Pasta for dinner

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For real though. Those of y’all who have a problem with what OP served, what would you have offered at an impromptu, post-playdate lunch? If it were me I’d probably have pulled out sandwich fixings (and sure, I always have fruit around so I’d probably offer that too). Maybe a bag of chips. I certainly wouldn’t be whipping up an elaborate meal, and I’d rather have homemade pasta alla vodka than a boring sandwich!

Do people really just not ever host if they haven’t pre planned a full course meal with optimal balance of lean protein, whole grains, fruits and fresh veg? That’s sad to me. I love that my friends are easy and casual and would happily come over for a DIY sandwich if a playdate ran into lunchtime and we wanted to keep the fun going.

OP never said any of it was from scratch. More likely than not it was jarred. Otherwise what would she have done? Tasked the friend with watching the kids while she cooked alone? That would be weird too. If I can’t pull together sandwiches, and a salad, we always have cheese, crackers, hummus, vegetables, meats, pita and fresh fruit on hand so it would be like a charcuterie board spread. If they were still hungry I have a freezer full of food to offer.

I don't think this is objectively superior to a bowl of pasta.

It is objectively better, but not subjectively, of course.

No, it is not better in either sense.

Find the fault. OP basically offered bread & butter. Point out exactly why this is inferior.

My guess is that PP thinks it's inferior because it's a snack instead of a meal? But I agree with you that it would be better. But I would phrased it as "Want to come over to our place for a playdate / snacks?" Not lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP, and I think sandwiches would be equally fine, probably with the same sides (e.g. cucumbers and cutie oranges)

Or grilled cheese, or quick quesadillas, or chick fil a dupe nuggets or veggies and hummus, or frozen pizza.

Okay, so I'm judging your nuggets and frozen pizza a lot harder than a bowl of pasta. This just goes to show that what people think is "better" is completely subjective.

OP, please finagle an impromptu lunch invite to your guest's house next time, and see what she serves you. Feel free to raise your eyebrows expressively and give her a long, appraising look before you silently tuck into whatever the F she dishes out.

But why judge that's so rude! See how easy it is? But if you prefer your friends to blow smoke up your not knowing how to cook ass, then that is a personal choice.

It's not rude to judge, only to make apparent that the judging is happening.

Look, if every meal must optimize your protein/fat/carb ratios, then you cannnot accept random invitations to dine. You must decline graciously and go home to feed yourself. If you accept an invitation to dine, you must steel yourself to the fact that the offering is completely out of your control and to be a gracious guest you must eat what is placed before you without comment (unless complimentary), unless you have clearly told the host of your vegetarianism/nut allergy/other well-known, not made up dietary restriction. Christ, I've known this since I was 7, when I choked down tuna casserole at my friend's house even though I really wasn't fond of it. The fact that adults today cannot handle this and would rather let their preferences be rudely known shows a real drop in social etiquette. I think it comes from the rise of people eating out so much, where they get to choose exactly what they want. People are not used to eating at other people's houses anymore and it shows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For real though. Those of y’all who have a problem with what OP served, what would you have offered at an impromptu, post-playdate lunch? If it were me I’d probably have pulled out sandwich fixings (and sure, I always have fruit around so I’d probably offer that too). Maybe a bag of chips. I certainly wouldn’t be whipping up an elaborate meal, and I’d rather have homemade pasta alla vodka than a boring sandwich!

Do people really just not ever host if they haven’t pre planned a full course meal with optimal balance of lean protein, whole grains, fruits and fresh veg? That’s sad to me. I love that my friends are easy and casual and would happily come over for a DIY sandwich if a playdate ran into lunchtime and we wanted to keep the fun going.

OP never said any of it was from scratch. More likely than not it was jarred. Otherwise what would she have done? Tasked the friend with watching the kids while she cooked alone? That would be weird too. If I can’t pull together sandwiches, and a salad, we always have cheese, crackers, hummus, vegetables, meats, pita and fresh fruit on hand so it would be like a charcuterie board spread. If they were still hungry I have a freezer full of food to offer.

I don't think this is objectively superior to a bowl of pasta.

It is objectively better, but not subjectively, of course.

No, it is not better in either sense.

Find the fault. OP basically offered bread & butter. Point out exactly why this is inferior.

My guess is that PP thinks it's inferior because it's a snack instead of a meal? But I agree with you that it would be better. But I would phrased it as "Want to come over to our place for a playdate / snacks?" Not lunch.

