'Secret ingredient': was I wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MIL prides herself on her secret dishes/family recipes and does not share recipes with anyone not in the family--as in ME, who is only a "married-in." OK, whatever. It's not like there aren't 8,000 recipes out there freely available for any dish you could think up, so I don't get the secrecy.

She was at my house last weekend, and I served mashed potatoes. I use a little bit of cream cheese and a very little bit of Lawry's seasoned salt, in addition to the traditional salt/pepper/butter/cream. I also use mainly russet potatoes, but throw in a few Yukon Golds; the result is light and fluffy with a buttery taste and a touch more yellow color. They're good, but they're just mashed potatoes, and there are a million ways to make them that are tasty. So I don't think I make them perfect, or anything.

Anyway, everyone kept complimenting them, and MIL kept asking "what's your secret," which kind of got to me. The same woman who literally will not give me the recipe for her son's favorite Christmas cookies is now asking what my secret is? So I just smiled and shrugged and said, "You're probably just tasting extra butter."

Was I wrong?

If you have to ask, then you know that you're wrong. You're quite literally doing the same thing that you b about your MIL doing. Of course, you were wrong. So apologize to her, tell her how you made the potatoes, and do a lot of thinking about how you can be a better person. Then actually implement it so you are a better person.

What sanctimonious twaffle. It is wrong, in your eyes, to adhere to the "rules of the game" when dealing with MIL that the same MIL arbitrarily decreed, years ago? Get outta herewith that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MIL prides herself on her secret dishes/family recipes and does not share recipes with anyone not in the family--as in ME, who is only a "married-in." OK, whatever. It's not like there aren't 8,000 recipes out there freely available for any dish you could think up, so I don't get the secrecy.

She was at my house last weekend, and I served mashed potatoes. I use a little bit of cream cheese and a very little bit of Lawry's seasoned salt, in addition to the traditional salt/pepper/butter/cream. I also use mainly russet potatoes, but throw in a few Yukon Golds; the result is light and fluffy with a buttery taste and a touch more yellow color. They're good, but they're just mashed potatoes, and there are a million ways to make them that are tasty. So I don't think I make them perfect, or anything.

Anyway, everyone kept complimenting them, and MIL kept asking "what's your secret," which kind of got to me. The same woman who literally will not give me the recipe for her son's favorite Christmas cookies is now asking what my secret is? So I just smiled and shrugged and said, "You're probably just tasting extra butter."

Was I wrong?

If you have to ask, then you know that you're wrong. You're quite literally doing the same thing that you b about your MIL doing. Of course, you were wrong. So apologize to her, tell her how you made the potatoes, and do a lot of thinking about how you can be a better person. Then actually implement it so you are a better person.

What sanctimonious twaffle. It is wrong, in your eyes, to adhere to the "rules of the game" when dealing with MIL that the same MIL arbitrarily decreed, years ago? Get outta herewith that.

I feel sorry for you. You are almost universally unliked and you don't understand why. I hope at some point you figure it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MIL prides herself on her secret dishes/family recipes and does not share recipes with anyone not in the family--as in ME, who is only a "married-in." OK, whatever. It's not like there aren't 8,000 recipes out there freely available for any dish you could think up, so I don't get the secrecy.

She was at my house last weekend, and I served mashed potatoes. I use a little bit of cream cheese and a very little bit of Lawry's seasoned salt, in addition to the traditional salt/pepper/butter/cream. I also use mainly russet potatoes, but throw in a few Yukon Golds; the result is light and fluffy with a buttery taste and a touch more yellow color. They're good, but they're just mashed potatoes, and there are a million ways to make them that are tasty. So I don't think I make them perfect, or anything.

Anyway, everyone kept complimenting them, and MIL kept asking "what's your secret," which kind of got to me. The same woman who literally will not give me the recipe for her son's favorite Christmas cookies is now asking what my secret is? So I just smiled and shrugged and said, "You're probably just tasting extra butter."

Was I wrong?

If you have to ask, then you know that you're wrong. You're quite literally doing the same thing that you b about your MIL doing. Of course, you were wrong. So apologize to her, tell her how you made the potatoes, and do a lot of thinking about how you can be a better person. Then actually implement it so you are a better person.

What sanctimonious twaffle. It is wrong, in your eyes, to adhere to the "rules of the game" when dealing with MIL that the same MIL arbitrarily decreed, years ago? Get outta herewith that.

I feel sorry for you. You are almost universally unliked and you don't understand why. I hope at some point you figure it out.

Oh man thank you for this comment. Sometimes I want to explain to people how insane DCUM can get and this is the perfect comment to illustrate it.

[Anonymous]

Am I the only one thinking about Phoebe and her grandma's chocolate chip cookies from Neslay Tolouse?

[Anonymous]

You should have said “it’s a secret”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MIL prides herself on her secret dishes/family recipes and does not share recipes with anyone not in the family--as in ME, who is only a "married-in." OK, whatever. It's not like there aren't 8,000 recipes out there freely available for any dish you could think up, so I don't get the secrecy.

She was at my house last weekend, and I served mashed potatoes. I use a little bit of cream cheese and a very little bit of Lawry's seasoned salt, in addition to the traditional salt/pepper/butter/cream. I also use mainly russet potatoes, but throw in a few Yukon Golds; the result is light and fluffy with a buttery taste and a touch more yellow color. They're good, but they're just mashed potatoes, and there are a million ways to make them that are tasty. So I don't think I make them perfect, or anything.

