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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Passing pre made food off as your own

174 replies

Natsel84 · 03/12/2020 21:34

Lighthearted

Tonight I "cooked" for the family. I had gone to the supermarket earlier to do the weekly shop and for quickness I picked up a fresh family size lasagne .
Cooked it in the oven but added some extra cheese on top to make it look more " home made "
Served it up just before everyone returned home, after hiding all packaging in the bin and passed it off as my own.

It went down a treat not a mouthful left. Everyone said it was one of the nicest thing I made. Technically I did cook it, in the oven anyway...

Do I feel bad no 🤣

Anyone else passed off pre made food as homemade cooking ?

OP posts:

InTheNightWeWillWish · 03/12/2020 21:37

I just tend to say that I went to such effort that I even made the packaging too.

MuchTooTired · 03/12/2020 21:40

Yes, I have! Not to my family, but I’ve bought a load of pre-made sandwiches and cut them into triangles (complete with paper plates and cling film for authenticity) to take to parties before.

Yes, it was very lazy. No, I don’t feel bad about it. 😂

newnewnewbuild · 03/12/2020 21:43

In a previous job they held a bake off so I bought a lemon drizzle cake from sainsburys and shoved it in a cake tin so I didnt have to make one.

When I found out it was a competition (I thought it was just for fun) I did fess up haha

Justajot · 03/12/2020 21:52

I think I'd feel a bit gutted if one of the best things I'd ever made was a shop bought lasagne.

I'm not sure I see the point in passing shop bought stuff off. I have no problem with ready made food, but when I've made an effort I want the kudos or to be told it wasn't worth it, so I don't bother again. When I haven't made something then I just want to know if it is worth buying again.

RumJerrySailorRum · 03/12/2020 21:53

Nope, I don't see the point to be honest.

CoRhona · 03/12/2020 21:55

Weren't you mortified they thought it was one of your best?! Op, your bar is set this low _

Itsnotalwaysme · 03/12/2020 21:55

No but I have received some! A chef friend decided to cook a homemade curry for us all. I was very excited but that changed rapidly when I seen he had used a box of chip shop curry sauce and precooked frozen chicken strips. He put it all in a pot with peppers, that's all.

AndNowItsHappeningInMine · 03/12/2020 21:56

My kids would complain if I bought Lloyd sauces. It "wasn't nice."
So I would chop up some celery, onion, green beans - whatever I had in the fridge - and add it to the a sauce, and everyone agreed that mum's homemade sauce was better than the jars.

Original poster

Natsel84 · 03/12/2020 21:57

@Justajot

I think I'd feel a bit gutted if one of the best things I'd ever made was a shop bought lasagne.

I dont feel bad , at least I know I can do it again 🤣

OP posts:

Original poster

Natsel84 · 03/12/2020 21:58

@CoRhona

Weren't you mortified they thought it was one of your best?! Op, your bar is set this low _

Nope , saved me alot of time and effort

OP posts:

Original poster

Natsel84 · 03/12/2020 21:58

@MuchTooTired

Yes, I have! Not to my family, but I’ve bought a load of pre-made sandwiches and cut them into triangles (complete with paper plates and cling film for authenticity) to take to parties before.

Yes, it was very lazy. No, I don’t feel bad about it. 😂

👌😂

OP posts:

Original poster

Natsel84 · 03/12/2020 21:59

@AndNowItsHappeningInMine

My kids would complain if I bought Lloyd sauces. It "wasn't nice." So I would chop up some celery, onion, green beans - whatever I had in the fridge - and add it to the a sauce, and everyone agreed that mum's homemade sauce was better than the jars.

🤔 that's next on my list then , thanks!

OP posts:

StillCoughingandLaughing · 03/12/2020 22:02

My kids would complain if I bought Lloyd sauces. It "wasn't nice."

I don’t think I’ve ever made a pasta sauce I’ve liked as much as Loyd’s

Dyrne · 03/12/2020 22:03

But... why? Who are you trying to impress?

For a school or work bring-a-plate thing I can maybe understand trying to blah it, but for your own family? What’s the point in pretending you’ve cooked something yourself?

Chanandlerbong01 · 03/12/2020 22:03

My partner doesn’t like Nando’s, he tells me regularly he can’t stand it. He works late once a month and I always “make” lemon and herb chicken with spicy rice and coleslaw.... if only he knew next door let’s me put the takeaway wrappers in her bin!

It’s his favourite thing I make 🙄

Fittata · 03/12/2020 22:04

I know this is meant to be lighthearted but I wouldn't feel great having lied to my family. It might be a "white" lie but IMO any lie will affect a relationship.

Chanandlerbong01 · 03/12/2020 22:07

@Fittata the relationship can’t be that strong for a shop cooked lasagne to significantly affect it?

speakout · 03/12/2020 22:11

I have tried, but my family have a killer instinct for any shop bought food, packet sauces, jars etc.
Wouldn't pass the first mouthful. They would eat it, but not worth me lying.

Original poster

Natsel84 · 03/12/2020 22:12

@Chanandlerbong01

It’s his favourite thing I make 🙄

😂 this is great .

OP posts:

Deadringer · 03/12/2020 22:15

Not the point of the thread but i would really like to know which lasagne it is. A shop bought lasagne that tastes as good as homemade is the holy grail for me, its such a feckin faff to make.

WhySoSensitive · 03/12/2020 22:16

I buy Aldi’s own chocolate cake mix and add a few chocolate chunks to make muffins. Told people it was my grandmas recipe when they wanted it...
I’m not ashamed but also know when I do bake from scratch it tastes better. I’m just lazy AF.

lyralalala · 03/12/2020 22:17

I did this with my MIL and late FIL first time I met them. I "cooked" steak pie that actually came from the local bakers. They have a catering kitchen and make the most amazing ready meals and pies.

I had to fess up the second time I met them because MIL was singing my praises to the wider family and her SIL (DH's Aunt) asked for my recipe as the gravy was amazing. I fessed up to MIL in the kitchen and she told her SIL it was rude to ask for family recipes like that and she never told anyone else what I'd done.

FIL told me when he was dying that he knew. He knew because he used to pass through my village a couple of times a week and had a mini pie for lunch. He never told MIL as he had it alongside the packed lunch she made him

Fittata · 03/12/2020 22:17

Er...its not the lasagne affecting the relationship is it? It's the casual attitude to lying to your own family!

BoomBoomsCousin · 03/12/2020 22:19

I don't really understand why you would bother. I like cooking when I can be bothered. I also take pride in knowing what's really good ready made. I once boasted to my FiL who was praising a dinner I'd served up that I was an excellent shopper.

Still, it's better than Alexi Sayle's approach (at 1:10):

Thewinterofdiscontent · 03/12/2020 22:19

@Dyrne

But... why? Who are you trying to impress?

For a school or work bring-a-plate thing I can maybe understand trying to blah it, but for your own family? What’s the point in pretending you’ve cooked something yourself?

Yeah this. Who actually cares? Most people can cook something nowadays and most of us use some sort of cheat. Mine is bought puff pastry that does everything from midweek Wellington to weekend tuna flan thing. People seem to be impressed that I’ve done something creative with left overs, not bitching I haven’t spent 5 hours rolling and chilling it.

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