Describe how that would be different than "lunch" what makes lunch, lunch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP, and I think sandwiches would be equally fine, probably with the same sides (e.g. cucumbers and cutie oranges)

Or grilled cheese, or quick quesadillas, or chick fil a dupe nuggets or veggies and hummus, or frozen pizza.

Okay, so I'm judging your nuggets and frozen pizza a lot harder than a bowl of pasta. This just goes to show that what people think is "better" is completely subjective.

OP, please finagle an impromptu lunch invite to your guest's house next time, and see what she serves you. Feel free to raise your eyebrows expressively and give her a long, appraising look before you silently tuck into whatever the F she dishes out.

But why judge that's so rude! See how easy it is? But if you prefer your friends to blow smoke up your not knowing how to cook ass, then that is a personal choice.

It's not rude to judge, only to make apparent that the judging is happening.

Look, if every meal must optimize your protein/fat/carb ratios, then you cannnot accept random invitations to dine. You must decline graciously and go home to feed yourself. If you accept an invitation to dine, you must steel yourself to the fact that the offering is completely out of your control and to be a gracious guest you must eat what is placed before you without comment (unless complimentary), unless you have clearly told the host of your vegetarianism/nut allergy/other well-known, not made up dietary restriction. Christ, I've known this since I was 7, when I choked down tuna casserole at my friend's house even though I really wasn't fond of it. The fact that adults today cannot handle this and would rather let their preferences be rudely known shows a real drop in social etiquette. I think it comes from the rise of people eating out so much, where they get to choose exactly what they want. People are not used to eating at other people's houses anymore and it shows.

People are also clearly not used to cooking for others. Normally you ask what people like and try to accommodate. Do your kids like pasta? Would have been a good starting point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For real though. Those of y’all who have a problem with what OP served, what would you have offered at an impromptu, post-playdate lunch? If it were me I’d probably have pulled out sandwich fixings (and sure, I always have fruit around so I’d probably offer that too). Maybe a bag of chips. I certainly wouldn’t be whipping up an elaborate meal, and I’d rather have homemade pasta alla vodka than a boring sandwich!

Do people really just not ever host if they haven’t pre planned a full course meal with optimal balance of lean protein, whole grains, fruits and fresh veg? That’s sad to me. I love that my friends are easy and casual and would happily come over for a DIY sandwich if a playdate ran into lunchtime and we wanted to keep the fun going.

OP never said any of it was from scratch. More likely than not it was jarred. Otherwise what would she have done? Tasked the friend with watching the kids while she cooked alone? That would be weird too. If I can’t pull together sandwiches, and a salad, we always have cheese, crackers, hummus, vegetables, meats, pita and fresh fruit on hand so it would be like a charcuterie board spread. If they were still hungry I have a freezer full of food to offer.

I don't think this is objectively superior to a bowl of pasta.

It is objectively better, but not subjectively, of course.

No, it is not better in either sense.

Find the fault. OP basically offered bread & butter. Point out exactly why this is inferior.

This is like appetizers, just a bunch of cold things plopped on a tray. Nitrites in the meats. Its a "girl dinner." Like what you eat when you're alone for the night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP, and I think sandwiches would be equally fine, probably with the same sides (e.g. cucumbers and cutie oranges)

Or grilled cheese, or quick quesadillas, or chick fil a dupe nuggets or veggies and hummus, or frozen pizza.

Okay, so I'm judging your nuggets and frozen pizza a lot harder than a bowl of pasta. This just goes to show that what people think is "better" is completely subjective.

OP, please finagle an impromptu lunch invite to your guest's house next time, and see what she serves you. Feel free to raise your eyebrows expressively and give her a long, appraising look before you silently tuck into whatever the F she dishes out.

But why judge that's so rude! See how easy it is? But if you prefer your friends to blow smoke up your not knowing how to cook ass, then that is a personal choice.

It's not rude to judge, only to make apparent that the judging is happening.

Look, if every meal must optimize your protein/fat/carb ratios, then you cannnot accept random invitations to dine. You must decline graciously and go home to feed yourself. If you accept an invitation to dine, you must steel yourself to the fact that the offering is completely out of your control and to be a gracious guest you must eat what is placed before you without comment (unless complimentary), unless you have clearly told the host of your vegetarianism/nut allergy/other well-known, not made up dietary restriction. Christ, I've known this since I was 7, when I choked down tuna casserole at my friend's house even though I really wasn't fond of it. The fact that adults today cannot handle this and would rather let their preferences be rudely known shows a real drop in social etiquette. I think it comes from the rise of people eating out so much, where they get to choose exactly what they want. People are not used to eating at other people's houses anymore and it shows.

