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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To go on strike and not cook dinner for dh anymore

101 replies

MuffinMclay · 01/08/2007 11:57

Dh is a very good cook and loves cooking. I am an OK cook, but don't enjoy it particularly. He works long hours, generally, so it makes sense for me to cook for both of us on week nights and him to cook at weekends (using every pan, implement, etc, and making mess everywhere, but that is another story).

On Monday I made curry. He complained that it was like the one he made but not as good. He poked it around suspiciously, ate it, and made polite but unconvincing noises at the end.

Yesterday I made a pasta sauce with red onion, wine, sausages (River Cafe recipe, takes hours to prepare). He took one look at it, then said 'there's too much onion' (I don't like red onion but added it because he complains if I omit it). He pokes suspiciously, and starts eating. 'You didn't dice the onion properly, the pieces are too big'. Sits looking like a sulky teenager. Then, 'did you forget the chilli', 'no', 'well it is very mild' (clearly not believing a word I say).

At this point I remark quietly that I will not be cooking evening meals for him from now on (whilst trying to stop myself tipping the bowl of pasta over his head). He flounces off, slams doors, and sulks upstairs. Half an hour later he comes downstairs and tells me I'm turning into my mother by expecting everyone to eat food without complaining (her food is dire).

Sorry, very log and dull. But I'm so p**d off with him now. And I'm not cooking tonight.

OP posts:
rebelmum1 · 01/08/2007 12:32

Or just do the same when he cooks to show him how it feels - i'm sure it wasn't that bad anyway

MrsBadger · 01/08/2007 12:33

(top tips from one lazy cook to another:
Lloyd Grossman jarred curry sauces
book by Caroline Marson called No-Fuss Suppers
English Provender Company pan sauces (Chardonnay, port etc)
the Waitrose magazines
roast chicken - takes time but needs 0 attention once in oven
things you can bring out twice eg bolognese -> lasagne etc
lots of salads to avoid thinking up veg side dishes
if main course is dull or fails dinner can often be rescued by pudding eg roasted peaches or figs, which gives huge return for little effort and maes it look like you've thought v hard re the meal plan)

Anna8888 · 01/08/2007 12:33

Not trying to start a fight in any way at all .

Just trying to show the OP a constructive long term way out of the problem.

Personally I am a great believer in the family harmony and pleasure generated from enjoying a shared meal.

JudgeyMcJudgeson · 01/08/2007 12:33

I'm sure MuffinMclay's job involves a lot more than just cooking for her dp sdo3

If she is a sahm then there are presumably children to look after, house to clean/tidy etc etc.

If she works then she has that to do as well.

Working people are fully capable of preparing their own food. It isn't exactly hard.

rebelmum1 · 01/08/2007 12:34

gosh you don't think it'll descend into violence do you? That would have to be a pretty bad meal ..

JudgeyMcJudgeson · 01/08/2007 12:35

But Anna8888 that doesn't actually deal with the rudeness at all.

WHat it does is tell the OPs DH that it's fine to talk to your wife like that cos rather than tell you to pack it in she will do her best to kowtow to your criticism.

There is nothing wrong with going on a cooking course etc, but you have to deal with the comments as well.

MuffinMclay · 01/08/2007 12:35

Sorry, went off to take out my frustration on the windows (only cleaning, not smashing).

OP posts:
Quattrocento · 01/08/2007 12:37

"some people just can't cook"

Rubbish. Everyone can cook. I learned (and am still learning) the Mrs Badger way.

Saying some people just can't cook is kind of like saying some people just can't make love. They can, you know. They can.

rebelmum1 · 01/08/2007 12:37

it just sounds like he's being a dick which we all do sometimes he just needs showing the way, probably something underlying no big deal imho, he reckons he's the better cook, just get him to do it himself don't turn it into a battle or he'll have to take a position, be cool, calm and matter of fact

Anna8888 · 01/08/2007 12:39

Judgey - dealing with the rudeness is necessary, of course, but that's a short-term issue and personally I wouldn't dwell on it, I'd try to actually sort out the long-term problem.

If I was the one going out to work and earning the money to support my family while my partner stayed at home, I would absolutely expect as my divine right to come home to a clean, tidy house and have a delicious meal on the table and some quiet time to share it with my family .

rebelmum1 · 01/08/2007 12:40

depends what you're cooking - she might be over-reaching with the souffle. I think people who don't like cooking don't like food in the same way. It's about enjoyment, i love food and i enjoy being creative, if i can't be faffed i do something easy like an omlette

JudgeyMcJudgeson · 01/08/2007 12:41

See I don't see the actual food as a problem. Complaining about things like how onion is chopped up is looking for things to complain about.

It is the rudeness that is a problem.

Gizmo · 01/08/2007 12:41

Ppppfffffffggnnnnnnnnnnnnnnmmmmmm!!!

