Should I Share Our Secret Meatloaf Recipe with Cousins New Partner?

Some families have secret recipes, and some families have secret drama, and this one has both. It all started at a family dinner where OPs prized meatloaf got the kind of reaction that makes everyone lean in, including the newest person at the table.

OP (33M) comes from a long line of cooks, and their meatloaf recipe is basically a family heirloom. His cousin Sarah just introduced her new partner, Alex, and Alex was so impressed he asked for the recipe to surprise Sarah. OP said no, not because Alex can’t cook, but because Sarah’s past partners allegedly took the recipes to impress her, then disappeared, leaving tension behind.

Now OP is stuck watching Sarah avoid him and Alex shoot cold looks, all because of one meatloaf request.

Original Post

I (33M) come from a long line of excellent cooks, and our family's secret meatloaf recipe has been passed down for generations. It's a cherished tradition that's always brought us together at family dinners.

Recently, my cousin, Sarah, introduced her new partner, Alex, to the family. During a family dinner, Alex raved about how delicious the meatloaf was and asked if he could have the recipe to surprise Sarah with it.

Now, Sarah and I have always been close, but Alex is new to the family, and I'm unsure about sharing our secret recipe with someone who isn't officially part of the family yet. For background, Sarah's previous partners have had a habit of using family recipes to impress her and then disappearing after a while, causing tension within the family when they walk away with our cherished dishes.

I'm worried that the same might happen with Alex. Whenever Sarah has shared our recipes before, it hasn't ended well.

So, when Alex asked for the meatloaf recipe, I politely declined, explaining my concerns. However, Sarah and Alex were visibly disappointed.

They argued that it's just a recipe and shouldn't cause any issues. I understand their perspective, but I can't shake the feeling of protecting our family tradition and keeping it within the family circle.

Sarah is upset with me, stating that it's unfair to exclude Alex, especially as they're serious about their relationship. Alex thinks I'm being unreasonable and should be more welcoming to him.

The tension at family gatherings has increased since then, with Sarah avoiding me and Alex giving me cold looks. So, Reddit, AITA for refusing to share my family's secret meatloaf recipe with my cousin's new partner, even though it's causing friction within the family?

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This is similar to the family tradition fight where someone refused to share the meatloaf recipe with their sister’s partner.

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That dinner turned into a spotlight moment when Alex asked for the recipe right after he praised OPs meatloaf.

OP kept his “no” steady, even while Sarah and Alex pushed back that it’s “just a recipe.”

The real problem is that OP is worried history is repeating itself, with past partners allegedly vanishing after using family dishes to impress Sarah.

Since OP refused, Sarah has been giving him the silent treatment and Alex has been serving cold looks at the family gatherings.

What would you do in this situation? Share your opinion in the comments.

The family dinner may have tasted great, but the meatloaf recipe is the thing that blew everything up.

Wondering if Sarah’s new partner is crossing a line, read why the cousin was judged for keeping the secret recipe.