Let me start by saying I have the best in-laws a person could ask for. Seriously. My mother-in-law is the sexiest old lady I’ve ever known and my father-in-law has never met someone he didn’t like.
However, they ARE in-laws and that just puts them in the category of occasionally difficult. My father-in-law has been quite deaf for many years and uses hearing aids. When m-i-l started losing her hearing she would yell at f-i-l and tell him his hearing aids weren’t working. Why HIS hearing aids would make a difference as to how she could hear, we’re not sure.
They bicker. Ever since I’ve known them they bicker and from all accounts it started way before I came on the scene so it’s not my fault. I know they adore each other, they’ve been married for a bazillion years and you can’t stay with someone until you’re 92 without some affection, I’m pretty sure of that. What do they bicker about?
everything
Out to dinner:
m-i-l: “We were at the golf club on Wednesday and had the best shiraz with…”
f-i-l: (interrupting) “No, it was Tuesday and we had merlot.”
m-i-l: “I’m sure it was Wednesday and we had shiraz, remember that cute little waitress that you liked so much?”
f-i-l: “It was Tuesday and it was Glenn the waiter.”
my husband: “What about the golf club on Wednesday???”
m-i-l: “I’m sure it was Wednesday”
husband: “Mum, what about the golf club, what’s the story?”
f-i-l: “Remember Teddy wore those plaid pants you liked so much?”
husband: “Is there a story here???”
Then because they can’t hear very well, they speak very loudly but they think they’re whispering so we get a lot of this type of chatter:
m-i-l: “Wow, Maureen would you ever wear that color outside the bedroom?”
me: “I think she can hear us.”
f-i-l: “I think that woman looks rather attractive, what don’t you like about her?”
don’t EVER get them started on politics. That’s when I kick in with “gee, what beautiful salt shakers they have in this restaurant, have you noticed?” Then I give my husband the evil eye that says, “will you all just shut up about politics and let us enjoy our meal?”
I don’t like to argue. It’s not my strong point and I always lose. I’ve learned that, even though it’s said loudly, ‘your mother wears army boots!!” isn’t a reply that will win me any argument.
I know it sounds like they’re a pain in the ass but mostly his parents are wonderful, caring people who are generous to a fault. F-i-l is a retired (at 92 long long retired) physics professor and he judges history by whether it happened before or after the electron was discovered. M-i-l was an English teacher who will tell you about all the famous people she taught years ago. It’s really quite interesting to listen to their stories. The first time. My husband and his siblings definitely do the roll-eye at stories that have been re-told 50 times or more.
When I take a break from entertaining her, my mother-in-law loves to play Galabingo on my computer. She says that’s what’s keeping her active at nearly 90. (Their social calendar is much busier than mine, I can tell you.) She enjoys doing it and we think it helps with her eye hand coordination. They live on their own, care for a 10 acre property with over an acre and a half of landscaped garden and require only minor help.
One of the best things my mother-in-law makes is her chocolate mousse. I just love that stuff and hers always comes out perfect in every way. It’s never too sweet or runny and you know how some chocolate mousse sticks to the roof of your mouth with that fatty feel? Nope, hers doesn’t do that either.
I’ll admit she rushed on this and she stressed that it looks like the chocolate wasn’t mixed well enough. It tasted divine but I told her she could make it for me again and we’d re-photograph.
- 100g dark chocolate, chopped coarsely
- 1 tbs boiling water
- 1 egg, separated
- ½ cup (125ml) fresh cream
- 2 tsp caster sugar
- Add boiling water to chopped chocolate in the top of a double boiler and stir until melted.
- Pour chocolate into medium-sized bowl and add the egg yolk, whisking until incorporated add cream and whisk til smooth.
- Beat egg white until soft peaks form.
- Add sugar and continue beating until the sugar is dissolved.
- Gently fold egg white mixture into chocolate mixture using spatula.
- Pour mousse into two glasses.
- Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
- Serve topped with whipped cream and grated chocolate
The chocolate mousse sounds very tasty and very rich. 🙂
Yeah for the in-laws. They sound like they’re a hoot to be around. The kind of old timers we’d like to be, still together after all these years and feisty.
I have always said when I get old I want to be just like my mother-in-law. 🙂
Hehe they sound so entertaining! Like they should have their own television show or something! 😛 That mousse looks divine and so rich!
God help us if they had a tv show 🙂
Your in-laws sound like a lot of fun to be around. There’s something fun about a really old couple that bickers all the time because you know that they love each other but they just can’t help themselves. Chocolate Mousse is one of my favorite desserts and even though I’m not going to attempt the recipe you provided, I am going to stare at it for a bit, lol! Thanks!
Chocolate mousse is really easy to make and pretty much no-fail. You should give it a try. 🙂 Even melting chocolate and mixing it with whipped cream is a great start.
