TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Neighbor is horrible cook and keeps trying to feed me

FNW · Guru

Just smile and say thank you. Is that so hard? Must we always think of ourselves all the time?

My parents' next door neighbor brings casseroles to them once in awhile. They appreciate the gesture, but will usually throw them out as they are made with goat meat. They have to wrap everything up in bags before putting it in the trash and cannot flush it down the garbage disposal because of the smell. But they accept the dish with a smile and appreciation.

Why is it so hard for people these days to adopt some social grace.

TrudyML · Guru

I feed my elderly neighbor. She is so grateful. Gave me a gift card to my supermarket for Christmas.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

FNW wrote:
Just smile and say thank you. Is that so hard? Must we always think of ourselves all the time?

My parents' next door neighbor brings casseroles to them once in awhile. They appreciate the gesture, but will usually throw them out as they are made with goat meat. They have to wrap everything up in bags before putting it in the trash and cannot flush it down the garbage disposal because of the smell. But they accept the dish with a smile and appreciation.

Why is it so hard for people these days to adopt some social grace.

1. Waste of food.

2. They're lying.

flan

FNW · Guru

So what? It's a white lie. It's called saving someone's feelings.

As far as wasting food, give it to your pet or leave it out for the wildlife.

TrudyML · Guru

I'd throw the goat meat out, too. I also have a thing about cleanliness. If I don't know how clean your kitchen is? Forget it. I had one woman always handing me baked goods. She had 4 cats. Cat hair all over them. Bleck.

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
FNW wrote:
Just smile and say thank you. Is that so hard? Must we always think of ourselves all the time?

My parents' next door neighbor brings casseroles to them once in awhile. They appreciate the gesture, but will usually throw them out as they are made with goat meat. They have to wrap everything up in bags before putting it in the trash and cannot flush it down the garbage disposal because of the smell. But they accept the dish with a smile and appreciation.

Why is it so hard for people these days to adopt some social grace.
1. Waste of food.
2. They're lying.
flan

So what? It makes them happy. brutal honesty is not always the best policy, especially in social interactions such as these where it really isn't needed.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Well, it's a catch-22. If she keeps lying about the food being good, the neighbor will keep bringing more. I think a more inventive lie is in order - such as I've developed an allergy to something, doc and I are trying to figure it out and he has me on a special diet until we do.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

And what happens when the neighbor invites them for dinner & serves goat?

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
And what happens when the neighbor invites them for dinner & serves goat?

flan

I would think they would decline any invitation to dinner.

FNW · Guru

TrudyML wrote:
I'd throw the goat meat out, too. I also have a thing about cleanliness. If I don't know how clean your kitchen is? Forget it. I had one woman always handing me baked goods. She had 4 cats. Cat hair all over them. Bleck.

Me, too. The neighbors brought cookies over the holidays. They have a dog in the house. Nope.

TrudyML · Guru

FNW wrote:
TrudyML wrote:
I'd throw the goat meat out, too. I also have a thing about cleanliness. If I don't know how clean your kitchen is? Forget it. I had one woman always handing me baked goods. She had 4 cats. Cat hair all over them. Bleck.
Me, too. The neighbors brought cookies over the holidays. They have a dog in the house. Nope.

Totally agree.

FNW · Guru

I avoid potlucks.

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

Oh good gosh, the neighbor is demonstrating social kindness and generosity. It's called being "neighborly". Say thank you, smile, dump the goat meat and return the favor some day.

I do like the "tender tummy" explanation. Saves face for the neighbor.

Or be a rude and an ungrateful neighbor that everyone hates to have next door.

I also see nothing wrong with food cooked in a home with a cat/dog. Good gosh, your kid could sneeze and add more germs to the food then the animals would.

TrudyML · Guru

Czech, when I mean covered. I mean covered. Like she cut them up in the cats bed!

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

I actually had this problem with my Pakistani neighbor. She would bring food to me frequently. The majority of it I could truly not eat. It was just disgusting to my palate. I just told her I couldn't eat spicy food & she stopped bringing it except an occasional dessert. It is an uncomfortable position to be in. I did appreciate the gesture but felt sort of bad for throwing away food that her kids could have eaten.

