your biggest compliment

[matt]

I was wondering what everyone's greatest complemnet is or was? For me personally it was two events that changed me. One of them was my mother liked a dessert I made. The Madarrin Cream Delight. She is not one to eat sweets. The second was at church I had the unique opportunity to make the communion bread. Thanks Matt

[Gail]

You ARE talking about cooking, no? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Gee, that would either be when an old boyfriend's mom told me my carrot cake was the best cake she'd ever had in her life and in exchange for the recipe gave me a recipe for cheesecake she shared with NO ONE.

Not quite as flattering, but certainly amusing was, "You are the Queen of Swordfish and we are your subjects..." (Am I nuts, or does that sound a little Carrie Fisheresque?)

[SueK]

Well, my daughter is a real ego booster, because ANY pasta dish I make is "the best meal ever" according to her. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
But other than that, people love my pumpkin cheesecake and Buckeye cookies, which are both very simple recipes. I only try out the real complicated recipes on my family!

[MrsReber]

My husband is the best one for compliments! He tells everyone what a wonderful cook I am, but his absolute favorite is my pizza. He tells people that he refuses to order out for pizza anymore because mine is so good! And he does tell everybody! With his encouragement, I try lots of new recipes now.

Also, my mother in law was in awe over some cinnamon bread I made once. She couldn't believe it!

[Ohioan]

My mother, who never thinks anything I make is as good as the way she makes it -- or would make it if she made it at all-- recently handed me back the dish in which I'd given her some of my zabaglione and said, "It was so delicious I wanted to lick the plate!"

I've now reached the pinnacle. There is nowhere to go from here. I will go drown myself in a bowl of zabaglione... which might not be a bad way to go! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Hee hee hee, Phoebe

[BernK]

I consider a compliment the fact that my husband eats and enjoys just about everything I cook.

[Wendy w]

It has to be the time that my Dad was complimenting my vegetable soup and said that if I wasn't his daughter, he'd marry me(he is 80 and in the hospital with pneumonia, prayers would be appreciated).

My boyfriend said that he used ketchup on most of his food before he met me, now he doesn't want to cover up the flavor. He loves to tell everyone about his "gourmet cook" girlfriend! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif


Wendy

[Gwenniver]

Well, the greatest compliment I've had is more of an achievement. My husband doesn't like to look at recipes or think about them (he says reading about food doesn't do anything for him--it's *eating* food). I have actually made a few recipes that he has requested after having eaten them. *That's* an accomplishment with him http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Also, he will not eat any other meatloaf but mine--go figure. He's very encouraging in his own fashion.

[lorilei]

I don't know.

Most people think my cooking sucks.

That's why I'm here http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[Denise]

For me it was when my boyfriend bragged to his mother about how good my cooking is. He's a very picky eater and is always talking about how great his mothers lasagna, chicken and dumplings, meatloaf, etc are. She even requested the one of the recipes because he raved so much!

[iqueen]

I made the Shrimp Orzo from March 00 for a group of friends. One of the guests said that the entire meal was better than he had ever eaten anywhere before at anyone's home or at a restaurant. I don't know if it was the food or the wine that overwhelmed him, but I enjoyed the compliment.

Really though, I just enjoy seeing everyone clean their plates and go back for seconds!!!

[Beth H]

When I first met my husband, he ate McDonalds or pizza almost every night. The other day, we had to pick up McDonald's because we both had meetings after work. As we were eating, said, "I'd much rather have your cooking than fast food." Which was a huge complement since he wouldn't try anything at first!

[Danielle]

I'd have to say my husband's willingness to try absolutely every dish I make is a compliment in itself. His father is a very picky eater, so growing up his mom never "went out on a limb" or made anything he considered weird (her version of chop suey is ground beef mixed with cream of mushroom soup and rice). And when I met my husband he seemed to be a bit of a picky eater himself--strictly a red meat kind of guy. But now he eats everything I make. One of his favorite dishes is Chicken Fricasse with Orzo. Yum! I love it that he allows me to be adventureous.

[sneezles]

I few years ago I catered an Open House at my childrens' school. I am not anywhere close to a caterer but everyone knew I love to cook and would often feed the staff(it was a very small school) so the administrator asked me to do the food. That was a huge compliment and then I did it a couple of more years. Then a friend of mine was getting married and she asked me to do the reception (not the cake!).

[jjf]

i would have to say my husband gave me the best compliment - he tells everyone that my cooking is so good that he is dissappointed almost everytime we go out to dinner (even swanky places) - and he said the best part is that my cooking is much healthier!

jen

[SClementson]

lorilei, I'm posting a response to this thread only because your post made me laugh out loud - a HUGE compliment because I'm having a really sucky day!!

