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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask about the worst ingredient substitution you've had the misfortune to taste?

152 replies

BackInBits · 10/12/2021 00:14

I've come across a few.

My brother made a roast lamb and had no red currant jelly. Strawberry jam it was.

I've an aunt who put sour cream in the trifle. Not quite as bad as Rachel and the beef, but it did not work well.

I've an ex who was making chickpea patties that called for cumin, turmeric and coriander. In case you were wondering, oregano does not make up for a lack of cumin.

OP posts:
Peanutmnm · 10/12/2021 00:15

Fucking brown bread in the stuffing🤮

ODFOgrinch · 10/12/2021 00:18

Tonight my DS made baked potatoes with cheese and spring onion, except he couldn't find the cheese (1kg lump in the front of the fridge) so gave us baked potatoes with scrambled egg and spring onion instead. We have covid so couldn't assess the flavour but the texture was, erm, unsuccessful.

HailAdrian · 10/12/2021 00:18

I once covered something with cinnamon instead of pepper, that was pretty upsetting.

Lily019 · 10/12/2021 00:26

My son, aged about 20,fancied himself as a bit of a budding chef cos he worked in a restaurant kitchen. Making spaghetti bolognaise he decided the tomato sauce was too acidic so added copious amounts of honey to resolve the issue. Possibly the most puke inducing meal I've ever had.

Original poster
BackInBits · 10/12/2021 00:29

The eggy baked potato sounds like a reverse potato omelette.

The honey bolognese genuinely made me laugh

OP posts:
HangingOver · 10/12/2021 00:34

DP put condensed milk in a curry.

AnotherMansCause · 10/12/2021 00:35

I had flu at uni so was stuck in bed, my boyfriend decided to make me dinner. He didn't really cook... he found a recipe that said to put grain mustard into mashed potatoes (to have with sausages & vegetables). No grain mustard, so he used... cinnamon. And on the peas, he was supposed to put mint, according to the suggestions in the cookbook. Nope, he used nutmeg.

Never have I been so glad to have lost my appetite.

MrsClatterbuck · 10/12/2021 00:40

Out for a really nice meal at a posh restaurant and at the end of the meal I ordered a calypso coffee. When tasting it I nearly spat it out. They had put salt in the cream instead of sugar. They did give me a proper one.

Pipplekins · 10/12/2021 00:45

Ran out of sugar and honey, so tried marmalade in my tea. Not good!

Houseofvelour · 10/12/2021 00:47

My nan made scones and was trying to be healthy so coated each one in jam and creme fraiche. Vile.

AgeingDoc · 10/12/2021 00:49

Not specific substitutions as such, but towards the end of his life my Dad lost his sense of taste so was in the habit of adding either huge amounts of herbs and spices to everything, or just using odd ingredients. He was always keen on experimenting in the kitchen anyway but in old age some of the meals he served up were frankly bizarre. There was a particularly memorable beef casserole to which for sone reason he added copious amounts of long life orange juice. Don't try this at home folks...

Original poster
BackInBits · 10/12/2021 00:55

@Houseofvelour sounds like it might've gone nicely with our sour cream trifle.

@AgeingDoc I can't quite work out how that juicy casserole might taste, but I feel like my life is richer for this lack of imagination.

OP posts:
Original poster
BackInBits · 10/12/2021 00:56

I'm sorry you lost your dad, though.

OP posts:
DownUdderer · 10/12/2021 01:02

Some of these are hilarious!

Smorgasborb · 10/12/2021 01:18

Lockdown WFH lunch was a Pasta n Sauce. No milk in the house so used Coffee Mate. It's was actually fine but the thought is pretty vile.

Sippingonginandjuice77 · 10/12/2021 01:53

I use mint when making spag Bol, however we ran out and I didn’t realise until it was already cooking. I therefore decided to put mint sauce in it! Hubby was not happy as the vinegar overpowered the whole meal 😃 😃😃

StaplesCorner · 10/12/2021 02:12

Eggs Benedict with white cabbage

repottingthescabious · 10/12/2021 02:20

@Pipplekins

Ran out of sugar and honey, so tried marmalade in my tea. Not good!
i did this .....but in the bolognese................
KurtWildesChristmasNamechange · 10/12/2021 02:20

My mum ran out of flour to make the roux for a carbonara sauce so used custard powder instead. Not the nicest pasta meal it has to be said!

Ex had no soy sauce for the egg fried rice he was making so used Worcestershire sauce instead. Boak.

MaHBroon · 10/12/2021 02:33

In Scotland any meal of the day is regularly substituted for ‘shite wie sugar on it’.

Not that I’ve tasted it yet as the person asking as I usually new to make myself scarce when that was the answer to my umpteenth question on what’s for tea.

heidbuttsupper · 10/12/2021 02:36

Anything that involves cottage cheese or Quark Envy

Gretaburley · 10/12/2021 02:38

@Lily019. It’s supposed to be a pinch of sugar.
Honey is definitely not the same.

Avarua · 10/12/2021 02:44

Basically anything gluten free...

KurtWildesChristmasNamechange · 10/12/2021 02:52

My mum also used to put liver in curry if she didn't have beef. Not nice.

pollywollydoodler · 10/12/2021 04:23

I made apple chutney this year and added 5-spice instead of mixed spice and measured it in tablespoons rather than teaspoons.
All my sandwiches taste like leftover Chinese

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