Do you lie to people about their baking?

[Amberle3]

You know, those little white lies that end up biting you in the butt later on?

I have a client who often brags about her baking skills. And I had some of her cookies and they were nice. Earlier in the year she said something in passing about having a dozen apple pies still in the freezer, and I joked that she could bring one here. Next time I saw her, she had brought me a (frozen) pie. I thanked her for her kindness, and told her I would keep it or the weekend when I was having friends over for dinner.

It was the worst apple pie I've ever had. The filling was completely mush and watery, the pastry was tough and you practically had to use a knife and fork to eat it.

She called the next week to ask how we'd liked the pie, so of course I lied and said we had all enjoyed it very much, and thanked her again for her kindess and generousity.

Well they were just here for another booking, and since it's THAT time of year she's busilly been making dozens of apple pies and has thoughtfully brought me one (frozen).

So now I've got an apple pie of questionable quality. And I feel terrible that I lied to her, and because of it I have the aforementioned questionable pie. It's like a pie punishment for lieing.

But I couldn't very well have told her that the pie was terrible, could I? I guess I could have said it was interesting, or unusual, but I honestly can't think of anything I could have said that wouldn't have hurt her feelings in some way (she's very proud of her baking).

So - anyone else commit this crime? What were the consequences?

 

[goin2disneyagain]

A friend sent me some homemade cookies for Christmas 2 years ago. They were not very good. She was so proud of herself for baking and thought they were wonderful. I didn't want to hurt her feelings so I told her they were wonderful. Some of them were so strong with Rum that I think I could have gotten drunk off of 3 or 4 cookies. I couldn't finish one of those. Luckily for me she doesn't DIS so she will never know that I didn't really like the cookies.

 

[DisneyJules]

Hey, I'm from Winnipeg Lucikly, I've never baked an apple pie before, so it wasn't me Not that I agree with telling serious lies but at times you have to so that you come off tactful. Especially because she did something nice for you. I'm sure we're ALL guilty of it.

 

[#1 Disney Fan]

Hey, I'm from Winnipeg too! (And it wasn't me either )

 

[Amberle3]

Oh, I know she doesn't DIS. They were just here this evening and were floored at the new-fangled portable computer thing (laptop) I have now. I don't think either of them has ever touched a computer before.

I really don't want anyone to think I'm complaining about her bringing me terrible pies. I just feel bad that I lied to her, and now because of it she thinks she's doing this wonderful thing by bringing more terrible pies to me.

OTOH I haven't actually tried this latest pie, so maybe it's not as bad as the other one. Have to find out tomorrow.

I had a similar experience with another well-meaning client who, on a tour, saw me buying a bottle of Eternity. I wear perfume very occasionally only, a bottle will last for years. Well for every birthday and at Christmas I'd get gift packages with Eternity, for about 5 years.

 

[Micca]

Andy, Opie, and Gomer had the same thing happen with Aunt Bea's pickles. They learned their lesson

 

[doxdogy]

One of our neighbors brought us over a lasagna (spelling) as a Christmas present one year. She didn't cook that often, so I was really leery of her cooking skills. She then proceeded to tell me that she put zucchini in the lasagna. I later told her that it was good and silently hoped she didn't bring us another one the following year.

 

[Snowwark]

"So - anyone else commit this crime? What were the consequences?"

Yes, I'm quilty! The consequences? Several extra pounds of lard!

 

[Yardbird]

Pies that are wonderful when freshly baked, are NOT after they have been frozen! I don't think you were wrong to lie about liking the pie. You were just being kind. There's no reason to hurt her feelings, and she obviously gets pleasure out of baking them, and giving them away. However, some people do have difficulty digesting apples, which can cause gastrointestinal difficulties. In the future, maybe you too might have difficulty digesting apples?