Sarah

[Kristilyn1]

I think the best compliment was when my mom asked for the lemon swirl cheesecake recipe. She is an excellent cook--and I have always thought so too, but for some reason she has always politely ignored my suggestions she try a recipe or even to try CL. I have seen her "copy" my own concoctions and then actualy pretend to come up with it on her own! She has ignored my assertions that she would LOVE CL. For her to admit that something I made was delicious and to actually request the recipe is a huge step for her!!!! Recently I went over and lo and behold--a copy of CL. No doubt she will pretend she invented it, but still no going back now!

Kristi

[andreajackson]

SueK- Could you please post your pumpkin cheesecake recipe? It sounds so unique and delicious. If you wouldn't mind sharing that would be great!
My biggest compliment is when my mom tells everyone how wonderful my desserts are, that always makes me feel good.

[jd]

lorilei, I echo Sarah - I laughed right out loud and am still smiling!!! jd

[cookgirl]

Originally posted by Wendy w:
It has to be the time that my Dad was complimenting my vegetable soup and said that if I wasn't his daughter, he'd marry me(he is 80 and in the hospital with pneumonia, prayers would be appreciated).

My boyfriend said that he used ketchup on most of his food before he met me, now he doesn't want to cover up the flavor. He loves to tell everyone about his "gourmet cook" girlfriend! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif


Wendy
This is too funny! I was going to say my biggest compliment was when my husband didn't put ketchup on dinner! (His Bachelor years converted him into a full-fledged MCDonald's junkie. I was thrilled to bring him back.)

P.S. I'm so sorry to hear about your father. You are in my prayers.



[This message has been edited by cookgirl (edited 09-26-2000).]

[bijoux22]

When my husband and I were first dating, I would go to great lengths to impress him with my cooking - all fresh ingredients etc, only to hear him say "that was very good, but you didn't have to go to all the trouble making real mashed potatoes, I prefer instant and you didn't have to make real applesauce I prefer jarred, and I have never had fresh asparagus or winter squash. My dear MIL is not much of a cook and my husband was very accostumed to her style. My best compliments now are from my husband who prefers my "fresh healthy cooking" over his Mom's.

[SandyDee]

I guess I would have to say that my biggest compliment is that I regularly get requests to bake my sour cream sugar cookies. I made them several years ago for a pot luck at work and everyone that was there now request them on a regular basis. (Isn't it time for you to bake us your cookies?) Also I make Artichoke Heart dip (it is just the basic recipe) and I have passed the recipe to so many people and everyone that I have given it to says that theirs doesn't taste as good as mine. I don't get it, I give them the exact same recipe that I make. But I am sucker enough to lap up the compliment just the same. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

[mah]

well i am kind of embarrassed to say this after the "burning question" thread, but my sisters (i have three) have always teased me by calling me a martha stewart clone. i DID take that to be a compliment now i am not so sure....

[This message has been edited by mah (edited 09-26-2000).]

[Laura]

My greatest compliment was last year when I offered a catered dinner for 4 as part of our school auction. I told my boyfriend that he had to promise to bid if no one else would. It ended up being a bidding war between two couples and ultimately went for $240! I was in shock, of course then I was in a sheer panic afterward in that I wouldn't meet their expectations. The dinner went great and the people loved it. Now my sister says I have to go back to Jackson because more people want to bid on it this year.

[Veronica]

One of my biggest compliments came from my husband who just a couple of weeks ago was left to his own devices for dinner. He concocted one of his tried & true "bachelor treats" and told me later that it just wasn't the same anymore. He said that after so many of my "gourmet" meals (thank you, CL), his old favorites just didn't do it for him. That was a supreme compliment to me!

[Beth]

Originally posted by jd:
lorilei, I echo Sarah - I laughed right out loud and am still smiling!!! jd


I echo the echo, but I laughed at both. Not to say that I am insensitive to your having a "sucky" day, Sarah, just that I have been having a lot of thos for a couple of weeks now and completely sympathize, empathize, and hope to changathize!

[Beth]

Originally posted by Beth:

I echo the echo, but I laughed at both. Not to say that I am insensitive to your having a "sucky" day, Sarah, just that I have been having a lot of thos for a couple of weeks now and completely sympathize, empathize, and hope to changathize!

I was going to answer the question, but I guess I'm having a sucky-day-mindblock. Never mind.