And PARP....

dilbertina · 01/08/2007 12:42

My DH has a tendency to "oversee" me when I'm cooking and adding helpful "top tips".

I can cook, he can cook - but for marital harmony he now cooks all the evening meals and I walk the dog. He's happy, I'm happy, even the dog's happy!

On the rare occasion I cook he's learnt to keep out of the kitchen and say it's lovely, else it will be even longer till the next time!

legalalien · 01/08/2007 12:43

Ask him if he'd mind cooking lots of freezable stuff on the weekend .

Actually, it really does sound as though there's something else going on.

Oblomov · 01/08/2007 12:44

Discofever - what's with the Aquarius bit ?

MrsBadger · 01/08/2007 12:45

dilbertina, that soudns familar!

actually Monday was the very first time he said 'Oh, normally I'd slice the onions for fajitas...' and managed to stop himself and leave the room before continuing. Best thing was I was slicing them, just at 90 degrees to the way he does them...

rebelmum1 · 01/08/2007 12:46

Mrs badger can you elaborate on your roasted figs and peaches?

MuffinMclay · 01/08/2007 12:48

Yes, I am a SAHM. Only one ds, but I am pg and feel pretty exhausted by the evening time at the moment.

I am really not a bad cook (well, only on off days), he is just a very good cook (although he too has off days). He can cook to good restaurant standard and could be a chef if he ever wanted a career change. I would even venture to say that I am better than him at cakes, puddings etc.

I am better at cooking than most family members I can think of, just not as good as him. I'm sure I could benefit from cookery classes, but I'm certainly not going to go on any to make myself a 'better' wife and please a man. This is not the 1950s.

My issue is with his rudeness towards me and the food I produce.

OP posts:
cylon · 01/08/2007 12:49

i used to be quite a good cook
then i got married and had to cook. dh is a git just like op's dh. and kids are fusspots.
i am now queen of no fuss cooking. cook in (sauces etc) and ready meals are fab. if dh doesnt want to eat with us, he can take his criticism and either cook a meal himself, or heat tesco meal.

Easywriter · 01/08/2007 12:50

I am a SAHM in 2007 (and all things being well Anna8888, will be until 2012 at the very earliest).

I can't cook though! I'm 38, believe me I tried to cook. The fact that I can't cook is incredibly unlikely to change now.

I DO cook however, and in light of the fact that I try to give us all healthy (but v. v. simple meals) I don't expect to be belittled for my efforts.

Dicing onions 'wrong' is not fair criticism.

I don't expect false praise either, don't get me wrong, but (if it's edible) then I expect to at least be thanked that I made the effort.

For what it's worth Anna8888 in our house it is acceptable for me to cal DP at say 4.30 and inform him that he needs to cook that night or that we all go out to eat as I've had a bad day and can't cook. He know that the reality of living with someone who can't cook is that if I try after a horrendously bad day, I will waste £'s of perfectly good food in an attempt to produce something inedible, probably make tons of mess that I won't want to clean up because I'm in a bad modd and be snappy with the children, which is v bad as I am a SAHM because we both recignise that I'm a damned fine mother and excellent with our kids. I'm not ashamed to admit it int the same way I'm not ashamed to admit I can burn food like the best of 'em.

Like I said, I'm not good at everything.

Our family harmony works because we are good mannered to each other, recognise what we and each other are good and bad at and run our house accordingly.

I'm not having a go at you by the way I'm tryig to point out to you that you're missing some crucial points.

JudgeyMcJudgeson · 01/08/2007 12:51

I think you should tell him if he's gonna criticise your food like that he can get his own.

Then try and sort out other issues, but make it clear that no way is talking to you like that acceptable.

MrsBadger · 01/08/2007 12:51

Er, you get some peaches (rock hard underripe ones will do), cut them in half and take out the stones, put in small oven dish cut side up, dot with butter, sprinkle liberally with brown sugar and slam in hottish oven for 20min.
Figs you cut crosses in the tops, oven dish, drizzle with honey, hottish oven 20min.

Serve with yoghurt, scatter with flaked almonds if you feel the need.

I also do a 3min microwave sponge pudding which brings DH out of the worst mood, earns me piles of Good Wife points and is hence saved for Really Vile Days.

Anna8888 · 01/08/2007 12:53

Ah, I didn't realise you were pregnant. If you are pregnant you definitely have dispensation from full SAHM duties in my book . Could you not go the simple-but-chic route for a bit, until you have recovered from the birth, and have more cold food with less preparation? Tomato and mozzarella, bresaola and rocket, good bread and butter, some greengages for dessert? Totally justifiable to avoid cooking entirely while you are pregnant - and your husband could cook some pasta sauces in a batch for the freezer at the weekend for the days you want some hot food (and in preparation for after the birth).

scattyspice · 01/08/2007 12:55

Same here.

DHs Mother is a good cook (real WI type). I grew up on beans on toast.

Dh is definately the fussiest eater in our house!

I just carry on let it go over my head.

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