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Original poster

Is it pretentious and showy-offy to serve homemade biscuits/cakes when you have people over for coffee?

67 replies

theFlyingEvil · 15/10/2007 12:05

no? yes?

i always do it (and am not delia/nigella/etc) but don't know anyone else who does and people always seem to think it is amazing (which it isn't )

???

OP posts:
MamaG · 15/10/2007 12:06

Yes
but I do it anyway

Greensleeves · 15/10/2007 12:07

Is it? Fuck me

it's cheaper to make your own.

Alethiometer · 15/10/2007 12:08

Not pretentious at all.

MamaG · 15/10/2007 12:08

It's only pretentious if you preen slightly as you serve them

Alethiometer · 15/10/2007 12:09

Or if your doilies match your apron

CristinaTheAstonishing · 15/10/2007 12:09

No. I make scones with DD as she loves baking and I can get away with less-than-perfect saying it was her.

BettyBatShapedSpaghetti · 15/10/2007 12:10

I serve homemade cakes/cookies if I have the time, but I find it kills two birds with one stone anyway as it gives me an activity to do with DS as he loves baking.

If you promise him a chance to make some muffins later in the day he'll be a little angel in anticipation

DaisyWhoooo · 15/10/2007 12:11

Or if you put them on a cake stand and give guests a pastry fork to eat them with (and yes, I do know someone who does that!)

It's pretty standard round here. I've never known anyone serve anything other than home made or locally-made, hand-made organic-type stuff.

GrumpyOldHearsewoman · 15/10/2007 12:12

No, it's not pretentious.

It's rather nice, actually. (So long as you don't do it whilst wearing a prom dress and a frilly apron a la Anthea)

OrmIrian · 15/10/2007 12:12

I don't serve biscuits . Just coffee but it's very nice coffee ....

primigravida · 15/10/2007 12:12

I don't think so. My biscuits/cakes are always ugly (but tasty) so maybe it would be more of an issue if they actually came out looking pretty. I wouldn't stop serving home-made stuff if I were you, just let people know how easy it is by sharing recipes if they're interested.

Original poster
theFlyingEvil · 15/10/2007 12:12

oh good. we're not talking fondant fancies or macaroons or anything, just bog standard choc chip cookies or sponge or something (and not both either. i am not enid blyton).

just i have had quite a few people over lately (am not stepford wife either) and wondered if they might think i am wafting my culinary skills in a pointed sort of way?
(which i'm not, even though today's batch of cookies were particularly munchylicious).

am pretty sure i don't preen. not even today

OP posts:
fluffyanimal · 15/10/2007 12:13

Only if you boast "I made these especially" when serving them.

Original poster
theFlyingEvil · 15/10/2007 12:16

aaahhhh it is the prom dress and the doilies that are the problem! and there was i thinking it was the hostess trolley

(i am so joking by the way, there are no doilies in my house.)

thanks for the tip primigravida, but i find if i do that then my guests look even more shocked as i (gasp) have TIME to READ a recipe book, never mind follow the pretty straight forward instructions!

OP posts:
TellusMater · 15/10/2007 12:17

Only if you refer to them as 'homemade', or worse, 'made from scratch' .

Otherwise fine and dandy.

littleNonSpecificHolidaylapin · 15/10/2007 12:17

I always do it - well, nearly always and I end up apologising if I haven't!

mrsmarvel · 15/10/2007 12:17

If you're a good cook, only do it for those who you really want to keep coming back.

But remembering my coffee morning days, I would far rather have had croissant or pastries, or even toast! I hated chocolatey sweet things in the morning so soon after brushing my teeth.

TellusMater · 15/10/2007 12:18

Now that is show-offy LL

margoandjerry · 15/10/2007 12:23

I think it's nice.

I tried to be pretentious and show-offy at the weekend because I wanted doilies for the plates at my daughter's birthday party. Went to John Lewis - surely the proper home for all baking and homeware related items - and they don't stock them any more because they've given over too much space to naff tatt such as Alessi dog bowls - surely this is the epitome of expensive tatt

Original poster
theFlyingEvil · 15/10/2007 12:24

i don't even mention them! they are just piled on a very normal and unfancy plate and offered round! then somebody says "did you make these?" and i mutter yes and try and change the subject quick.

may be i am actually a really crap cook?

i don't think i am though [unmodest emoticon ]

so what sort of things are best to serve when i have people round then if choccy is out?

OP posts:
Hassled · 15/10/2007 12:25

My SS always serves "homemade" cakes etc - but let slip once that while they were homemade, they were actually made by someone else .

littleNonSpecificHolidaylapin · 15/10/2007 12:27

TM - most of my friends do it, we all "bake" (to be American about it ).

In fact, I am going to make a chocolate Guinness cake this afternoon!

OrmIrian · 15/10/2007 12:28

My youngest DC's made some biscuits at the weekend. I think I could have served them quite happily without being labelled as pretentious. By the time they'd rolled and re-rolled the dough 10 times adding more flour each time, and then 'decorated' them all with half a pound of vivid icing and sugar decorations, I suspect they could have been entered for the Turner prize....and not in a good way

princessmelBABY · 15/10/2007 12:28

No its nice

Original poster
theFlyingEvil · 15/10/2007 12:29

lol at margoandjerrys dog bowl!

maybe i should serve baked goods in one of those, then the guests would be so distracted they would comment on the bowl instead!

don't get me wrong, i don't mind that they comment (very small preen), it's just the fact that they then think i am some sort of baking demon who can quote recipes verbatim!

OP posts: