the filling is mush. Let me identify the fruit. And please have some color on the crust. Just give me diner food and I will be happy.