no not have pepper in the house?

Packet sauces are made, generally, of seasoning, herbs and spices. I’ve never used a packet sauce as I like to be able to control the flavour and make it exactly to my liking, but (bar preservatives etc) the ingredients are much the same as a home made sauce.

Does anyone think that the posters who never use any salt or sugar come across as a little morally superior?

I don't take sugar in hot drinks but I always have some in the house for visitors who do.

Most people like salt on their chips and I think it is poor hosting if you can't provide it for your guests.

Oh I see.
Instead of using packet sauces I make my own, using seasoning, herbs and spices that will already be in the packet sauces (minus all the additives) that you use.

So, what you are really saying is that you don't use additional seasoning, herbs and spices.

I always find packet sauces very bland. If using I add seasoning. And salt is a flavour enhancer.

@RampantIvy as I say, the seasoning comes from the sauces added to the dish, rather than seasoning added directly to the food.
So for example, if I'm making pork fillet, then the pork would be sliced, fried and then a sauce added to it, which gives the flavour to the whole dish.
If I cook steak, the meat is fried in salted butter without seasoning, then a pepper sauce or garlic butter added once it's plated.
Meals aren't joyless or tasteless just because herbs and spices aren't added to a dish. It depends on how the dish is cooked.

I think you ABU buy not buying some on this occasion specifically -
You have a guest visiting and the cost of a pepper mill is very small, especially when they have offered to cook too (assuming you'd be making a few other grocery purchases for their stay anyway).
I'd give it to them to take away if I wasn't going to use it afterwards.

That said; if I had offered to cook at someone else's home, I'd purchase and take all necessary ingredients with me, including the pepper if I knew you didn't have any (I'd check beforehand, so I was not short of anything).
I wouldn't expect someone else to have everything I need.

Clearly I’m weird as I don’t use pepper or salt.

Same, I can't imagine not having it. Add it to sandwiches, scrambled eggs, soup, every single recipe I'm making
But I do go through a lot of herbs and spices, need to start buying in bulk as an oregano jar lasts me maybe 2 months if that!

Well done for giving it a go. I find Jamie Oliver good too for simple recipes that aren't too complicated. He has one book that is all recipes with only 5 ingredients that has some good ideas in it.

Well, of course they mention it. It just seems a bit rubbish to not spend £1 on some basic salt and pepper that guests may want. It's part of being a decent host..... they're trying to tell you but clearly you're not getting it 🤣

I've got one of the pinch of noms, they are tasty and quite simple so it'll serve you well.

Can't recommend batch cooking enough. On the days I have to go into the office, the fact I can pull a pasta sauce out of the freezer that we know is healthy and tasty and a decent meal but really fast is so helpful. I've always done it anyway but since having DD it's been a lifesaver.

It's a good skill to have and it can be enjoyable when you know you're making something everyone will love eating.

If they are cooking and going through an ingredients list it's quite normal to check the herbs and spices needed rather than buy loads you've already got....presumably you're either buying the other ingredients....in which case spend the extra £1 or they are and they will bring it.

It's not for heat?

Indeed. Plain meat/fish with steamed vegetables and no seasoning whatsoever for every meal sounds so joyless and boring.

I do eat plain food but, for example, a plain baked potato without salt and butter just doesn't cut it for me.

Just imagining all these bland meals with no pepper or herbs or spices! Each to their own but yuck!

If I was cooking for someone who never ate pepper I wouldn't use it.

I ca never get on with women whose minds are full of things like the contents of the kitchen cupboards.

I'm actually quite excited to experiment and try cooking some proper meals from scratch. I was never taught to cook and grew up on freezer food so this is all new to me. I'm also going to start batch cooking so we have food for days I'm working and have less time. Iv bought a few of the pinch of nom books as they seem quite basic simple for a start

The great thing about cooking is that you can adjust flavours to suit you (which is why all these people incredulous about OP disliking pepper baffle me), so if you don't like the taste of oregano, for example, you could sub it out for something like basil (depending on the recipe and what flavours match) and make it taste good for you.

If it's literally just for the relative and you don't want to get a grinder, pick up a few free little sachets next time you go to a cafe and have them in a drawer on standby.

Well iv recently bought a cookery book so my mind might be changed soon

I mean, as long as you're happy, then great. Each to their own.

But most recipes call for herbs and/or spices and will tell you how much to use. So all your meals wouldn't taste the same, as long as you followed instructions.

I would imagine I have in restaurants without realising but that's not good for me I'm just as happy with a 99p frozen pizza or a dominos. I'm happy just tasting tomato cheese and pepperoni or ham and pineapple without tasting herbs and spices on everything. If I used herbs and spices I wouldn't know what to do with them so adding them to meals would mean every single meal I ate would taste exactly the same

Proper pizza has a sauce, not just tomato puree. It sounds like you've never had a really good pizza AND you had a bad one over herbed.