When my husband mocked my lasagna behind my back, I teamed up with my mother-in-law to give him a taste of his own medicine. What followed was a dinner he’d never forget and one that taught him a lesson in appreciation and respect.
My husband, Dave, and I have been married for about three years. I pride myself on my cooking skills. I’m not a Michelin-starred chef, but I’ve never had any complaints—until recently.
A happy couple | Source: Midjourney
Last Friday, I decided to make one of my favorite recipes: lasagna. I spent hours preparing it, making sure everything was perfect. When it was finally ready, I served it with a smile. I expected at least a “thank you” from Dave.
Instead, he took a bite, grimaced, and pulled out his phone. I thought he was just taking a picture like he usually did. But then I heard the sound of a text message coming in.
A man with lasagna | Source: Midjourney
The message read: “Look what she made tonight. It’s barely edible. I miss Mom’s cooking.”
“Dave, what is this?” I asked, my voice shaking.
He looked up, surprised. “What is it? Oh, nothing.”
A man grimacing | Source: Getty Images
“Nothing? You just texted someone to tell them my lasagna is barely edible and you miss your mom’s cooking!”
Dave sighs. “Look, I didn’t mean it like that. I was just… I don’t know, I was letting off steam. It’s not a big deal.”
“Is it okay?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “Do you have any idea how much effort I put into it? If you didn’t like it, you could have told me.”
A man texting on his phone | Source: Unsplash
“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,” he said defensively.
“By saying it to my face, or by texting someone behind my back?” I countered. “Because I think that’s much worse.”
Dave rubbed his temples. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. That was a stupid thing.”
A sad elderly woman | Source: Pexels
I wasn’t satisfied with his apology. The next day, I had a different plan.
I told Dave I had a meeting at work and would be home late. I actually went to his mother’s house. She was a wonderful woman, and I wanted to ask her for advice. When I arrived, she welcomed me with open arms.
“Hey, sweetie! What brings you here?” she asked, giving me a hug.
An elderly woman | Source: Midjourney
“It’s about Dave. He did something really hurtful yesterday.”
She frowned. “What happened?”
I told her about the lasagna incident and showed her the message Dave had sent. She was shocked and immediately agreed to help me.
Two women smiling | Source: Midjourney
“Oh my God! I never raised him to be a brat. Honey, he’s going to learn a lesson. I have a plan.”
My mother-in-law made all of Dave’s favorite dishes, but with a twist. She overseasoned, undercooked, and made sure everything tasted awful.
She then set up a beautiful platter, knowing Dave wouldn’t be able to resist taking a picture. Then she called him over and invited him to dinner.
A slice of lasagna topped with basil | Source: Pexels
The house smelled good. As she worked, she explained her plan in detail, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“I’m going to make the mashed potatoes too salty, the green beans half-cooked, and the chicken dry. He’ll be so excited when he sees the spread, and then… well, we’ll see what happens.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you really think this will work?”
She winked at me. “Oh, honey, I know this will work. Dave has always been a little overconfident when it comes to food.”
As we set the table, my nerves began to ease. This was going to be interesting.
When Dave arrived, his eyes lit up at the sight of the delicious spread. He dug in eagerly, but with each bite, his face began to change. He looked confused and a little scared.
A man hiding his face | Source: Pexels
With a wry smile, his mother asked him kindly, “Is everything okay?”
He stammers, “Uh, yeah, it’s just… not what I expected.”
She smiled and said, “Hmmm, that’s strange, I thought you missed my cooking?”
An elderly woman with a cup | Source: Midjourney
Dave turned pale as he realized what was happening. He turned to me, who was standing in the kitchen doorway, and I said, “I saw your message, Dave. If you have anything to say about my cooking, say it to my face. I hope you enjoyed tonight’s meal as much as I enjoyed preparing it.”
Dave was speechless, and his mother added, “I didn’t raise you to be disrespectful. You owe your wife an apology.”
A woman using a laptop | Source: Pexels
“I’m sorry,” he replied.
But I wasn’t done. I took out my phone and said, “You know, Dave, I think I’ll send a picture of tonight’s meal to the boys’ cat, like you did with my lasagna. Maybe they’ll enjoy tasting your favorite foods, ‘Mom’s way.’”
Two women holding hands | Source: Getty Images
His eyes widened in horror when he realized what I was about to do. “No, please don’t!” he begged.
I glared at him. “Maybe next time you’ll think twice before making fun of someone’s hard work.”
From that day on, Dave never complained about my cooking again, at least not behind my back. Every time I cooked, he made sure to show his appreciation.
Close-up of an elderly woman | Source: Getty Images
His mother looked at him sternly. “Dave, you need to understand how hurtful your words can be. Your wife put a lot of effort into preparing this meal. She deserves your respect.”
“I know, Mom. I’m so sorry.”
“Actions speak louder than words,” she replied. “You have to show her that you appreciate what she does.”
An elderly woman thinking | Source: Getty Images
Dave looked at me, his eyes full of regret. “I’m so sorry, darling. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
I crossed my arms and said, “Well, now you know what it’s like to not be respected for your hard work.”
He nodded vigorously. “I promise I’ll never do that again. I’ll be more grateful from now on.”
A man wearing glasses | Source: Getty Images
His mother added, “Good. Now why don’t we all clean up together? It’ll give you a chance to show some appreciation.”
“Yes, Mom. Let’s clean up.”
As we worked together cleaning the kitchen, Dave kept apologizing and thanking me for the meal. I could see he was sincerely sorry, and it felt good to know he’d learned his lesson.
A man with a plate of lasagna | Source: Midjourney
Later that evening, as we were getting ready for bed, Dave turned to me and said, “I’m so sorry for what I did. I was an idiot, and I hurt you. I never want to do that again.”
“I appreciate your apology, Dave. But you have to remember that words can hurt. Next time, be honest with me. We can work through things together.”
A woman hugging her boyfriend | Source: Getty Images
“I will. Thank you for giving me another chance.”
The next morning, Dave prepared breakfast as a gesture of goodwill. He served me a plate of pancakes with a shy smile. “I hope they’re good.”
A man making pancakes | Source: Pexels
I took a bite and smiled. “They’re perfect.”
Dave beamed, looking relieved. “I’m glad you like them.”
Since that day, Dave has made a real effort to show his appreciation for my cooking. He has never complained again, and our relationship has grown stronger because of it.
Pancakes | Source: Pexels
The lesson here? Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, especially when that hand could be serving up a well-deserved dish of revenge. Sometimes, a little creativity and teamwork is all it takes to teach someone a lesson.
