Lighthearted one for you - I’ve offended someone with my dinner for this evening

[Helpmyarse]

A fellow school mum popped in to drop some things off for me to take up to the school (I volunteer Thursday afternoon).

While she was here, I got tonight’s dinner out of the oven. I always make something in a tray on Thursdays as it’s a busy day for everyone (me, dh, ds 23, dd 13 and dd 6). It’s a cluster fuck of afterschool clubs, dh working from the office, ds on a late shift. So it just makes sense to have something in a tray that everyone can help themselves to and eat at different times; it’s only me and the 6 year old here at our usual dinner time on a Thursday.

Today I made sausage and bean pie. Sausages cut up, mixed with beans, cheesy mash on top. Easier than sausage, mash and beans kept separately IMO, when people are grabbing dinner.

Lazy bitch, aren’t I? Stay at home mum as well, I should be standing in the kitchen whipping up a three course meal whenever anyone wants to eat.

Anyway, I got it out the oven and you should have seen her face. Appalled that I would feed my family cut up beans and sausages and that were weren’t all going to sit around the table to a freshly prepared meal (we would all have to wait until about 9pm on a Thursday to eat together at the table, sod that).

She would never feed her family this meal. I did ask, would she feed them sausage and mash. Yes, she said. So I asked what the difference was. “This isn’t fresh! You don’t work, you could have made it this evening.” okay, crazy lady.

Anyway, lighthearted as she’s a silly cow, but here’s a photo of the offending dinner that horrified her.

Imagine commenting on someone’s dinner prep 🤣 what a sad life.

I need to make this!!! YUM!!

That looks bloody lovely. We don’t all sit round the table. It’s not 1956

Wow, she's rude.

Most households have at least one night a week when everyone is busy. I do a traybake too, but even less effort. Large oven tray, with chicken thighs, little potatoes, chunks of assorted root veg with some oil, and stick it in the oven for an hour, then turn it down very low.

Each person serves themselves, adds whatever relish they want. No-one has died yet or gone hungry or moaned.

I hear you about the awkward mealtimes. As a family we went through much the same, with DH working funny hours which changed daily, and me ferrying DC to a variety of different dance classes at considerable distance.
And that wasn't once a week, it was every flippin' day for about ten years!

It looks Lush. Meat free sausages would work well for the veggies amongst us.
Have you got room for 1 more tonight OP ( says she hopefully).

I am a fan of the chicken tray bake too! I always have a few trays of microwave rice so it’s easy if anyone wants to pad it out.

I simply find it impossible to imagine someone standing in the kitchen of a slight acquaintance and saying ‘I’d never feed my children that!’ before proceeding to criticise their cooking, ingredients, prep etc.

Some people like to make simple tasks very complicated so that they can take all day over them and expect fulsome admiration. Parkinson's Law operates in the home as well as at the office.

I feel a bit sorry for her though. She was unbelievably rude but she probably speaks like that to herself as well so her life must be a bit shit/ uptight.

I think you're a genius OP!

She’s more than a slight acquaintance, I’ve known her since our 13 year olds were in reception together.

And she’s like that. Just one of life’s Hyacinth Buckets. She’s harmless, just set in her ways. Which is why I’m laughing and not upset.

Is this some kind of stealth boast? 😆 I've literally never been organised and sensible enough to think about let alone prepare that evening's dinner at 9.45am in my life. Also genuinely struggling to find what on earth could possibly be wrong with cooking a dinner in a tray? This woman must live in a parallel universe to me.

She’s very uptight. A lot of people avoid her (me included when it comes to volunteering at the school, it’s not easy to be in her company in close quarters for a few hours).

Wtf is wrong with this? Sausages, mash, and beans is a classic! Some people are just stuck up.

What a good idea for a meal.
I think the opinion of the mum is hilarous.
I love sausages and any kid usually eats them which is a bonus for any mum working or sahm.

She's not on the PTA, is she?😂

I must say, part of me was expecting someone on here to say, “where’s the veg?”

(It’s in the cupboard, mate. You are welcome to come round, chop it up and boil it. I can’t be arsed today).

I think it looks yummy even though I’m not that keen on sausages or beans. Absolutely nothing wrong with being prepared. Friend of mine always prepped first thing in morning. Oh to be so organised.

Honestly you’ve given me a fab midweek meal idea.

Ooh, I could quite happily tuck into that right now.

Sounds a complete melt. Your dinner looks lovely.

My mum used to cook stew in the morning and serve it for dinner. And the rest of it the next night. Maintained it tasted better (it did) and I think I heard Nigella Lawson also say this, so you can tell your snooty mate that.

Oh how did you guess! 🤣

I’m not. I mean, I help out, but Christ, I did all that with my eldest so I’ve paid my dues.

It looks a perfectly good dinner to me. Everyone can get some and pop into microwave when they arrive home.

God, she sounds awful! Her distress at this meal is on her not you. How bloody rude as well to go to someone’s house and comment on their meal? You’re lovely to make your whole family a meal they can grab rather than the older ones making themselves something 🤷🏻‍♀️.

This looks wonderful and you've just inspired me for dinner!