My mother in law is an amazing chef as well. She makes delicious desserts and each time I come to her place she presents something new. You in-laws sound like a great couple 🙂
Marta, they are a great couple. They won’t be around much longer and that will be very sad. Amazing that at 92 they still live on their own and stilld drive!
They sound like a lot of fun at a dinner party 😀 There’s something about older couples bickering in a familiar way that makes me smile – it’s almost a way of showing affection (or perhaps I’m just delusional). This mousse looks great too!
Kari, they drive me nuts sometimes. Mostly they are wonderful. My mother-in-law always looks like she stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine – a perfect size 6. She puts me to shame. 🙂
smiled all the way throughout your post – my Mom and Dad were not like this (Dad passed away a few years ago, my will turn 89 soon) – but our former neighbors and great friends are 15 years younger than your in-laws, adore each other, but bicker probably as much or more…. it’ s a hoot to be around them
now to the mousse – I’ve had a love-and-hate relationship with chocolate mousse forever. Haven’t found THE perfect example, tried even one professed to be the best EVER by a pretty popular food blog (not naming names 😉
This post cracked me up so much, even just the title. That conversation reminds me of my grandparents so much. And the mousse looks spectacular.
Maureen, this is hilarious. I can just picture that conversation! It reminds me of several people I know. I love how simple your m-i-l’s mousse is – definitely trying this. Have a great weekend.
I know you can’t pick your in-laws but you got a lucky draw! They sound so fun and you have a wonderful outlook. I’d have Joan as mine just to get a spoonful of this mousse! So simply prepared – you know I’m loving that now! I have to make this for my next dinner party!
My in laws are great too, but of course there are always those trying moments with all people 🙂 That mousse looks amazing, I wish I had some for breakfast right now 🙂
Hi Maureen,
You’re in-laws sounds like a cute couple and nice folks to have around. This mousse looks beautiful and I love the elegant setting, especially the first photo.
Fun post. Your in-laws sound like a ton of fun. My parents are in their age range (my father 91, mother 88) so I know exactly what you’re talking about from my own experiences. My in-laws, alas, are long since deceased. Nice looking mousse. But as you know, photography is really, really difficult. Your m-i-l is going to have to make this several more times so you can get the perfect picture. 😉
Your in-laws are so cute. I was chuckling all the way through the post.They sound a LOT like my parents, who, incidentally, are not even that old or even hard of hearing…yet. But they too have been married for 40 something years, and do a lot of the stuff you mentioned. But they can’t live without each other, and create mayhem when with each other everyday.
Oh inlaws!
I know what you mean about stories being retold over and over..I have been married for 9 years and there are stories I know word by word lol
I love the chocolate mouse recipe. It is the perfect cold treat if you ask me
I had very good inlaws too, sadly my MIL passed away over 15 years ago and my 87 year old FIL is barely awake most of the time, so you are indeed fortunate to have such active inlaws and so self sufficient. Their bickering sounds entertaining! Of course, I don’t have to sit through it. I love chocolate mousse recipes too and noticed that this one doesn’t have too much cream, which is a lovely change.
I don’t mind at home, Eva, it’s only when we’re in a crowded restaurant and my mother-in-law critiques the fashion as it walks through the door. loudly whispering. 🙂
I don’t have in-laws to worry about, but yours sound very entertaining! As for the mousse, how divine!
Laura, I’m willing to rent out the in-laws anytime you need a laugh 🙂
That mousse looks simple decadent!
I’m sure the banter helps keep them young … thinking they are whispering is a crack-up! The mousse looks amazing! I will have to try the recipe, it sounds fabulous.
Oh yes, I can so so relate! Love my in-laws, but we do have some fun (and funny) conversations. I love your writing, always, and your recipes always make me swoon. This mousse looks like it was made for me. Thanks for sharing!
Aww, thanks so much, you’re really kind. I strive to get better all the time but it’s so slow! 🙂
Maureen, what a fun people are your in-laws!:) Reminds me of my parents on rare occasions…The mousse is definitely delicious, saving it!
I love that you shared all this about your in laws. I’m lucky too but then my MIL doesn’t really speak English which has pretty much insured that we get along great. Our entire relationship is built on the “oh, this is delicious” faces we make when we eat each other’s cooking. She is a fantastic cook so there is nothing for us to disagree on because we can’t really talk about anything.
My in-laws speak Australian but that doesn’t get me any reprieve other than to remind me that the Queen’s English is the only proper English. 🙂
Okay your in-laws are cracking me up!!! They sound like lovely people, and people that adore wine too:-) Your mousse looks like it would be one happy bite after another:-) Hugs, Terra
Loooooooool!!! Absolutely hilarious!
Rich and decadent! Just the treat I’d like right now!
Funny post, Maureen! I had a smile throughout reading it.
The mousse looks decadent. I love the presentation. Very chic!
Haha this will probably be me and my bf if we end up getting married and growing old together -_-
you could do worse 🙂 my in-laws are really lovely. sometimes they’re a PITA (pain in the ass) but not often