[MrsReber]

Veronica, I have to laugh! I left my husband alone one night last week. I had gone out to dinner with my mother. I came home to find him sitting on the couch eating a can of baked beans out of a pot. I couldn't help but laugh. He said "this reminds me of the old days". I said "I bet you appreciate me now!". He agreed with that. Men are funny. (Sometimes I wonder if God put them here for our amusement http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif )

[lindrusso]

I once made a shrimp appetizer. The shrimp are marinated and then wrapped in snow peas. As a serving suggestion, they suggest using toothpicks to secure the shrimp on a cabbage head - I never pay much attention to presentation, so I decided to give it a try. When I brought the appetizer to a Thanksgiving dinner at a friend's house, her MIL started taking pictures of it!! I never could figure out if that was a compliment or not..... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/confused.gif

[lorilei]

First of all, to those of you who took pleasure in my comment above -- thank you. I hoped to make someone smile http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

To answer the question more appropriately: one of the most confusing compliments I've ever received was from a family friend who attended a get together of mine last spring. I made a raspberry white chocolate cheesecake, which I presented on a platter surrounded in raspberry puree and decorated with raspberries and white chocolate shavings. The woman came up to me and said "What a lovely cheesecake. Where in the world do you get something like that?"

I wasn't sure how to take that. So, I told her it was Sarah Lee.

[Beth Y]

I with most of you..that is, clean plates and little compliments from hubby and others are what are great to me. And back to the "two heads" thread, I often am met with amazement by friends when I offer to cook something for a party! (Hmm, do they like the food or the fact that I cook at all????)

Anyway, this thread has me back to an old thread I posted earlier. If these are your "special recipes" and you don't mind sharing, please do. Just to name few, Gail, I have been dying for a T&T (tried and true) carrot cake recipe (If I apologize for the evil comment on the MS thread?), there has already been a request for pumpkin cheesecake, but how about the sour cream sugar cookies, or the zabaglione (sp?) I don't know what it is, but I think I need to learn! Please please????

[BarbaraL]

We have a group of 5 couples with (in total) 9 kids who regularly get together on a Saturday. I love it when my friends rave about the food and ask for my recipes. One friend even told me she always likes to come to my house because I always offer healthy choices. I've also enjoyed compliments on food I've brought to church dinners or coffee hour. Of course, compliments from my husband, daughter and Mom are appreciated!
Wendy, prayers for your dad! Lorilei -- LOL! Laura -- I'm impressed!

[AndreaU]

My husband compliments me every night I cook dinner for the two of us. Since I work part-time, I do the cooking (which I don't mind at all). When we're eating, he always tells me how much he appreciates the fact that I made dinner. Even though I don't mind, it's nice to hear how much my efforts are noticed! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[food girl]

I was just thinking about the saying:
"The way to a man's heart is through his stomach".

Just last night my husband compared the CL spaghetti and meat balls to the best Italian restaurant in town!

[Pat]

My biggest compliment comes from my husband who has to attend a lot of functions where dinner is served. He will ask me to "pre-cook" so that he can just nibble at the dinners as he thinks my cooking "tastes so much better and is better for him."

[Vanessa]

I think the biggest compliment was from my mom. I was telling her her cooking was the best & she said mine was too. Also my hubby compliments me often but when he wants a specific recipe he goes "Oh that was soooooo
good" Its great to get compliments as it makes you try harder to improve and produce a nice meal.
Oh Lori you must be a good cook you have such good recipes!

[This message has been edited by Vanessa (edited 09-27-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Vanessa (edited 09-27-2000).]

[CATHIEA]

My best food compliment came from my then 11-year old nephew, Matt,the son of my youngest sister. We were at the home of another sister celebrating Christmas. That sister has two adult children. One of those adult children was bringing a new girlfriend to dinner. As a small gift, I had brought a tin of my home-made christmas cookies (I make around 20 kinds or so) for the new girlfriend. When Matt saw the tin, he confided to the new girlfriend that she was lucky to get my cookies and that he (Matt) considered himself "honored" to eat out of my refridgerator! Given the general "pickiness" of 11 year olds, I was blown away. Of course now the little darling can just about get me to make any dish he wants!
CathieA

[JillC]

I'm still laughing from Lorilei's post about her beautiful cheesecake.
Like many of you, my biggest compliments come from my husband. He is always raving about how I cook so many good meals for him. I always reply to him that cooking is like a hobby to me and I do it because I enjoy it. Maybe it's time I stop trying to explain that to him and just get used to the fact that he thinks the reason I cook is to please him. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
Jill

[SandyDee]

Lorilei, (or should I say Sarah Lee) Both of your posts really brightened my week. I sure needed a laugh. What's more I can relate. Most the time people seem surprised when I create something extravagant (did I spell that right? Hey this is a cooking website not a spelling one, right?) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

[SandyDee]

Lorilei, (or should I say Sarah Lee) Both of your posts really brightened my week. I sure needed a laugh. What's more I can relate. Most the time people seem surprised when I create something extravagant (did I spell that right? Hey this is a cooking website not a spelling one, right?) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

[Pat58]

I get many compliments from my husband and son on my cooking, but the best was when my husband said, "Pat, you always make the best meals when you use your imagination instead of reading a recipe." Of course, being a recipe addict gives my imagination much more avenues to explore!

