Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Husband has ruined dinner

394 replies

OnAJetPlane26 · 23/08/2026 16:24

I’m been upstairs packing for a holiday so asked husband to cook dinner, all of the ingredients for a shepards pie are in the fridge/cupboard.
Came down and thought.. That smells nothing like shepards pie. He has poured an entire jar of Passata and half a jar of parsley into the meat.
Im going to beans on toast. My AIBU is this..
YABU.. Sounds fine to me.
YANBU.. He has made bolognese with mash potatoes and gravy.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
LoyalAquaAnt · 23/08/2026 18:46

Pearlstillsinging · 23/08/2026 16:28

I don't really see the problem, passata and parsley can hardly have ruined shepherd's pie.
I think opting for beans on toast is childish in the extreme and just to make a point because he didn't follow your usual recipe.

I agree.

Precious, much?

NoWordForFluffy · 23/08/2026 18:46

Fast800goingforit · 23/08/2026 18:22

I thought the OP meant some sort of parsley puree, not dried parsley. Dried parsley tastes of nothing so hardly the culinary crime of the century.

Show quote history

You can get that kind of thing too.

Husband has ruined dinner
TofuTuesday · 23/08/2026 18:44

How do people make shepherds pie? Mine is usually onions, garlic, mushrooms, tinned tomatoes and veggie mince. What am I doing wrong? I always felt it should have gravy but couldn’t work out how.

DraigCymraeg · 23/08/2026 18:44

OnAJetPlane26 · 23/08/2026 16:24

I’m been upstairs packing for a holiday so asked husband to cook dinner, all of the ingredients for a shepards pie are in the fridge/cupboard.
Came down and thought.. That smells nothing like shepards pie. He has poured an entire jar of Passata and half a jar of parsley into the meat.
Im going to beans on toast. My AIBU is this..
YABU.. Sounds fine to me.
YANBU.. He has made bolognese with mash potatoes and gravy.

What a waste of lamb.
But then I'm not a fan of very tomatoie food.
Never mind it should be edible and at least he has cooked supper and you have the holiday to look forward to!

Monty36 · 23/08/2026 18:43

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 23/08/2026 17:48

That's what I said. 😂
She was busy
She told him what ingredients they had for it.

Show quote history

You said she asked him to take over.

Error404FucksNotFound · 23/08/2026 18:39

ilovesooty · 23/08/2026 18:04

Exactly. Everyone else is eating it. The OP is just sulking.

Show quote history

Different people like different things.

LAMPS1 · 23/08/2026 18:38

Husband has ruined dinner

No he hasn’t !
Otherwise he and his son wouldn’t be enjoying eating it would they.
You sound a bit rigid in your food choices OP. Unwilling to give it a proper try…a bit like a tantrumming toddler.

I do agree with the dried parsley being a no no though. To me, it tastes like what I imagine out of date tobacco to taste like.
YABU for having dried parsley in the house.

Original poster
OnAJetPlane26 · 23/08/2026 18:37

When I said I’m not touching it I meant I’m not having that dished up on a plate as my dinner. I tried a mouthful of DH so knew I didn’t like it!
It’s fine, DH has eaten it, I’ve had beans on toast.

OP posts:
strawlight · 23/08/2026 18:36

PistachioTiramisu · 23/08/2026 18:16

I actually imagined parsley in some kind of oil or sauce in a jar, rather than dried which I am well aware of. Thought it sounded rather nice actually!

As did I, and was imagining a jam jar sized jar so didn’t twig she meant dried herbs.

NestaVipaz · 23/08/2026 18:36

Hold on to your hat. I make a massive batch of “bol” which variously can be for spag bol, the bottom of a “cottage pie”, the filling for a jacket potato or anything else I can think of. Not died of inappropriate ingredient poisoning yet.

Yewlez · 23/08/2026 18:34

OnAJetPlane26 · 23/08/2026 16:30

I’m not making a point, beans on toast is nicer, why would I eat a dinner that in my opinion tastes disgusting.

Show quote history

How do you know when you haven't tried it?

