coming on to complain about how in-laws don't like any "undercooked" meat

[Anonymous]

I guess I’m these people. I went to my husband’s aunt’s one Christmas and she made some kind of roast that everyone oohed and aahed about how it “melted in their mouth” and I found the texture nauseating. I didn’t complain though — just didn’t eat it.

[Anonymous]

This reminds me of the time we made some beautiful grilled tuna steaks (seared on outside, rare inside) and my in laws made us cook their portions well done all the way through. Might as well have been canned tuna at that point. They clearly thought we were nuts for eating it rare.

[Anonymous]

Can't you cut it in half and cook one to your liking and one to theirs? Maybe buy a cheaper cut of meat for them so it won't cost as much?

[Anonymous]

Why don’t you serve something else? Do you only have one Christmas dinner in your repertoire? Time to branch out.

My ILs undercook POULTRY and I don’t stop them from doing what they want, but my kids and I will not be eating turkey or stuffing. We eat side dishes and we bring a small ham to Thanksgiving if MIL is in charge of turkey/stuffing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This forum is so full of ageism!

Why is your taste more legitimate than theirs?

Because I am paying, hosting and cooking. When they host they can (and do) over cook as they see fit. It's not ageism. My parents are just as old and know how to properly serve beef.

I'm a "cook it rare and then recook a slice for the in-laws" poster but this is a very backwards attitude to the concept of having guests. You know your guests' preferences, and intentionally cooking something they will not like and then berating them for not liking it is not hosting, it's bullying. Cook something you can all agree on, cook their serving differently, or stop inviting them.

+1. Proper hospitality to guests has been a cornerstone of civilization since the beginning, but it's apparently too much to ask for a bit DCUM UMC Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This forum is so full of ageism!

Why is your taste more legitimate than theirs?

Because I am paying, hosting and cooking. When they host they can (and do) over cook as they see fit. It's not ageism. My parents are just as old and know how to properly serve beef.

Why has this happened more than once? Because you are so set in your ways, and so lacking in creativity, that you only have one holiday meal that you can serve? If I made beef tenderloin or Beef Wellington, and this scenario happened, fine; no more beef for those guests. I’d turn to one of my dozens of other special-occasion recipes. No need to grouse with resentment and feel superior to people for having different preferences. I tailor the menu to the guests. That is what talented home cooks do.

[Anonymous]

This is how I grew up. Just microwave their plates and serve with ketchup.

Or just do turkey. I would suggest ham but my parent's don't eat pork. I suspect your in-laws are the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess I’m these people. I went to my husband’s aunt’s one Christmas and she made some kind of roast that everyone oohed and aahed about how it “melted in their mouth” and I found the texture nauseating. I didn’t complain though — just didn’t eat it.

+1

I find bloody (or even bloody looking) meat absolutely revolting and it has nothing to do with fear of illness. It’s just a visceral reaction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This forum is so full of ageism!

Why is your taste more legitimate than theirs?

Because I am paying, hosting and cooking. When they host they can (and do) over cook as they see fit. It's not ageism. My parents are just as old and know how to properly serve beef.

Why has this happened more than once? Because you are so set in your ways, and so lacking in creativity, that you only have one holiday meal that you can serve? If I made beef tenderloin or Beef Wellington, and this scenario happened, fine; no more beef for those guests. I’d turn to one of my dozens of other special-occasion recipes. No need to grouse with resentment and feel superior to people for having different preferences. I tailor the menu to the guests. That is what talented home cooks do.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just put their portion in the oven before the rest. This is not that hard. Restaurants do it every service.

This was my thought.

My in laws like their meat on the well done side of medium well. It really isn’t a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hosting the in-laws again over Christmas and the memories came flooding back... a standing rib roast cooked perfectly to medium... but they absolutely refuse to eat any meat that's the slightest pink so DH urges me to keep cooking it until it's all gray... but I just couldn't do it, and when it was sliced, the predictable complaints began.
I guess I should just give in and keep cooking the life out of it this year.

Just microwave their portions after carving and serve them their hockey pucks. Don’t commit crimes against the cow that gave its life for your meal.

THIS.

[Anonymous]

Don't forget to overcook the accompanying green vehetables until they are mushy...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This forum is so full of ageism!

Why is your taste more legitimate than theirs?

Because I am paying, hosting and cooking. When they host they can (and do) over cook as they see fit. It's not ageism. My parents are just as old and know how to properly serve beef.

I'm a "cook it rare and then recook a slice for the in-laws" poster but this is a very backwards attitude to the concept of having guests. You know your guests' preferences, and intentionally cooking something they will not like and then berating them for not liking it is not hosting, it's bullying. Cook something you can all agree on, cook their serving differently, or stop inviting them.

DP but you have to host in-laws whether you want to or not. They aren’t really guests. If I’m in a situation where I know I won’t like the food, I just eat beforehand and eat a small portion at the event. OP you could get a small ham so they have another option.

My in-laws are like this too. We nuke their food. They are obsessed with “piping hot” and always want to hurry and eat while it’s hot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh and funny, my FIL always orders his steak medium... but if its pink he sends it back. He likes to think of himself as a foodie but really is not, so bizarre.

My brother once said he wanted his meat "medium-well," and I clarified (thank goodness) "So just a little pink?" He said, "No, no pink."

I wonder what he thinks "well done" means.