 

[rcyannacci]

Originally posted by Yardbird
Pies that are wonderful when freshly baked, are NOT after they have been frozen! I don't think you were wrong to lie about liking the pie. You were just being kind. There's no reason to hurt her feelings, and she obviously gets pleasure out of baking them, and giving them away. However, some people do have difficulty digesting apples, which can cause gastrointestinal difficulties. In the future, maybe you too might have difficulty digesting apples?

But that would be a second lie, and they are so much harder to keep track of! You'd be at someone's potluck with a forkful of apple something, and there she'd be..."but I thought you had trouble digesting apples, Amberle3? No? In that case, I'll be over tommorow with more frozen pies"

Then where would you be?!?

 

[HollyJoy]

Well, I would have done the same thing. Maybe it wasn't so hot because it just didn't freeze well. Dunno. No need to hurt her feelings though.

 

[Randi]

Actually apple pies freeze quite well. I used to buy a bushel of apples each fall, and make as many pies as I could. This way the kitchen was only messy for 1 day! I baked them without thawing and always had good results. Apple pies vary according to the type of apple used. If she had used a softer, jucier apple like a MacIntosh, they do tend to become mushy. But many people prefer them this way.
The only time I had a problem with someone's baked goods was a former co-worker. She was not exactly a clean person, and I just couldn't eat the cake she brought in. I took a couple of pieces home and tossed them. I don't think she ever asked how they were, but I would have lied to save her feelings.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Why is it that I suddenly have a craving for apple pie...

 

[ilovepcot]

I have a complete horror of hurting someones feelings! I'll boldly lie if necessary to avoid hurting someone. And it's true, that lie, even though well meaning, can turn around and bite you in the butt!

 

[KristiKelly]

Micca, LOL weren't they kerosene cucumbers?

MIL brought us a choc. pie yesterday and I was so excited (yet cautious, her cooking has gone down hill lately). It was AWFUL!!! Bitter & the crust was really salty (I even bit into salt, I think she used rock salt or something). DH came home & asked how it was, I told him "pretty good" he took a big bite, chewed twice & spit it out We threw the whole pie away.

Now, of course when she calls and asks us about it, we'll of course tell her how good it was just like we did with the Potato Soup, Oatmeal Cookies, Stew Beef, Hamburger Casserole, you get the picture.

I wouldn't hurt her feelings, just let her go on feeling good about herself & have a back up, so if it stinks you still have a dessert.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Yup, I've lied. Consequences? I have to eat Grammy's goulash every time I go to her house, and sometimes if she decides to help with dinner when she comes here. She's got so much of that stuff in her freezer that we'll never see the end of it.
I used to have to eat my great grammy's mince meat pie when I was little because my mom made me tell her it was great. I was 7 or 8 when this first happened and every holiday for a couple years after she forced it on me. Last time I had it was likely Christmas of '95 and I'm still recovering.

 

[QueenTrident]

Well DD made me a cupcake and I could barely get it down. Of course, I told her it was WONDERFUL!!

With other people, I just try to say something nice and then bring up DH's allergy to wheat and say that I couldn't possible eat another pie/cake/cookies/etc by myself. Works every time (and it's the truth!).

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Yikes, I wonder who's lied about MY baking?

 

[Keli]

Originally posted by rcyannacci
But that would be a second lie, and they are so much harder to keep track of! You'd be at someone's potluck with a forkful of apple something, and there she'd be..."but I thought you had trouble digesting apples, Amberle3? No? In that case, I'll be over tommorow with more frozen pies"

Then where would you be?!?

That is too funny rcyannacci! It's probably what would happen too!

 

[Amberle3]

Well, we've tried the latest apple pie, and it's... not great.

I know what her problem with the crust is - she's worked it too much and it's tough. But the filling, well that's another matter. Even canned apple pie filling has SOME texture to it.

As I tried this stuff, it suddenly hit me what it was - applesauce. It's basically applesauce in a tough pie crust.

The rest of it will go in the garbage, and I'll have to thank her again when I talk to her next for her kindness and generousity.

And hope she doesn't make me another apple pie.