Dear Abby: Friend who thinks she’s the best cook bashes everyone else’s efforts

DEAR ABBY: I have a friend who is an accomplished cook. I am not. She’s very generous and shares her efforts often, but anytime I have given her some of my better efforts, she has given me feedback like, “Adding some onion would really help this” or “Wow, you didn’t skimp on the chili powder!”

I finally decided to reciprocate by inviting her to lunches out. Now it’s, “This sauce tastes like it came out of a bottle, mine is much better” or “I tweaked my sister’s recipe for this dish; I should give it to the chef.” Frankly, I’m tired of her estimation of her talents. I never killed anybody with my cooking, and her remarks when we’re at a restaurant diminish my enjoyment. Any nice way to get her to simmer down? -- OUTDONE IN TEXAS

DEAR OUTDONE: I wonder if your friend’s culinary talents a