[lorilei]

Originally posted by SandyDee:
Lorilei, (or should I say Sarah Lee) Both of your posts really brightened my week. I sure needed a laugh.

That's the highest of compliments, SandyDee. I'm glad to be there when you need a smile http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

As for being Sarah Lee -- I laughed my butt off telling this story to my mother after the get together (my mother, of course, knows that I cook...). And then I started to feel bad, hoping this woman wouldn't search too far for a beautiful Sarah Lee masterpiece.

[Gail]

Beth Y,

I haven't been back to this thread for a few days, so I didn't realize you'd posted a request for a recipe. I've only got a short time on the computer this afternoon, so I can't promise I'll have the recipe for you today (got to do those Spanish recipes, you know...) But, I'll get back to you with it.

[Gail]

Well. That wasn't so bad. Bet you didn't even have time to miss me. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Here's the carrot cake. I should warn you, this is NOT the usual carrot cake. It's a heavier cake, made in a bundt pan. Instead of the usual cream cheese frosting, it has a glaze. Back in the seventies, if anything ever came close to being my signature dish, this was it-- the cake I was constantly being asked to bake for office parties. It is definitely not light.

By the way, in case you had your heart set on a more traditional carrot cake with that cream cheese frosting, I can get a very good one from my mom, which came from the old Getty Museum formerly in Malibu. She and I constantly argue over which of our cakes is better.

Enjoy!

CARROT CAKE

2 cups suar
1 cup oil
3 eggs
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 5 ounce package walnuts
2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 8 1/4 ounce can crushed pinapple
1 cup coconut
2 cups finely shredded carrots
3 teaspoons vanilla

Mix sugar, oil and eggs in a large bowl. Sift together and add flour, salt, soda and cinnamon. Add remaining ingredients and bake in EXTREMELY well greased and floured pan (I've always used a bundt pan) 40 to 50 minutes at 350º F. (Gail note: This recipe is an old one, possibly even pre-Teflon. I can tell you with absolute certainty that this cake will stick to Teflon. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif .) Cool 20 minutes in pan. Remove and pour topping over hot cake. (Do not skip the topping. It MUST have the topping! Even if there isn't one single, remotely healthy ingredient in it!)

Topping:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon dark Karo Syrup
1/2 cube butter
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

Boil until slightly thickened.

[Beth]

Gail, I've wanted to try the Bundt version of carrot cake, but if you feel inclined to post your mom's Getty recipe, I just might have to try both and do a taste off (I'm cooking for a meeting next week and hope to have an excuse for one of the many cheesecakes I've been drooling over too).

[RobinC]

The biggest compliment I received was from a very good friend of mine, whose parents are from India. I made the Tandori Chicken Wraps from Cooking Light January/February 1998. He told me that they tasted like something his mom would make, and that I could have any Indian man if I made that dish for him. He did point out that it really is not a Tandori dish, as Tandori is a cooking method in a clay oven. So we have taken to calling the dish Curry Chicken Wraps.

[Gail]

Originally posted by Beth:
Gail, I've wanted to try the Bundt version of carrot cake, but if you feel inclined to post your mom's Getty recipe, I just might have to try both and do a taste off (I'm cooking for a meeting next week and hope to have an excuse for one of the many cheesecakes I've been drooling over too).

I'm sorry. I didn't think to come back here after I posted the message until I read yesterday's message from Beth Y. I'm not sure if I have the Getty recipe here or if I have to get it from my mom. Let me check my stuff, and if I locate it here, I'll post it tomorrow. Otherwise, I probably won't have it till sometime this weekend-- too late for your "taste-off" I'm afraid. When I do post, look for Beth Y's message directed to me.

Thanks for the interest.

[Beth]

That's okay. Think the dinner menu for that meeting has been revised, but I'll look forward to baking a carrot cake later anyway. My new neighbor is starting to appreciate the baked goodies I'm forced to share.

[Michele]

LEt's see - my two biggest compliments have been others asking me to cater things for them. One guy friend of mine was having his mom and grandmother visit him and he asked me to cook dinner for 12 people (including the mom and grandma). The mother ended up taking my recipe for corn souffle home with her.

The second was being asked to cater a graduation dinner for 120 people. This was a huge undertaking and a total honor. At the end of this one, one set of parents told me that it was the best meal they'd ever had (which was fairly unbelievable to me, but appreciated nevertheless).

In any case, I was totally honored that they entrusted me to pull off catering even though I am not at all a professional cook!