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Original poster

Sister asked I look up recipes to use for my Easter meal dishes

64 replies

Cornerstun · 10/04/2025 19:46

Sister and I are the cooks of the family. We both appreciate good, homemade food.

We have decided I will focus on the main meal and she will do desserts whilst her hubby does cocktails /wine and appetisers.

Awesome. She’s shared some of their ideas and they look gorgeous.

Sis said seeing as she’s making the effort to follow recipes and attempting to make gourmet can you please do the same.

I am doing herb crusted rack of lamb, spring greens, roast potatoes, dauphinoise and honey carrots. She has asked me to look up recipes for each dish and not just to wing it (which I always do after cooking for 15 plus years).

I think it’s plenty gourmet enough. Sister says she just wants an elevated meal lol

Im not in the wrong, surely??

I don’t want to be cooking for days. I could drizzle some shit and make the odd crumb but what’s the point??

OP posts:
BlueTitShark · 10/04/2025 20:29

Cornerstun · 10/04/2025 20:13

I’m doing a nice breakfast for my kids so I just don’t fancy slaving away for the entire day in the kitchen. I want to have energy to enjoy the day and be present! A simple meal that I am used to cooking sounds just right to me.

No point over extending myself to be a stepford housewife

Also that is pointing out towards your sister comment.

Please Im making an effort to prepare something special for that meal. (And nice dessert will do that). Could you do the same and not ‘a simple meal’ (that might be good but not as nice)?

The discussion here isn’t about how good your cooking is but about the amount of effort you’re putting in it.

Moveoverdarlin · 10/04/2025 20:29

I’d say ‘Yes absolutely, it’s one of Tim Kerridges I’m planning on I think.’

ScaryM0nster · 10/04/2025 20:27

It sounds like you and her have quite different ideas for the day.

That needs clearing up.

BlueTitShark · 10/04/2025 20:26

So here is my take,

You can’t bake wo a recipe for a start whereas you can indeed cook wo one (assuming the experience blablabla).
However, following a recipe ‘for a gourmet ,p meal’ is, fur me, about the little additions (like some specific spices mixed in the herb crust. Or it could be another side dish that you don’t normally have. Etc…
I suspect that’s she means.

Fwiw, I do most recipes ‘on the go’ but there is a difference in taste when I actually follow the recipe to the letter… Yes on the fly works and is nice. The recipe based is better….

aCatCalledFawkes · 10/04/2025 20:26

Cornerstun · 10/04/2025 20:13

I’m doing a nice breakfast for my kids so I just don’t fancy slaving away for the entire day in the kitchen. I want to have energy to enjoy the day and be present! A simple meal that I am used to cooking sounds just right to me.

No point over extending myself to be a stepford housewife

You can do loads of this ahead of time right? I often par boil potatoes, chuck goose fat over them and then freeze. Carrots can be prepared and then frozen to so all you have to do is thaw in and chuck on honey.

Original poster
Cornerstun · 10/04/2025 20:18

Ilovelurchers · 10/04/2025 20:14

Would some nice, buttery leeks be nice for example? Or peas? I mean, I hate peas personally, but people seem to have them with lamb. Or maybe some Mediterranean veg would add another dimension. Or a homemade mint sauce even?

Only do other things if you have time, money and inclination, obviously.....

Yeah I’ll probably chuck some minty peas on the table but I really cannot be bothered to much more. It’s a roast and at the end of the day, all I want to do is chill with my family. I have no interest in pretending to be a chef

OP posts:
Ilovelurchers · 10/04/2025 20:17

I posted before I read your update - sorry.

What about telling everyone coming (adults and any kids old enough to cook) that they are welcome to bring a side dish for the lamb, or another pudding, or a canapes for before, or whatever. Then your sister gets a bit of variety without it causing you stress.....

Ilovelurchers · 10/04/2025 20:14

Would some nice, buttery leeks be nice for example? Or peas? I mean, I hate peas personally, but people seem to have them with lamb. Or maybe some Mediterranean veg would add another dimension. Or a homemade mint sauce even?

Only do other things if you have time, money and inclination, obviously.....

Original poster
Cornerstun · 10/04/2025 20:13

I’m doing a nice breakfast for my kids so I just don’t fancy slaving away for the entire day in the kitchen. I want to have energy to enjoy the day and be present! A simple meal that I am used to cooking sounds just right to me.

No point over extending myself to be a stepford housewife

OP posts:
Ilovelurchers · 10/04/2025 20:09

I think it's a bit rude to do this, and she is implying that your roasts are a bit hit and miss.

