Ahhhh the holidays. ‘Tis the season for warm snuggly nights at home, the aroma of treats baking, and the soft glow of candles.
OR disasters in all above areas.
Welcome to Bekahland.
The weekend has been a busy one. Friday night I went to a Christmas program, Saturday I spent the day painting at a friend’s house and the evening touring the county for various ingredients necessary for the season’s baking extravaganza.
As I tried valiantly to tidy up the half-done chores around the house, I somewhat lost track of time. Before I knew it, it was after midnight, and I hadn’t even started chopping up carrots for the pot roast I planned to put in the slow cooker for today’s lunch. Yes, Mother, I did actually chop vegetables after midnight.
About 12:45, I closed up shop for the night, donned multiple layers of warm clothing, and headed for the fleece sheets. I knew I couldn’t stay in them long, but I intended to be warm while there. Since it was a tiny bit cold in the bedroom, I turned up the heat. After just a moment, I noticed that hot smell that always comes out of a heater the first time you turn it on each year. I glanced at the heater…nothing seemed wrong, so I continued getting ready for bed while waiting for the hot smell to go away.
Except what really happened was the smoke alarm went off. 12:45 in the morning on a church night and I have scattering cats and obnoxious beeping. In that moment, it occurred to me that I was the adult here. Responsibility was mine alone. After quickly turning off the heater, I looked around for real smoke. I even went all back through the house looking for other sources of smoke and/or fire. Nothing. The smoke alarm did stop…911 did not need to be summoned…and I will not be turning up the heat again. And now I know the smoke alarm is still in good working order!
Today was baking day. After church and the pot roast lunch, I headed to the kitchen to bake and bake and bake. The list was admittedly a bit long. Chocolate chip cookie cups with Reese cups in the middle, peanut butter cookies with chocolate kisses, a couple versions of chocolate bark with pretzels and toffee, peanut butter fudge, cookies and cream fudge, toffee pecan fudge, pretzel rings with chocolate kisses and M&Ms, and last but not least, some cashew brittle. And best of all…sampling all afternoon.
Oh, and might I mention that all but the peanut butter fudge were new recipes?
I got to work and before long had goodies stacking up all over the place in my tiny kitchen. After I thought the first round of the three kinds of fudge had sufficiently had time to set up in the refrigerator, I pulled them out to cut them. The cookies and cream one was a mess. I don’t know what I did wrong, but it’s considered a failure. Well…out of all those new recipes, one is bound to fail, right?
If only that had been the worst of it!
The very last recipe was the cashew brittle. It was on a page called “Microwave Magic.” HA. I combined the first two ingredients, threw them in, cooked them for the four stated minutes, pulled out the bowl, stirred, and put it back in for the next three. Somewhere toward the end of that, I realized the smell coming from the microwave was not pleasing. I opened the door and smoke poured out. Actual for real smoke. I waited for the alarm to sound again. Good grief!
Let’s just say that there won’t be cashew brittle this year. I do have a lovely purple bowl with a solid mass of never-coming-outta-there burned sugar mess. It’s good to have a humbling cooking experience now and then. But for the short term – just don’t come over to my house. It might take a day or two to lose that burned sugar smell.
And amid all that – remember the story I told you a couple of weeks ago about the three wick candle that ended up running down the side of the buffet, leaving a pool of red wax on the dining room floor? Had a similar mishap again tonight. As I passed the three wick candle on the entertainment center, I noticed a little pumpkin colored stream down the left side. I scooted in a little closer and sure enough, wax was pooling under the pine ring around it. LOVELY.
Ahhh Bekahland. Never a dull moment.
But on the bright side, I did have one good thing happen today. I think most of you know my Dad has a radio program, and I listen every week while I get ready for church. This morning, he read part of one of my Advent devotionals! I was very excited – my writing has never made it onto the radio before. And it was certainly better than the 3 year old slightly congested version of my Luke 2 recitation. (Never fear – I’m sure he’ll play that one before all is said and done.)
I’m off to take a picture of the cement brittle.
57 minutes ago
6 comments:
People who never try anything new lead incredibly dull lives. You, on the other hand, will never be dull, because your sense of adventure is much too strong.
As a general rule, I've discovered that sugar and microwaving don't mix well. ;-D
Unless you try my hubby's "recipe" for cake:
Take a cake mix, try yellow. Take some lemon lime soda. Poor in enough to make it look like cake batter. Microwave for about 3-5 minutes (or before you smell it burning).
Ya know, for a chemist, one would think he'd be a stickler for measurement!!! chuckle
I'm actually impressed. I would have screwed up at least 4 of those recipes beyond repair and the smoke alarm would have literally gone off every single time I opened the oven door (I kid you not!)
Of course, the smoke alarm thing isn't because I'm burning stuff (usually), it's just my crazy stove.
Ask me how many cookies I've baked for Christmas...that's right...none. Not a single one. And the Christmas tree...yeah, still in the basement.
You're way ahead of me.
You know of course that the purple bowl is a goner.
I've never accomplished smoke in my microwave, but my culinary explorations are of a more humble and timid sort.
"The credit belongs to the man (or woman) who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error" ...and apparently smoke pouring from the microwave.
Skyepuppy - Well if there's one thing that can be said about me - it's that life is rarely boring! :)
Tsofah - I believe I will join you on the general rule. NO MORE SUGAR IN MICROWAVE!!!
Christina - Well you can still make a mean Italian chicken. And speaking of that, I need to make that. It's been a while. Great. now I'm hungry. Want me to come set up your tree for you????
Chris - It's definitely a goner. You just wait til you see the pictures. I love the quote. Perhaps i should paint it on the kitchen wall. Did you hear me say hi yesterday when i drove by? I yelled really loud. Just ask mom. She was driving. :)
Bekah,
Yes, I heard you... And I saw you! But I have to wonder if hanging that far out the car window, flailing your arms, and screaming at the top of your lungs might be unsafe in a moving vehicle.
Is that a new coat?
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