Stupid Much?

Have you ever went out of your way for someone else? Let's say something like,trying to learning how to make a food from someone else's culture. I tried making something from a different culture. My family is big on italian food. Spaghetti, Lasagna....things of that nature. I tried making something that bascially revolved around with hispanic seasonings. Well, I made it for James, and it didn't come out perfect. I tried really hard to make it as close to what he's used to as possible. I asked him for help with it, and he said he would after he was done playing this game. So, I had to start making it without him. By the time he was finished the game and came to help, I was done everything. He critized everything that I had made. For example, I put to much water in this thing, and he was like, "Oh that's to much water." I didn't listen to him, because I was mad that he didn't help me in the first place. Then he was talking to his mom on the phone, and was telling her that I tried making it, and that I wouldn't listen to what he said, and that its gonna be all wrong when its done. After all that, I felt really stupid for even trying to make it. When the food was done, I thought I did a good job. It didn't taste exactly like his moms does, but it wasn't to much different in my opinion. I just to need practice with the seasonings and the amount. But I thought it was kind of mean how he called his mom and stuff. I felt like they were making fun of me. But I told him how I felt and he apologized and said he didn't mean to make me feel that way. So I feel a little better now. But I wanted to write about it, and wondered if anyone had ever tried to make something out of their culture, and if yes, how did it come out?