FNW · Guru

TrudyML wrote:
Czech, when I mean covered. I mean covered. Like she cut them up in the cats bed!

I saw one stuck under the tape that sealed the box. That was enough for me.

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

TrudyML wrote:
Czech, when I mean covered. I mean covered. Like she cut them up in the cats bed!

That makes me wonder about the condition of her home.

We have pets and there is never a stray hair in anything I cook, ever.

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

FNW wrote:
TrudyML wrote:
Czech, when I mean covered. I mean covered. Like she cut them up in the cats bed!
I saw one stuck under the tape that sealed the box. That was enough for me.

I guess that would not have phased me. Anyone can pick up a hair walking down the street, riding in a cab, or simply while shopping.

I'm much more bothered by finding a hair in/on food at a restaurant.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

just Czech wrote:
TrudyML wrote:
Czech, when I mean covered. I mean covered. Like she cut them up in the cats bed!
That makes me wonder about the condition of her home.
We have pets and there is never a stray hair in anything I cook, ever.

This is what I was thinking. I grew up with plenty of cats & dogs in the house. I currently have 3 cats. There is no cat fur in my food.

TrudyML · Guru

It happened more than once.

Ugh, the time I had a big black hair while eating out? Gag.

Dona Worry Be Happy · Vette's SS!!

FNW wrote:
TrudyML wrote:
I'd throw the goat meat out, too. I also have a thing about cleanliness. If I don't know how clean your kitchen is? Forget it. I had one woman always handing me baked goods. She had 4 cats. Cat hair all over them. Bleck.
Me, too. The neighbors brought cookies over the holidays. They have a dog in the house. Nope.

Seriously? Having ONE dog in the house in enough for you to just reject a gift of cookies out of hand? Are you actually serious?

FNW · Guru

Yes, hair in my food makes me lose my appetite.

Dona Worry Be Happy · Vette's SS!!

FNW wrote:
Yes, hair in my food makes me lose my appetite.

Did you even look at them first, or just throw them out?

FNW · Guru

I looked at them. There were a few sugar cookies, and a few chocolate chip. They looked fine, but I couldn't get past the hair. Restaurant or home, hair in food is unsanitary. I'm funny that way.

chef · Guru

I've never had goat. Would be willing to try it.

If someone is a truly horrible cook, I will ask leading questions in hopes of figuring out if it's just a lack of knowledge (perhaps not knowing how to season food) or if it's lack of skill (which can be fixed, if they're willing to learn). I would try whatever it is they brought and if I don't like it, toss it or offer it to my parents. My parents tend to like everything and have liked many of my failed cooking experiments. My dad actually praised a dish I made (that I thought was foul) and told me I was crazy for not liking it.

I love potlucks. If something tastes off, I don't eat it. I only have one food allergy (uncooked milk fat) but since potlucks generally don't include glasses of milk or bowls of cereal, I'm good.

When I worked on the toll road, my regulars would bring me a plate of food from their Thanksgiving/Christmas meal. I always worked the holidays because I wanted the extra money and my family doesn't care when we celebrate. I often had enough food brought to last me a week. I never asked for any of it, of course, nor gave any indication I wouldn't be having a holiday meal of my own. It was all delish so I will admit to looking forward to the meals. I loved trying all the different dishes.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

I like potlucks too. I haven't been to one in ages though.

chef · Guru

Hair on food doesn't much bother me. I'll pick it off and go on with my meal. Hair IN food - as in embedded in the food - will make me lose my appetite.

DS "seasons" my food with sneezes every so often. I eat it anyway. I know where he's been :P

When I cook for others, I'm far more sanitary than when I cook for DH, me, and DS. For just us, I'll do stuff like taste testing right off the cooking utensil. For others, I will use a clean spoon for each taste test. If I'm sick or suspect I'm getting sick, I will not cook for others. DS likes helping me cook so I make sure his hands are clean if the dish is for others and I make certain that he doesn't sneeze in the food or stick his hand in it. If I'm cooking for someone with an allergy, I make absolute certain that anything for them is kept separate from everything else. No one has ever gotten sick from my food nor found any foreign objects in it.

chef · Guru

Lexxy wrote:
I like potlucks too. I haven't been to one in ages though.

