Eating habits of nearly 3 year old step grandaughter

We had a family gathering during the last bank holiday, including my husband's almost 3 year old granddaughter.
We did a barbecue, including sausages, for Florence. Her mum said to the child, yummy sausages, and I said they would be even yummier if they were cut up. To which she replied, sausages don't get cut up. They were not small sausages, and the child looked like a savage eating them.
If she was my grandchild I would have cut the wretched things up before putting them in front of the child. It looks a bit trivial written down, but I think it's to do with expectations in general.
My husband's daughter told him yesterday that they wouldn't be joining us at Christmas, for a meal , as it's too stressful. Help.