MiL a-salted a birthday cake

[CurtainWitcher]

DD's birthday get-together for a few family members in the garden.

I made a lovely (if I do say so myself) big, decorated Victoria sponge, which is DD's favourite.

DH handed a slice to MiL, who immediately asked for salt. She then shook salt ALL over it, before eating it.

It's not the first time she's salted sweet food. She says it's the only way she can "bear it".

Aibu to suggest she doesn't ask for cake, if she's going to cover it in salt?

I mean, if she ants to add salt to everything that's her deal, but if she's saying "it's the only way to bear it" it doesn't sound like she's actually enjoying it.

This kind of behaviour isn’t harmless, btw.

It sounds like she made a big show of salting it, which is attention-seeking.

It was rude to say she couldn’t bear it otherwise.

The whole display sounds very passive aggressive.

Her children find her eating habits embarrassing.

Too much salt is generally really bad for you.

And I am the daughter of a mother with very strange eating habits and it really messed up my relationship with food for a long time.

So I think the stream of ‘what a strange thing to start a thread about, what’s it to you, I wouldn’t give this a SECOND THOUGHT’ posts are pretty disingenuous.

Does your MIL have problems with her taste buds by any chance? Some people can't taste certain flavours and salt can help with that. Also the vinegar thing could be some kind of nutrient deficiency too? I think if she is doing to everyone's food it isn't a personal slight it is genuinely her own preferences. Surely she wouldn't make herself eat something she doesnt like when there are plenty of other options so I would have thought that she was telling the truth about liking it that way. She could probably have worded it better but if it's a common thing I wouldn't take it personally. (Although I might avoid eating out with her because i do think it can be seen as rude to season other peoples food before even tasting it)

I drink the vinegar from pickle jars (always have) and have loads of vinegar on chips - but very little salt added to anything and definitely not on cake.

@BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze

I wouldn't be assuming it's done in an attention seeking way just because OP claims it is. Nothing OP has said on this thread suggests she'd be looking at this with anything other than a chip on her shoulder about it, no pun intended. The thing about can't bear it could've been something that was said once years ago. Someone who thinks seasoning food before tasting it is rude per se has a weird attitude to the subject themselves.

We can only go on what OP says, as on any thread here. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don’t think seasoning is adding loads of salt to food that is meant to be sweet.

We can only go on what OP says indeed- that's what I'm doing! As for what constitutes seasoning, the OP used the term herself when discussing what she said was MIL frantically adding salt to food and saying it was rude, so I'm quoting her.

We can only go on what OP says indeed- that's what I'm doing!

But you’re making up your own version. I’m just going on what OP is actually saying. There are attention seeking people unfortunately.

As for what constitutes seasoning, the OP used the term herself when discussing what she said was MIL frantically adding salt to food and saying it was rude, so I'm quoting her.

She used the term, yes. But in the true sense of the word seasoning means to enhance flavour, not completely change it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Anyway, you can think what you like, I have my own opinion. Personally I’d just enjoy the entertainment she provides and think she’s a complete twat.

I'd find this really annoying. I'd get cheese and crackers in next time and when it comes to pudding say "cheese and crackers or cake MIL?" If she actually chooses cake then....

Someone who thinks seasoning food before tasting it is rude per se has a weird attitude to the subject themselves.

I agree that's wierd, but more because I think it's ruder to taste the food and THEN put salt on. If you do that, it's a clear statement that you think the food is tasteless or you hate it.

@BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze

We can only go on what OP says indeed- that's what I'm doing!

But you’re making up your own version. I’m just going on what OP is actually saying. There are attention seeking people unfortunately.

As for what constitutes seasoning, the OP used the term herself when discussing what she said was MIL frantically adding salt to food and saying it was rude, so I'm quoting her.

She used the term, yes. But in the true sense of the word seasoning means to enhance flavour, not completely change it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Anyway, you can think what you like, I have my own opinion. Personally I’d just enjoy the entertainment she provides and think she’s a complete twat.

