Travelled to friend's house for dinner, just strawberries for desert - AIBU to think it's low effort?

I think poached pears are a real treat and would be delighted 😂 what do people have against fruit for dessert?!

Did they bring anything with them when they came to yours? Did you tell them not to because you love hosting elaborately? It’s quite common in some circles to bring dessert so perhaps they expected you to.

I always put on an impressive spread. People are grateful. They like to host in return but many people aren’t good at or interested in cooking, and I couldn’t care less if I get a pasta bake and a few bars of nice chocolate on the table for pud.

I think strawberries are a real treat and would love strawberries and cream for dessert! Simple, elegant and delicious.

We had a friend round last night... desert was a frozen pie from tesco served in the tin.... notveven on a plate... super low effort (no need to wash straberrys/de head, no cream etc ) ... but they only live a few streets over so I assume that's acceptable
*[sarcasm]

Pom Bears would have been nice.

Greek dill lemon potato salad, cous cous salad, chick pea salad, roasted Mediterranean veg salad, all with fresh herbs and great dressings; something like a honey, lemon, mustard dressing would go well with sausages.

Single cream poured over fruit or any dessert is rubbish, it's so tasteless...buy double, whip it up until thick, add a little vanilla, a small amount of sugar or some brandy....so much nicer.

@Yousaidwhatagain yeah, of course you prepare 3 different types of salad, as a throw together lunch for your kids

Mo one said they wee 'impressed' by it, but many of us have said it's a perfectly fine dinner, which it is.

strawberries aren't cheap - it's far cheaper to buy a supermarket pudding.

its MOT an embarrassing effort, but many on MN don't understand friendship. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Strawberries and cream is a classic at this time of year! Strawberries are at their best right now - can't get enough of them.

But that aside - surely you are there to spend time with your friends and not to judge whether their food was worthy of you?

Instead of being all judgmental why not just enjoy the fact you were in company (I assume) of people you like and you didn't need to cook.

😂😂😂 God I love Mumsnet at times. Thanks for the laughs @TinDogTavern

I often make low effort / little hands on time meals when I have guests, because I want to spend my time with them, not being in the kitchen.

Why is shop bought such a dirty word? You can get plenty of high quality desserts from shops or bakeries. In Italy or France, I'm pretty sure people have no qualms with buying pastries, tarts or other desserts from a patisserie. It's only here in the UK that the middle classes are so desperate to prove their credentials that they turn their noses up.

Can you pull up your judgey pants any higher OP??!! It doesn’t matter and sounds like a yummy dessert. We were at our friends house the other night and we normally have snacks after dinner, we didn’t this time but I happen to know they’re skint. I hadn’t actually thought of it until now but maybe there’s a reason behind it 🤷‍♀️

Personally I visit friends to spend time with them, not stuff myself. YABU.

Exactly and a few punnets of strawberries are more expensive.
I'd far rather lovely British strawberries to a shop bought tiramisu any day.

Long journey? It takes many people longer than that to get to work! YABU.

@MellersSmellers
... likes strawberries & thinks they're perfect for afters (just to piss the 'pudding' brigade of twats off) in July.

Haha. Exactly.

OP you're my worst nightmare and the reason I don't like inviting people over for meals.

I'm not a great cook, and things have gone wrong when I've tried more complicated recipes.

If someone invites me over for tea and cake I'm over the moon. I wouldn't bother going to someone's house five minutes down the road if I was just going for the food rather than because I liked them.

YABVVU.

Cranachan or Eton mess, would these have been acceptable instead ?

Birds trifle with strawberries ?

I'd actually love some decent strawberries as a dessert. I'd also consider serving them as a dessert myself, partly because I'm not much of a cook and partly because not everyone wants sugary puddings.

It's the best time of year to serve British strawberries, which are at their peak just now. A clever and perfect pudding, making best use of home-grown produce in season.

(I once ponced some up a bit for a dinner party with a splash of balsamic vinegar and ground black pepper, having seen some chef do it on TV. and it went quite well, but wasn't really a massive improvement on perfect, ripe summer strawberries served alone or with cream.)

Why do you think they serve them at Wimbledon, to all those people not short of a bob or two - because they are delicious!

I've not had a M&S or Waitrose dessert that I'd describe as absolutely delicious more a - that'll do cause I can't be arsed. I wouldn't serve them but I wouldn't complain if someone else did.

And I thought Princess Margaret was no longer with us...

Aw no, the friend didn't turn up on the thread did they? 😥
If so - friend, you sound lovely and the OP was being.a dick. You're best off without them!

Me neither - they cost a fortune!