People are also clearly not used to cooking for others. Normally you ask what people like and try to accommodate. Do your kids like pasta? Would have been a good starting point.

The kid ate the pasta. So where's the problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For real though. Those of y’all who have a problem with what OP served, what would you have offered at an impromptu, post-playdate lunch? If it were me I’d probably have pulled out sandwich fixings (and sure, I always have fruit around so I’d probably offer that too). Maybe a bag of chips. I certainly wouldn’t be whipping up an elaborate meal, and I’d rather have homemade pasta alla vodka than a boring sandwich!

Do people really just not ever host if they haven’t pre planned a full course meal with optimal balance of lean protein, whole grains, fruits and fresh veg? That’s sad to me. I love that my friends are easy and casual and would happily come over for a DIY sandwich if a playdate ran into lunchtime and we wanted to keep the fun going.

OP never said any of it was from scratch. More likely than not it was jarred. Otherwise what would she have done? Tasked the friend with watching the kids while she cooked alone? That would be weird too. If I can’t pull together sandwiches, and a salad, we always have cheese, crackers, hummus, vegetables, meats, pita and fresh fruit on hand so it would be like a charcuterie board spread. If they were still hungry I have a freezer full of food to offer.

I don't think this is objectively superior to a bowl of pasta.

It is objectively better, but not subjectively, of course.

No, it is not better in either sense.

Find the fault. OP basically offered bread & butter. Point out exactly why this is inferior.

This is like appetizers, just a bunch of cold things plopped on a tray. Nitrites in the meats. It's a "girl dinner." Like what you eat when you're alone for the night.

Give me a break, you're really reaching here. A sandwich is cold things piled up on a tray. Try again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP, and I think sandwiches would be equally fine, probably with the same sides (e.g. cucumbers and cutie oranges)

Or grilled cheese, or quick quesadillas, or chick fil a dupe nuggets or veggies and hummus, or frozen pizza.

Okay, so I'm judging your nuggets and frozen pizza a lot harder than a bowl of pasta. This just goes to show that what people think is "better" is completely subjective.

OP, please finagle an impromptu lunch invite to your guest's house next time, and see what she serves you. Feel free to raise your eyebrows expressively and give her a long, appraising look before you silently tuck into whatever the F she dishes out.

But why judge that's so rude! See how easy it is? But if you prefer your friends to blow smoke up your not knowing how to cook ass, then that is a personal choice.

It's not rude to judge, only to make apparent that the judging is happening.

Look, if every meal must optimize your protein/fat/carb ratios, then you cannnot accept random invitations to dine. You must decline graciously and go home to feed yourself. If you accept an invitation to dine, you must steel yourself to the fact that the offering is completely out of your control and to be a gracious guest you must eat what is placed before you without comment (unless complimentary), unless you have clearly told the host of your vegetarianism/nut allergy/other well-known, not made up dietary restriction. Christ, I've known this since I was 7, when I choked down tuna casserole at my friend's house even though I really wasn't fond of it. The fact that adults today cannot handle this and would rather let their preferences be rudely known shows a real drop in social etiquette. I think it comes from the rise of people eating out so much, where they get to choose exactly what they want. People are not used to eating at other people's houses anymore and it shows.

People are also clearly not used to cooking for others. Normally you ask what people like and try to accommodate. Do your kids like pasta? Would have been a good starting point.

The kid ate the pasta. So where's the problem?

Did they?

[Anonymous]

Picky eaters say wut

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Husband and I are both Italian. His parents “are off the boat”. My grandparents were too and my parents were born in this country.

We have always had pasta for lunch or dinner.

I was with my kids (girl age 6 and boy 4) and a friend and her kids at a park. I invited them back to our house for lunch.

I made pasta-penne with butter for the kids and vodka sauce for myself and my friend.

She looked at it and said “is this lunch? A bowl of pasta?”

I said yes this is what we usually have. She looked at me oddly and didn’t say anything else and ate.

But what a weird response.

She is not rude. She was just surprised.

No, she was rude.

OP was rude for serving that slop. The guest was merely surprised.

And since the guest was not a rude person, she actually ate the slop. I would have made excuses and left.

A normal person would decline to eat what they don't want and also not make negative comments. It's quite the flex to eat it not to be "rude," but then be rude anyway. Strange WASP rules. You must "eat what you are served" but it's ok to be passive aggressive.

How could she have declined to eat? It was the only thing available to eat. Just... sit there with the bowl of pasta served in front of her and not eat?

