Yes, they really are that bad!! (mrstjohnson)

If I made craptacular cookies, I would really want someone to tell me.  I had a neighbor back as a kid that had dogs and all her food tasted like her house smelled.  like DOG!  I am so paranoid about my food tasting like that that once a year I make sure to ask my sisters if my food tastes ok.  I would WANT someone to tell me if my cooking was bad.  I know I can't cook, but I can bake and every now and then something I make does not come out right.

So you could be honest and say they tasted a little off and you were wondering if anyone else had mentioned that?  Then perhaps offer her one to see.  It may be that she can't smell and so therefore her taste buds are off as well, so she doesn't know.

And I might be hurt at first, but I would not be mad at the person if they told me in a tactful way.  Not "Man those cookies were heinous!  What on earth did you put in them?" but more like "Those cookies tasted a little off, has anyone else said anything?  Maybe it's my/our tastebuds but they didn't agree with me/us."  And I wouldn't let her bring it up if you're going to be honest either.  I would bring it up so it doesn't appear that you weren't going to say anything.

 Hmm, I wonder if her flour or shortening or baking powder may have been old.  I know that can affect the outcome if stale or rancid.

I know I would have a hard time telling her they were lousy.  You might pick out one of them and ask her to come over with the recipe and help you make some.  And make sure your ingredients are fresh.  See if it makes a difference...and go from there.

Janet808

QUIT EATTING THEM!  Do you get along w/ these neighbors?  Otherwise, they may be trying to poison you!  Just watch, you never know.

and i thought i was bad!!! lol i was thinking the same thing!!

the only other thing that could be wrong was... did she clean her stove recently?

Here's what i would do. bring some along on your walk in a little bag. If she asks about the cookies just say "Oh yeah i brought along some, would you like you one?" and offer her some of the worst tasting ones. check her reaction... if she's oblivious to the taste then .. maybe she's eating bad cooking for so long that she doesnt even know!

my moms like that. and yes cooking is a fine art.. my husband and i will both get in the kitchen together and go wild cooking stuff and making new recipes or improving old ones... my mom will turn her nose up at all of it, but she'll chow down on some shoe leather steak with gobs of steak sauce, over salt the french fries, and greasy glue like cream corn... when she lived with us she was banned from cooking....

However the pot roasts she makes are divine. i  only wish i knew how she did that. the rest of her food stinks, she just doesnt care. she hates cooking lol