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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...or is this slightly odd behaviour with regard to leftovers?

195 replies

naranciata · 26/12/2016 11:50

At FIL's house. Yesterday I singlehandedly cooked a 3 course Christmas dinner for 11 people then went to bed about 9:30 because 25w pregnant and knackered. Woke up this morning and opened the fridge and you would not know it was Christmas yesterday. Every single leftover item has been portioned up and frozen and added to the "freezer spreadsheet" pinned to the noticeboard in the kitchen.

I was thinking along the lines of bubbles and squeak with fried eggs and cold meat for lunch, turkey sandwiches for snacks, big pan of veg soup for the next few days' food. Basically - no 'proper' cooking but lots of nice food.

I asked FIL if he'd frozen everything (as opposed to putting in garage fridge etc) and he thanked me for cooking and said he'd barely have to cook for himself over the next few days because of everything he was left with. In the same breath, he asked if I wanted some mince defrosting to make a chilli tonight.

AIBU to feel like it's not really up to him to freeze all the Christmas leftovers to be eaten when we've all left? Him and I paid for the food 50:50.

OP posts:
QueenOfTheFuckingWorld · 26/12/2016 11:57

If you paid 50 50 then I'd be getting food out of the freezer and using it as you wanted.

MIL has form for this. Froze all the leftovers from a BBQ all the family had contributed to 'for later'. She left SIL very short on food for a buffet at hers the next day as everyone naturally assumed they'd bring the leftovers.

WonderWombat · 26/12/2016 11:58

I think you should basically say that's what you had in mind - presumably you were planning to take the cold meat etc home - and ask for half the leftovers.

The only problem would be if you live a long way away and the stuff defrosts and has to be refrozen. (If you don't have a freezer pack for transporting).

Alternatively he pays more than 50%, if there were huge quantities of leftovers and he's snaffling them all for his exclusive use.

DesignedForLife · 26/12/2016 11:58

That's a bit cheeky, maybe he should be in he one cooking chilli tonight? Is he infirm and unable to do much cooking?

Orangesox · 26/12/2016 11:59

Personally I'd tell him to make his own bloody chilli.

Such strange, selfish behaviour. Especially as you'd paid 50:50 for the food, YANBU at all!

OhStuffingBalls · 26/12/2016 12:00

Thats very odd behaviour.

In fact, I'm spluttering with laughter at some of the weird Christmas food related behaviour on Mumsnet today Grin.

What is wrong with people? Leftovers are as integral to Christmas as the main meal, surely?

Get some of the stuff out of the freezer and have a feast!

RaspberryOverloadsOnMincePies · 26/12/2016 12:03

Oh, I'd certainly ensure I had 50% of the leftovers after this kind of behaviour. For me, that's the whole point of cooking plenty on Xmas day itself. I often make quick meals out of leftovers that mean I'm not spending too much of my time off slaving over a stove.

dudsville · 26/12/2016 12:04

Say this to HIM. GET the food out and defrosted. It doesn't have to be an ordeal.

TrustySnail · 26/12/2016 12:06

"freezer spreadsheet" Shock

Is this a thing people commonly have?

Admirably well-organised!

mygorgeousmilo · 26/12/2016 12:08

ohstuffing also chuckling about other people's weird Christmas food dramas.... you all have my sympathies Xmas Confused even when we all leaned back in our seats yesterday, everyone was unanimous with "leftovers are going to be amazing!"

We've had panettone and clotted cream for breakfast! Will have a massive leftover feast plus pickles and cheeses as soon as we all agree we want it. There will be talk of who wants what throughout the day. No way is anyone expected to start cooking from scratch today, or expected to be hungry at any stage.

ProfYaffle · 26/12/2016 12:09

I have a freezer spreadsheet!

