My wife has told me for awhile, "Everything doesn't have to taste like smoke." So I backed off a bit...even grilling things like steak and chicken. "Oh. The humanity!"
Tonight--smoked ribs, at her request. St Louis style.
At her request, I deliberately over smoked/roasted garlic almonds yesterday. She loves them that way. Dark, toasty, crisp. When I told her I didn't think I could send these to Chicago as little gifts, she said, "That's OK. I'll eat them all." 6 lbs of them.
They eventually come around. Just have to find balance.