I think we all just cook too well

[Halex]

My family expect fantastic food &  just grunt & snort!!!!

My neighbours love my cooking & are always talking about what I made for them last time. they are a pleasure to cook for ...as for the family..... Sometimes wonder why I bother, then othertimes they love & praise me.

Anyone else feel like this?


 H

[Merlin]

Just wallow in the glory and accept the praise. I think my entire neighborhood must be sniffing my meals when I have the extractor fan on the kitchen going at full pelt! Aren't we lucky we can produce such fabulous meals with minimal effort?

[meganjane]

  Hally. I know what you mean. Actually, my family are full of praise, but recently when I cooked for friends, I was astounded at the lack of expressed appreciation. I'm sure they enjoyed the meal, but I felt like saying, "Do you realise I made those Soft Buttermilk Rolls?"

[Merlin]

Well maybe it's our fault that we have raised the bar too high and our family and friends have too high an expectation from us!

[judydawn]

MJ, some guests just don't comment on anything whether it be a meal or a new piece of furniture.  I can't help myself, I praise everything - can't keep anything to myself    I had a relative of DH here for a meal a while back - DH had never met them but because they got in touch on their Australian tour, I thought I'd do the right thing and ask them to come for lunch.  Not a word was said about the meal except when we were seeing them off and one of them thanked me for the meal.  You wonder why you bother.

Hally, I know what you mean.  They are so used to being fed nice meals they come to think of it as the norm.  Let them go eat with another family for a week and they would be rushing home to your lovely meals.  My XH used to say ' why eat out when you can eat better at home' which translates as 'she's not a bad cook and I'm a tight a..e'.  We do what we do because we enjoy it but if we think we are being taken for granted we can get our heckles up. You can soon fix that - there are ways and means to get reactions.  Like 'I'm going out with girlfriends tonight, you can fix your own tea' or 'do you want baked beans or spaghetti on toast tonight'.  Have the bikkie barrel empty, buy cheap and nasty bread.   They will be eating out of your hand within a week or maybe even less.

Gosh I sound like a nasty piece of work don't I 

[Merlin]

Judy, I totally agree!  What really annoys me that I if I want to have a nice night out with friends etc and I haven't cooked anything, my husband is expecting something to be there to heat up. When I say to him that due to work, commitments with kids etc I haven't had time his answer is, well we'll just get takeaway! I find that they come to expect the lovely meals we make and absolutely flounder when we're not there. Once again, I think a problem of our own making!

[Halex]

MJ, total sympathy with you, how many people make their own bread let alone soft buttermilk rolls.

JD, yes SPOILT they are. Sometimes the praise doesnt  stop & then  like today just  taken for granted

Will have to work on a girls night, , thats not the hard part, the hard part is emptying the freezer full of yummy meals.

Maybe in a few months.

I served edc foccaica spread  with caramelised garlic (FFS) with rock salt & rosemary, NO COMMENT, my terriyaki beef melted in the mouth, YES YOU GUESSED IT NO COMMENT.

Mind you on the cruise, when I rolled knee & ankle, ds did say will you be able to cook when we get home. i shoud have said NO NO NO, YOUR TURN

H

[Halex]

Merlin, DH answer is always  take out  too!!!!

H

[fundj&e]

Well maybe it's our fault that we have raised the bar too high and our family and friends have too high an expectation from us!

i total agree its all our fault 

[dede]

Don't get me started on this subject
With a family of 7 it's nearly impossible to please everyone. I refuse to cook two separate meals for those who don't like this or don't like that. It drives me crazy. DH is excellent cause he will eat almost anything. The youngest 3 are the worst with being fussy.
 Easter Sunday I feed extra and they all commented on the great meal (more so than the rest of the family.

But DH always comments on how great the meal was (even when I don't think it was that great)

[CreamPuff63]

I get a little annoyed with a friend my husband invites over at least once a month. He is from out of town, separated, FIFO, and when in town the company pays for his meals although he lives in a self contained hotel unit. He normally can't be bothered getting a decent meal and so just walks to whatever not far from his unit eg pizza. He doesn't eat red meat, and loves fish. Every time he has come I have cooked something different (and at the same time worked during the day) and after cooking, have had to sit throughout the whole night while him and my DH talk shop yada yada yada. DH always raves and compliments me, but this guy just wolfs it down and never says anything or if feeling pressed "mmn yes its nice...but what I was saying before about (work)..."

[Halex]

Dede, glad you were complemented on your easter feast.

CP, what a horrible inpolite man. No wonder he is on his own. Next time order in seafood pizza!!! Let them eat it & go out with friends.

OR do a roast lamb & he can have the veggies. ;DLOL

H

[Deeau]

I don't mind the cooking part its the deciding what to eat is the hassle, sometimes after dinner I ask them to give 6 meals they want to eat next week and the answer I always....always get is ...but everything you cook is so great, cook anything. Somehow they don't get its not the cooking part I want help with but the choosing part!
But I agree I have bought this on myself we rarely repeat the same meal in a month or more ....except homemade pizza & garlic bread every wednesday nite as we have family pizza and pool night ( pool table not swim )  I do just love it when we have extra people  for pizza and pool night and they comment that our home made pizzas are way better than store/takeout ones, I just make the bases the kids top them.
My inlaws still don't get it that I cook everything ...... they can't see to fathom that the bread, cakes, biscuits, icecream, lasanga,  everything we eat is made at home.

[DizzyGirl]

Deeau I totally agree. I hate choosing what to have for dinner. My DS7 is a fussy water and we seem to eat the same things a lot. I do make Wednesday Night Mystery Night where I cook something different and if DS doesn't like it he gets baked beans.
My DH and DS always comment on my cooking, but my MIL always seems to do it different and better. I used to get upset until I tasted her cooking and realized we have different ideas on "nice". She over cooks her veggies and her rissoles and meatloaf have no flavor so I think we all get used to our own cooking. MY DH prefers my meals now but it did take him awhile to adjust to my style.

[judydawn]

CP, what a horrible inpolite man. No wonder he is on his own. Next time order in seafood pizza!!! Let them eat it & go out with friends.
H

Let him pay for it too