In my defence though, I have 2 chest freezers and an allotment. Upon setting up the spreadsheet I discovered 16 bags of home grown french beans I'd previously been unaware of Blush

WhereYouLeftIt · 26/12/2016 12:09

I'd be taking half the leftovers with me, even if they would defrost en route and I'd have to bin them. The pleasure of knowing I'd screwed over his spreadsheet would be enormous ...

Hellmouth · 26/12/2016 12:11

but everyone knows Christmas leftovers are for boxing day, and any other days afterwards until it's all run out . . :D he may have paid 50:50, but you did all the cooking so I think you should take it all!

expatinscotland · 26/12/2016 12:12

FFS! So you go over there and pay 50/50 to skivvy for the lot of them in the kitchen? WHY do people put up with rude behaviour like this or play 1950s wifey because tehy're women?

Get the lefotvers out, defrost them and serve them up! He balks and you say, 'Well, we paid for this food, too.'

And tbh, stop going there, paying 50% (who the FUCK does that to family?) and cooking and skivvying for all of them. Your husband sat on his duff whilst his pregnant wife was in there working her arse off? What a dick. You can see where he got it from.

expatinscotland · 26/12/2016 12:13

FFS! So you go over there and pay 50/50 to skivvy for the lot of them in the kitchen? WHY do people put up with rude behaviour like this or play 1950s wifey because tehy're women?

Get the lefotvers out, defrost them and serve them up! He balks and you say, 'Well, we paid for this food, too.'

And tbh, stop going there, paying 50% (who the FUCK does that to family?) and cooking and skivvying for all of them. Your husband sat on his duff whilst his pregnant wife was in there working her arse off? What a dick. You can see where he got it from.

TrustySnail · 26/12/2016 12:14

In my defence though

Nothing to defend, I think it's a good idea - it would solve the common problem of identifying the obscure thing in a plastic bag at the back of the shelf that seems to have been there for about two years.

smellyboot · 26/12/2016 12:17

left over are part of the xmas ritual surely????

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 26/12/2016 12:17

Bloody hell, he's got a cheek!!

I'm at my Dad's house - I bought all the Christmas food, and cooked it all - and I fully anticipate using the turkey up in similar fashion to you over the next few days. I absolutely would lose my temper with anyone who thought they could just hoard all the leftovers for themselves, AND expect me to cook fresh food again!

YANBU, he's being very selfish and rude. Just take out what you need and defrost it as necessary - you've bloody paid for it!

Allalonenow · 26/12/2016 12:18

I think it's time you sat down with a cup of tea, put your feet up and don't move until it's time to go home!
You cooked yesterday, it's someone else's turn to cook today.

ClarissaDarling · 26/12/2016 12:18

You say 'thank you FIL, yes such a good idea, that'll make it so much easier at home for meals'- and grab a shopping bag and load half the stuff into it. 'Will return the Tupperware when next see you'!

Rattusn · 26/12/2016 12:18

I also fail to see what you gain from this arrangement. You are going to someone else's house, still paying for more food than your family are eating, and cooking. Then you don't even get the leftovers!

Get some leftovers out of the fridge, and stay at home next year!

BIgBagofJelly · 26/12/2016 12:18

I'd defrost it and make a christmas sandwich and and tell him he's welcome to make a chilli if he'd like one (unless he's infirm and can't cooker himself).

ClashCityRocker · 26/12/2016 12:20

Definitely odd behaviour.

I've just had a glorious lunch of cold turkey with cranberry and bread sauce.

user1471545174 · 26/12/2016 12:21

They are BU! I only cook Christmas for the Boxing Day leftovers.

Allalonenow · 26/12/2016 12:21

YY to taking half the frozen left overs home with you.

shggg245 · 26/12/2016 12:22

Please help with my dilemma. Turkey cooked at 3 not refrigeratored until 9. Will I poison everyone by failing to adhere the 2 hour oven to fridge rule which I've since found out about. Option one - risk it or option 2 shall I throw and send dh to tesco. I've got 1 hour to decide....