Only "bad" experience I've had at a potluck was trying parisa. I didn't know what it was and the texture was familiar but I couldn't place it so I Googled it. Raw ground beef "cooked" like sushi is "cooked". It didn't make me sick but the ick factor was still there.

TrudyML · Guru

This restaurant meal. Beef wellington. Boom! Long black hair. Gag.

chef · Guru

TrudyML wrote:
This restaurant meal. Beef wellington. Boom! Long black hair. Gag.

Yea, a hair in that would gag me too.

I would love to try Gordon Ramsay's beef wellington.

My current #1 gross restaurant experience: There was a LIVE bug IN the mac and cheese. It waved its antenna at me. I about vomited. Meal got refunded. It will be a long, LONG time before I return to that restaurant, if I ever do.

TrudyML · Guru

I would never go back. Ugh, how about the butt end in a salad my brother had ordered one night.

NAOW · Vette's SS

I have found my own hair in the food I cook. Mainly when I was pregnant. I don't know how it escaped, I would put it in a pony tail, braid it- I was close to buying hair nets.

cadiver · Senior Member

just Czech wrote:
FNW wrote:
TrudyML wrote:
Czech, when I mean covered. I mean covered. Like she cut them up in the cats bed!
I saw one stuck under the tape that sealed the box. That was enough for me.
I guess that would not have phased me. Anyone can pick up a hair walking down the street, riding in a cab, or simply while shopping.
I'm much more bothered by finding a hair in/on food at a restaurant.

Reminded me of a cooking show that lasted a season. the student brought up his dish and the chef found a hair so set the dish aside. The student had a clean shaven head.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

NAOW wrote:
I have found my own hair in the food I cook. Mainly when I was pregnant. I don't know how it escaped, I would put it in a pony tail, braid it- I was close to buying hair nets.

I go through phases where I shed like crazy. I don't know if it is season changes or what. The worst was when I baked a hair into a pan of lasagna. It was my own hair & still I almost gagged. My hair is about as long as yours & I just kept pulling & pulling a 2' length of hair out.

weltschmerz · Guru

chef wrote:
I've never had goat. Would be willing to try it.

If someone is a truly horrible cook, I will ask leading questions in hopes of figuring out if it's just a lack of knowledge (perhaps not knowing how to season food) or if it's lack of skill (which can be fixed, if they're willing to learn). I would try whatever it is they brought and if I don't like it, toss it or offer it to my parents. My parents tend to like everything and have liked many of my failed cooking experiments. My dad actually praised a dish I made (that I thought was foul) and told me I was crazy for not liking it.

I love potlucks. If something tastes off, I don't eat it. I only have one food allergy (uncooked milk fat) but since potlucks generally don't include glasses of milk or bowls of cereal, I'm good.

When I worked on the toll road, my regulars would bring me a plate of food from their Thanksgiving/Christmas meal. I always worked the holidays because I wanted the extra money and my family doesn't care when we celebrate. I often had enough food brought to last me a week. I never asked for any of it, of course, nor gave any indication I wouldn't be having a holiday meal of my own. It was all delish so I will admit to looking forward to the meals. I loved trying all the different dishes.

Goat is delicious. I ate a lot of it in the Caribbean.

weltschmerz · Guru

just Czech wrote:
Oh good gosh, the neighbor is demonstrating social kindness and generosity. It's called being "neighborly". Say thank you, smile, dump the goat meat and return the favor some day.

I do like the "tender tummy" explanation. Saves face for the neighbor.

Or be a rude and an ungrateful neighbor that everyone hates to have next door.

I also see nothing wrong with food cooked in a home with a cat/dog. Good gosh, your kid could sneeze and add more germs to the food then the animals would.

Same here. I'd rather eat food cooked in a home with pets than food your germy toddler "helped" you prepare.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:
FNW wrote:
TrudyML wrote:
I'd throw the goat meat out, too. I also have a thing about cleanliness. If I don't know how clean your kitchen is? Forget it. I had one woman always handing me baked goods. She had 4 cats. Cat hair all over them. Bleck.
Me, too. The neighbors brought cookies over the holidays. They have a dog in the house. Nope.
Seriously? Having ONE dog in the house in enough for you to just reject a gift of cookies out of hand? Are you actually serious?