I'm a vegetarian, so if I went to someone's house and they served just a steak, then I'm not eating it just to not be rude. I am sure at some point OP asked them if pasta was ok or they observed her taking out the box and making it. If I didn't want pasta I'd say "none for me, thanks, I have lunch plans later, but Larlo will have some."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP, and I think sandwiches would be equally fine, probably with the same sides (e.g. cucumbers and cutie oranges)

Or grilled cheese, or quick quesadillas, or chick fil a dupe nuggets or veggies and hummus, or frozen pizza.

Okay, so I'm judging your nuggets and frozen pizza a lot harder than a bowl of pasta. This just goes to show that what people think is "better" is completely subjective.

OP, please finagle an impromptu lunch invite to your guest's house next time, and see what she serves you. Feel free to raise your eyebrows expressively and give her a long, appraising look before you silently tuck into whatever the F she dishes out.

But why judge that's so rude! See how easy it is? But if you prefer your friends to blow smoke up your not knowing how to cook ass, then that is a personal choice.

It's not rude to judge, only to make apparent that the judging is happening.

Look, if every meal must optimize your protein/fat/carb ratios, then you cannnot accept random invitations to dine. You must decline graciously and go home to feed yourself. If you accept an invitation to dine, you must steel yourself to the fact that the offering is completely out of your control and to be a gracious guest you must eat what is placed before you without comment (unless complimentary), unless you have clearly told the host of your vegetarianism/nut allergy/other well-known, not made up dietary restriction. Christ, I've known this since I was 7, when I choked down tuna casserole at my friend's house even though I really wasn't fond of it. The fact that adults today cannot handle this and would rather let their preferences be rudely known shows a real drop in social etiquette. I think it comes from the rise of people eating out so much, where they get to choose exactly what they want. People are not used to eating at other people's houses anymore and it shows.

100%. It was a lovely gesture to make a pasta lunch. The rudeness and rigidity on this thread is depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know... I love eating other people's food. A simple bowl of pasta warmly served to me, in good company, is just as good as any. It doesn't have to be a dietician's dream bowl of food.

I'm not going to eat other people's food just to prove a point. I might pick at it but that's as good as it will get. If the people cared that much about it they would probably solicit opinions first to find out what their guests like. OP didn't really care and just made what she and her kids wanted.

It was an impromptu lunch, not a planned in advance dinner party. It was literally one meal on one day. Is everyone truly so disordered with their eating that they couldn’t suck it up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know... I love eating other people's food. A simple bowl of pasta warmly served to me, in good company, is just as good as any. It doesn't have to be a dietician's dream bowl of food.

I'm not going to eat other people's food just to prove a point. I might pick at it but that's as good as it will get. If the people cared that much about it they would probably solicit opinions first to find out what their guests like. OP didn't really care and just made what she and her kids wanted.

It was an impromptu lunch, not a planned in advance dinner party. It was literally one meal on one day. Is everyone truly so disordered with their eating that they couldn’t suck it up?

Almost everyone saying that they wouldn't have served just buttered noodles, has also said they wouldn't say anything about it if they were the guest. So, yes, they would have sucked it up.

I don't think that people who are saying "offer the kids vodka sauce too", or "maybe add some apple slices" are asking for perfection. They are just saying that they would do a little more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know... I love eating other people's food. A simple bowl of pasta warmly served to me, in good company, is just as good as any. It doesn't have to be a dietician's dream bowl of food.

I'm not going to eat other people's food just to prove a point. I might pick at it but that's as good as it will get. If the people cared that much about it they would probably solicit opinions first to find out what their guests like. OP didn't really care and just made what she and her kids wanted.

It was an impromptu lunch, not a planned in advance dinner party. It was literally one meal on one day. Is everyone truly so disordered with their eating that they couldn’t suck it up?

None of that is the point. Even OPs friend ate it, we're just saying on its face it's not a good lunch. It's not. If you want to count how many penne noodles I eat then you're a sucky friend too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know... I love eating other people's food. A simple bowl of pasta warmly served to me, in good company, is just as good as any. It doesn't have to be a dietician's dream bowl of food.

I'm not going to eat other people's food just to prove a point. I might pick at it but that's as good as it will get. If the people cared that much about it they would probably solicit opinions first to find out what their guests like. OP didn't really care and just made what she and her kids wanted.

It was an impromptu lunch, not a planned in advance dinner party. It was literally one meal on one day. Is everyone truly so disordered with their eating that they couldn’t suck it up?

None of that is the point. Even OPs friend ate it, we're just saying on its face it's not a good lunch. It's not. If you want to count how many penne noodles I eat then you're a sucky friend too.

It actually is though. A nice hot tasty meal.