I'm sure I'm nowhere near as good a cook as you are, but I would never look up a recipe for dauphipise - I have been making it for years and it never fails so what would be the point?

I have got a suggestion for you though - Vivaldi potatoes. They do them in Sainsbury's. My mom told me about them. Fucking lush in dauphinoise AND roasted - perfect for all your potato needs in fact. Seriously, they have improved my life in a small yet significant way.

Back to your sister - I think I would understand if she maybe asked you to do a couple of additional side dishes, along with the existing ones. To me the joy of a roast is lots of lovely sides. So maybe at least one third veg; a homemade sauce; a stuffing, for example? If she wanted that, I don't think that's inherently wrong of her. I can imagine my family members asking for more side dishes, and I wouldn't be offended. Could she have meant that - that she wanted you to look at recipes to get inspiration for a wider range of sides?

Original poster
Cornerstun · 10/04/2025 20:08

I mean how can you mess up chucking honey and spices on carrots then chucking in an oven??

OP posts:
BetterWithPockets · 10/04/2025 20:07

I’d say your DSis can do it all if she wants — or she can do her bit her way and leave you to do your bit your way…

Original poster
Cornerstun · 10/04/2025 20:07

pimplebum · 10/04/2025 20:04

I’d be temped to do some weird shit on her food to “elevate” it , I am thinking anchovy custard and watermelon steaks ( as seen in great British menu )

just on hers , every one else gets the yummy food

Haha LOVE IT. Will do something weird to “hers” that the dogs still find palatable!

OP posts:
GoatCatTaco · 10/04/2025 20:05

I'd get a recipie for dauphinoise potatoes, as I never cook them. I'd also get recipies for many puddings. I'd do roast lamb, roast potatoes, honey carrots and greens without a recipie.
Crack on with your plan!

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 10/04/2025 20:05

SurfAllDay · 10/04/2025 20:03

I think she's politely telling you your cooking isn't maybe as good as you think and is trying to say they would like to eat something a little nicer than a basic roast and wants to elevate it a bit, maybe make it a bit more of a special occasion.

I agree that that's what she's trying to say, but she is being very rude to say it.

pimplebum · 10/04/2025 20:04

I’d be temped to do some weird shit on her food to “elevate” it , I am thinking anchovy custard and watermelon steaks ( as seen in great British menu )

just on hers , every one else gets the yummy food

Original poster
Cornerstun · 10/04/2025 20:04

TheWatersofMarch · 10/04/2025 19:58

Im interested in how you’ll do spring greens. I’ve never found a way of making them delicious as a stand alone veg - I usually put them in a mixed stir fry or shredded in a creamy pasta sauce.

I have found blanching the spring greens really helps with taking bitterness away. Only 45 seconds to a minute.

Then I just sautee with a lot of butter and a bit of garlic. Plenty of salt and pepper. Some red chilli flakes go on my serving. Grated parmesan is also gorgeous with it but a bit too overpowering for the roast lamb Easter meal imo. One of my fav ways to eat veg

OP posts:
SurfAllDay · 10/04/2025 20:03

I think she's politely telling you your cooking isn't maybe as good as you think and is trying to say they would like to eat something a little nicer than a basic roast and wants to elevate it a bit, maybe make it a bit more of a special occasion.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 10/04/2025 20:03

She is being unreasonable but it sounds to me like she is trying to tell you that she doesn't like your cooking.

She should just accept what you put in front of her, offer to do all of the cooking herself, or have her "elevated meal" elsewhere.

You certainly don't have to follow a recipe just because she dictates it.

CheesyRaver · 10/04/2025 20:02

OT but I was horrified at the price of lamb- 40+ quid for a leg in a supermarket outside of offers

magicstar1 · 10/04/2025 20:01

Has she been watching Meghan Markle? She talks about "elevating" her food

Your meal sounds lovely, just do what you planned.

Phase2 · 10/04/2025 20:01

Maybe she wants something interesting? It won’t hurt to look some ideas up.

IGotBigKidsAndICannotLie · 10/04/2025 20:00

"Not sure you need roasties AND dauphinoise"

ConfusedYou are being VERY unreasonable

Coali · 10/04/2025 20:00

She’s being a bit weird. You’re not cooking some complicated gourmet meal that would require a recipe!!! Do you think she just doesn’t like your cooking?

Terribletasteinmen · 10/04/2025 19:59

Tell her you used recipes.