DEAR MISS MANNERS: At family reunions, my sister-in-law waits until everyone has been fed, the cleanup is done, and there are only a couple of us left in the kitchen, talking. She then proceeds to take a spoonful out of every dessert left.
When I learned that she does this, I stopped eating any more desserts since I don’t want to eat after her. I KNOW if I say anything, they’ll make it seem that I’m being petty. How can I suggest this is awful, without them putting it back on me?
GENTLE READER: The answer depends on the ownership of the kitchen. In your sister-in-law’s kitchen, it will be best to bite your tongue and leave the desserts to fend for themselves. In your own kitchen, Miss Manners counsels you to express enthusiasm that she enjoyed the desert, as you follow after her with tin foil, wrapping each one up and handing it to her to finish at her leisure.