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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder why DM put mushroom soup on the chips.

83 replies

SueSuddio · 16/09/2024 09:33

I'll preface this story to say I love my slightly eccentric DM and her ways, but even this took me by surprise.

We were over for lunch and as I was getting my DC sorted out at the table DM called out 'Would you like gravy?'. 'Yes please' was the answer from us. A roast dinner? Get in.

However, I was wrong in this assumption. We had sausages, vegetables and chips, still all good, but the chips were piled on top on the veg and were completely covered in gravy.

Now I've had chips countless times with DM over the years, and gravy has never come even remotely near them. So this was a bold new move. Particularly in our part of the country, the South East, it just isn't a thing.

Nevertheless, I start to tuck in and immediately taste mushroom. 'Is this... mushroom gravy?' I ask. 'Yes' says DM matter of factly. Of course. DM then adds, 'I made it with mushroom soup and an Oxo cube.'

Now I'm astonished. This is effectively a plate of chips covered in canned mushroom soup. 'That isn't gravy' I find myself saying, ungratefully. To which DM, quickly tiring of this questioning shoots back, 'Yes it is, your grandmother used to make it that way', like we'd always been doing this - then looks at me like I'm mad.

I can't stop thinking about this!

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 16/09/2024 09:35

English poutine....

Mum5net · 16/09/2024 09:35

How old is DM?

rosesareredvioletsareblueaimverytiredandsoareyou · 16/09/2024 09:35

It does sound quite odd, however you did admit she is a tad eccentric anyway!
I have recently gone off mushrooms, in any form, however after having to work in a cafe which served mushroom soup which came as concentrate (gloopy grey yuck) I don't think I could eat chips covered in mushroom soup!

FuzzyDiva · 16/09/2024 09:36

I’d be more concerned about this being a sign of dementia. Is there more to it or is it genuinely a one off quirky incident?

Tomorrowisyesterday · 16/09/2024 09:36

Condensed soup often used as sauces when I was growing up

ChocolatePodge · 16/09/2024 09:38

That's so funny, I was going to vote yabu as I expected her to have put it only on her own chips but the fact she called it gravy and tricked you into it is another level! YANBU!

Houseplanter · 16/09/2024 09:38

This would genuinely worry me, and it probably should you too.

You sound like you're trying to make it comical, which makes me uncomfortable.

Berga · 16/09/2024 09:38

Can of condensed soup in everything when I was growing up, either tomato, mushroom or chicken.

Dearg · 16/09/2024 09:39

If this is new for your DM but harks back to her own mother, I too would suspect the beginnings of dementia.

My gran started to put orange juice on her cornflakes and in her tea…

AbigailisPartiedOut · 16/09/2024 09:39

Soup (especially the condensed sort) being used a a sauce base is nothing new. Perhaps your mum was thinking about your grandma and a particular meal and tried to recreate it as she was feeling nostalgic.

Funkyslippers · 16/09/2024 09:39

My step mum would always cover meatloaf (the food, not the singer) with oxtail soup. It was bloody lovely! Not sure I'd really fancy mushroom soup on chips but if I didn't know any better it might be nice!

Elmo230885 · 16/09/2024 09:40

To be honest I think that sounds nice... steak cut chips, mixed veg and (veggie) sausages with mushroom gravy. I'd just need to track down some of the vegan beef oxo cubes.
I wonder if my children and husband would think I'm nuts...

notacooldad · 16/09/2024 09:41

Cambells condensed mushroom soup is used as a Base for dauces. I think there used to be receipes on the tin. I know I used it when the kids were at primary school as part of quck meals for tea time.
What us odd is your mums behaviour if she's never acted like this before.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 16/09/2024 09:41

In my family this would just reflect our tendency to eat random food combos, in conjunction with my mother's macular degeneration.

However if your mother has previously been a good cook who made conventional food choices and plated them in a normal layout, I would be slightly concerned. No need to leap into action, but just keep an eye on it.

notacooldad · 16/09/2024 09:41

Cambells condensed mushroom soup is used as a Base for dauces. I think there used to be receipes on the tin. I know I used it when the kids were at primary school as part of quck meals for tea time.
What us odd is your mums behaviour if she's never acted like this before.

Dearg · 16/09/2024 09:41

@Funkyslippers Much as I love a bit of Meatloaf, the singer, the idea of smothering him on oxtail soup just had me spit out my coffee 😂

SnapdragonToadflax · 16/09/2024 09:42

I guess it depends on her age, but this sounds like something my grandma would have done (she was born in 1920-ish). Soup was used as a base for sauces.

It doesn't sound too bad to me, tbh... I like mushroom soup, I like chips, they're both savoury...

DesigningWoman · 16/09/2024 09:43

A really popular city centre chip shop in my home city’s post-club bestseller was chips with mushroom sauce. The queue often got fairly rough, and I have memories of people just stepping over a recumbent body to order.

TheGrimSqueakersFlea · 16/09/2024 09:44

Condensed soup was often used for gravy, pies, and sauces. I'm surprised people have mentioned dementia and called her behaviour worrying! Maybe she was just feeling nostalgic. It was probably perfectly normal for her

Milliehh · 16/09/2024 09:46

Sounds lovely!

Sparklywhiteteeth · 16/09/2024 09:47

What did it taste like?

TofuTart · 16/09/2024 09:49

Dearg · 16/09/2024 09:39

If this is new for your DM but harks back to her own mother, I too would suspect the beginnings of dementia.

My gran started to put orange juice on her cornflakes and in her tea…

Yes, seems a bit strange.
OP, was it a thing your Gran used to make, has your mum only just started doing this/never mentioned it before?
If it was a family tradition surely you'd have grown up with it yourself or heard of it
Maybe sounds paranoid but just keep an eye on her in case.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 16/09/2024 09:51

TheGrimSqueakersFlea · 16/09/2024 09:44

Condensed soup was often used for gravy, pies, and sauces. I'm surprised people have mentioned dementia and called her behaviour worrying! Maybe she was just feeling nostalgic. It was probably perfectly normal for her

Agree with this. It's more likely an outdated recipe rather than dementia! Condensed soup was a staple for this sort of thing not that long ago.

Hoplolly · 16/09/2024 09:52

It's not just the using condensed soup that's alarming is it, it's all out of character. That's why people are mentioning dementia. I have a mother with advanced dementia and often little things like this can be early indicators.

DoIWantTo · 16/09/2024 09:52

By the by, but you’ve never had gravy on chips before?! You’ve missed out Grin