I mean it isn't shepherd's pie, but it doesn't sound terrible either. You sound hard work.

chaosmaker · 23/08/2026 18:33

bumblingbovine49 · 23/08/2026 18:04

The things is I prefer meat regu to disgusting mince in gravy so always make a delicious slow cooked meat ragu sauce ( there is always some in the freezer if in a hurry) and put mash on it if someone asks for shepherd's pie ( alright cottage pie for the nit pickers)

It is not a traditional cottage pie but it is far more delicious in my opinion. My mother who was a truly excellent cook always made it like that and so do I.

I would have eaten it, even with lamb and even though a lamb or beef bolognese sauce made in 20-30mins with tinned tomatoes is not that nice, it is of the same level of tastiness to me as the awful mince and gravy combo lots of people make

Show quote history

Maybe you don't cook mince properly? I was doing it wrong for a while but you need to cook it on the highest setting until browned and then it's delicious. 5% fat is the best and doesn't leave it swimming in grease that you then have to drain. Also needs veg in it too.

LiuBei · 23/08/2026 18:33

OnAJetPlane26 · 23/08/2026 16:30

I’m not making a point, beans on toast is nicer, why would I eat a dinner that in my opinion tastes disgusting.

Show quote history
  1. you've said you're not eating it, you can't know that it tastes disgusting
  2. I can't imagine how disgusting something would have to be before I wouldn't try to eat it. I think this is really rude.
Larsaleaping · 23/08/2026 18:32

Backedoffhackedoff · 23/08/2026 18:29

🤔 what’s wrong with your dried herbs that they taste of nothing?

Show quote history

Nothing, other herbs dry fine. Dried oregano tastes stronger than fresh, even. But parsley loses about 99% of its flavour when you dry it. It's pointless.

chaosmaker · 23/08/2026 18:30

OnAJetPlane26 · 23/08/2026 16:29

He’s eating it and so is DS, DS said it tastes nothing like shepards pie but is nice. I’m not touching it, grim.

Show quote history

Why is it grim?

Backedoffhackedoff · 23/08/2026 18:29

Larsaleaping · 23/08/2026 18:28

Yes but it tastes of absolutely nothing. OPs DH could've chucked the whole jar in and it would've been fine.

Show quote history

🤔 what’s wrong with your dried herbs that they taste of nothing?

Larsaleaping · 23/08/2026 18:28

DarkchocolateAndtea · 23/08/2026 18:20

Exactly, and dried parsley is available from your cupboard when ever needed, rather than having to keep buying, or nurture a grow your own herb garden.

Show quote history

Yes but it tastes of absolutely nothing. OPs DH could've chucked the whole jar in and it would've been fine.

Treebaubles · 23/08/2026 18:27

Parsley? In a jar?

Movie Reaction GIF
Fast800goingforit · 23/08/2026 18:22

MelonSorbet · 23/08/2026 16:29

LOL at all the incredulity about jarred parsley!

I thought the OP meant some sort of parsley puree, not dried parsley. Dried parsley tastes of nothing so hardly the culinary crime of the century.

DarkchocolateAndtea · 23/08/2026 18:20

PeachMelbaYoghurt · 23/08/2026 16:45

Our local market charge £5 for a measly bunch of parsley! I wouldn't call that cheap at all.

Show quote history

Exactly, and dried parsley is available from your cupboard when ever needed, rather than having to keep buying, or nurture a grow your own herb garden.

diddl · 23/08/2026 18:16

PistachioTiramisu · 23/08/2026 17:41

More to the point, why on earth are you eating dinner at 4.30 in the afternoon???

Maybe it's a late lunch?

DarkchocolateAndtea · 23/08/2026 18:16

I could eat it tomato, but not with half a jar's worth of parsley.

PistachioTiramisu · 23/08/2026 18:16

I actually imagined parsley in some kind of oil or sauce in a jar, rather than dried which I am well aware of. Thought it sounded rather nice actually!

11AndCounting · 23/08/2026 18:14

Passata and dried parsley are pretty typical ingredients, though it sounds as though he may have used too much of both.

Ditto turmeric in rice.

Just all feels very petty.

CustardySergeant · 23/08/2026 18:14

Did he add any onions?

Swipe left for the next trending thread