Analysing what the OP has said isn't making things up. It just looks different from unquestioningly accepting it with zero thought.

Re what level of salt constitutes seasoning, I'd struggle to muster an opinion in all honesty, but by all means take it up with the OP if you don't care for her description.

If she “can’t bear it” I doubt salt is the magical ingredient, more a finishing touch. Salt is a flavor enhancer after all. Nowhere have I ever seen “for savouries only” in salt packs.
Yabu and weird for being so aghast. They are her taste buds after all said and done.

Sweet and salty popcorn is wrong. Just saying

@Littleposh you are so wrong! Sweet and salted popcorn is the food of gods!

Well as long as she’s not putting salt on what you’re about to eat there’s not much issue surly

@doityourselfnow nope and I won't be moved on this

@Littleposh then we can't be friends, sorry!

It's weird but I want to try it ... Too often cake is too sweet for me but I love sweet and salty popcorn 😂

@doityourselfnow Harsh. But fair

Hi, I have read your posts but not the thread.

My food preference is sour/salty. So I literally crave that with anything I eat. I cant abide anything sweet or ersatz sweet. So if I do eat eg "chocolate" buttons I might eat a few before leaving the rest of a very small pack. Whereas a pack of Pringles - sorry all mine and the dip they go with!!

I have developed in my 50's acid reflux - only known due to a cough. My GP gave me a list of foods - 1 column avoid, 1 column to eat. My whole vegetarian diet was in the avoid column (including tomatoes, onions, acid) . The last 18 months have been a nightmare. I would suggest that you ask your MIL to consider this. My diet move towards more alkaline food has been tricky and I am not coping well. (Who wants to eat root veg, seriously!)

Does it matter? If she was making you eat it then you might have a point, otherwise just leave her alone, how she eats is nothing to do with you.
I knew someone who smothered their salad in sugar...their choice, crack on.

OP. From your posts I’ve gathered that your MIL’s unusual tastes have been a bit different for many years.
Can you not just accept it?

Yes, she's obviously entitled to eat her food how she likes without comment from anyone, but, now that you have commented, I feel a bit sick reading this tbh. I literally shuddered when I read about the margarine in pasta sauce thing.

Anyway, I knew someone who used to love salt a lot. She put it on her cereal! I don't think she liked sweet stuff especially, but when she did eat it, she refrained from adding salt.

The "only way I can bear it" comment is completely bonkers. I don't think I could stop myself saying please, please don't eat it unless you really want to. Go all ernest with her, like; "now MIL, i know what a struggle it is for you, eating sweet things. I just want you to know that we really don't want you to eat anything you dislike, so could we get you some cheese instead"?

Maybe she has some hang up about eating sweet food? Like she doesn't like to feel as if she is over indulging or something? Not that it matters, unless it becomes an eating disorder or something.

@Monkeynuts18

This kind of behaviour isn’t harmless, btw.

It sounds like she made a big show of salting it, which is attention-seeking.

It was rude to say she couldn’t bear it otherwise.

The whole display sounds very passive aggressive.

Her children find her eating habits embarrassing.

Too much salt is generally really bad for you.

And I am the daughter of a mother with very strange eating habits and it really messed up my relationship with food for a long time.

So I think the stream of ‘what a strange thing to start a thread about, what’s it to you, I wouldn’t give this a SECOND THOUGHT’ posts are pretty disingenuous.

Except it is harmless

Even if she was attention seeking what harm has that done to anyone

So it appears that IABU, but I can't shake the feeling that changing someone's cooking to such an extent, to make it bearable is insulting.

But you could easily choose not to be insulted by it. She clearly has unusual tates, so it's not your cooking it's her. What's the point in being insulted?

Good lord what else don't you like about the poor woman???

I’m wanting to try this now , as someone who needs a lot of extra salt in my diet and have things like sea salt on toast for breakfast this could be genius