Anyway, everyone kept complimenting them, and MIL kept asking "what's your secret," which kind of got to me. The same woman who literally will not give me the recipe for her son's favorite Christmas cookies is now asking what my secret is? So I just smiled and shrugged and said, "You're probably just tasting extra butter."

Was I wrong?

If you have to ask, then you know that you're wrong. You're quite literally doing the same thing that you b about your MIL doing. Of course, you were wrong. So apologize to her, tell her how you made the potatoes, and do a lot of thinking about how you can be a better person. Then actually implement it so you are a better person.

What sanctimonious twaffle. It is wrong, in your eyes, to adhere to the "rules of the game" when dealing with MIL that the same MIL arbitrarily decreed, years ago? Get outta herewith that.

I feel sorry for you. You are almost universally unliked and you don't understand why. I hope at some point you figure it out.

Look at MIL posting here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one thinking about Phoebe and her grandma's chocolate chip cookies from Neslay Tolouse?

OP’s MIL is a perfect Marie Barone.

[Anonymous]

I made mashed potatoes with all Yukon Golds for the first time the other day and they were delicious.

[Anonymous]

OP two things in your recipe contribute to making them great. One is let the dry completely. The other is mix a couple of a different kind in there. Like 1 in 6. DD is a fiend for mashed potatoes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MIL prides herself on her secret dishes/family recipes and does not share recipes with anyone not in the family--as in ME, who is only a "married-in." OK, whatever. It's not like there aren't 8,000 recipes out there freely available for any dish you could think up, so I don't get the secrecy.

She was at my house last weekend, and I served mashed potatoes. I use a little bit of cream cheese and a very little bit of Lawry's seasoned salt, in addition to the traditional salt/pepper/butter/cream. I also use mainly russet potatoes, but throw in a few Yukon Golds; the result is light and fluffy with a buttery taste and a touch more yellow color. They're good, but they're just mashed potatoes, and there are a million ways to make them that are tasty. So I don't think I make them perfect, or anything.

Anyway, everyone kept complimenting them, and MIL kept asking "what's your secret," which kind of got to me. The same woman who literally will not give me the recipe for her son's favorite Christmas cookies is now asking what my secret is? So I just smiled and shrugged and said, "You're probably just tasting extra butter."

Was I wrong?

If you have to ask, then you know that you're wrong. You're quite literally doing the same thing that you b about your MIL doing. Of course, you were wrong. So apologize to her, tell her how you made the potatoes, and do a lot of thinking about how you can be a better person. Then actually implement it so you are a better person.

What sanctimonious twaffle. It is wrong, in your eyes, to adhere to the "rules of the game" when dealing with MIL that the same MIL arbitrarily decreed, years ago? Get outta herewith that.

I feel sorry for you. You are almost universally unliked and you don't understand why. I hope at some point you figure it out.

I like PP. I think we all do. You, on the other hand…..

Agree that the mixing of potato varieties adds a lot. I do the same with apple pie. Mostly Granny Smiths with a couple Golden delicious (and no cinnamon ever, which I understand is controversial).

[Anonymous]

I think the secret recipe thing stems from a time before the internet when it was much harder to find recipes, get info. My mother is a little bit like this but woukd definitely share with daughters in law or anyone that asks.

OP’s MIL sounds like a real pill and it’s pretty unbelievable she would ask when she won’t share, but I think I woukd have taken the high road and shared how to make them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I come from a long line of women who had secret recipes they would share with no one.

Sometimes, when we gather as a family, we'll sit around and say, "gosh, I sure we we had Great-Aunt Madison's recipe for buffalo chicken chimichangas." Then we stab our forks into our sad stouffers family-size lasagna and think mean thoughts about selfish ole maddie. So, be comforted that this may be the legacy your MIL will leave behind.

Why don't you Google "buffalo chicken chimichangas," try the recipe as-is, then tweak it to approximate what you were looking for?

This is what I don't get about "secret recipes." Like, let's say you want to make red velvet cake. Aunt Bertha may have a "secret" recipe--and it might be a really good one!--but if she's not sharing, you can still find hundreds of recipes and tweak them as needed.

I always laugh in the face of the "secret keepers." Half the time, I only asked for your recipe to be polite. And it's no skin off my back if you don't give me your seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeecretttt recipe for chicken and dumplings or whatever. Honey, you're not the only game in town.

oh believe me, we've tried! but it's impossible. and now it's been so many years since we've eaten the real dish--the taste is lost forever. If I ever found it, it would be like that scene in ratatouille where the snooty food critic tastes his childhood in the ratatouille that the rat chef cooks.

DP +1 My childhood babysitter used to make an amazing caramel cake with no recipe. I'm in my 50s and have been trying for at least 20 years with no luck. I've got the frosting mostly right but the cake isn't there yet <sigh>.

I’m going to need your recipe please (I’m fine if it doesn’t match your childhood cake!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one thinking about Phoebe and her grandma's chocolate chip cookies from Neslay Tolouse?

It’s things like this which is why you’re DOWN IN HELL!!!

[Anonymous]

I still long for my Sicilian grandmother's meatballs. She never revealed her secret ingredients.

[Anonymous]

I think you are all being silly. You think she's ridiculous and respond in kind? I wouldn't want her to bring me down that way.