I agree. I have a dog and 2 cats in the house, and I have never found pet hair in any of my food.

Honeys_Mom · Mod & Permanent Board Sweetheart

Lawyerlady wrote:
Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:
FNW wrote:
TrudyML wrote:
I'd throw the goat meat out, too. I also have a thing about cleanliness. If I don't know how clean your kitchen is? Forget it. I had one woman always handing me baked goods. She had 4 cats. Cat hair all over them. Bleck.
Me, too. The neighbors brought cookies over the holidays. They have a dog in the house. Nope.
Seriously? Having ONE dog in the house in enough for you to just reject a gift of cookies out of hand? Are you actually serious?
I agree. I have a dog and 2 cats in the house, and I have never found pet hair in any of my food.

Besides, it's good fiber, LOL... biggrin

FNW · Guru

I never let my germy toddlers help prepare meals. Heck, even now the most they have done was crack an egg, set the table, or get something out of the refrigerator/cabinet for me. They're more interested in the finished product than how it's made.

My SIL has four cats that jump on the counter. *gag*

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I've had goat. It's good when prepared properly. And it has to be cleaned well before cooking.

It's almost deer like in taste.

As for the neighbors, lying isn't necessary. A simple "sorry, but we can't accept this" will work.

If asked why or the neighbor insists, you either take it and throw it out or say it isn't something you like. "I'm sorry, it would go to waste here".

weltschmerz · Guru

When my neighbour up north would give me moose meat, I'd accept it graciously, then feed it to the raccoons. they loved it.

Bonny22Pye · Guru

This is where a white lie comes in.

Hi Neighbor - Thanks so much for all the treats you've provided, but I can't accept them anymore. I'm making a change to my diet.

Neighbor will probably say - "what kind of changes? or why? Proper response - Oh, I'd rather not discuss that. But thanks again!

Done and Done.

FNW · Guru

weltschmerz wrote:
When my neighbour up north would give me moose meat, I'd accept it graciously, then feed it to the raccoons. they loved it.

Yep! My parents have done that with the casseroles. They set it out by the stream and the wildlife lap it up.

weltschmerz · Guru

FNW wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
When my neighbour up north would give me moose meat, I'd accept it graciously, then feed it to the raccoons. they loved it.
Yep! My parents have done that with the casseroles. They set it out by the stream and the wildlife lap it up.

Yes. Someone is always hungry and someone will always eat it. I never throw food out.

I grew up with horror stories of famine. You don't waste food.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lexxy wrote:
I actually had this problem with my Pakistani neighbor. She would bring food to me frequently. The majority of it I could truly not eat. It was just disgusting to my palate. I just told her I couldn't eat spicy food & she stopped bringing it except an occasional dessert. It is an uncomfortable position to be in. I did appreciate the gesture but felt sort of bad for throwing away food that her kids could have eaten.

Exactly. Plus, it's a waste of money.

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

weltschmerz wrote:
FNW wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
When my neighbour up north would give me moose meat, I'd accept it graciously, then feed it to the raccoons. they loved it.
Yep! My parents have done that with the casseroles. They set it out by the stream and the wildlife lap it up.
Yes. Someone is always hungry and someone will always eat it. I never throw food out.
I grew up with horror stories of famine. You don't waste food.

The "starving kids in (insert third world country)" line.

Me too.

I refused to do that with my kids.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Except we've not talking about your kids here.

flan

weltschmerz · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
FNW wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
When my neighbour up north would give me moose meat, I'd accept it graciously, then feed it to the raccoons. they loved it.
Yep! My parents have done that with the casseroles. They set it out by the stream and the wildlife lap it up.
Yes. Someone is always hungry and someone will always eat it. I never throw food out.
I grew up with horror stories of famine. You don't waste food.
The "starving kids in (insert third world country)" line.
Me too.
I refused to do that with my kids.

Not exactly. My parents went through the Holodomor. A lot of my family members DID starve to death.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

I just can't get over the waste of food.

Act like an adult, FFS.

flan