Thanksgiving Disasters
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![Thanksgiving is coming and so are the relatives, all of which brings up memories of Thanksgiving Disasters Past.
We’ve had knock down drag outs in Mammoth, flues that cleared tables, been lost on roads that seemed to go in circles on our way to Big Bear, and had arguments that made moving to Syberia seem like a completely plausible solution.
It’s a wonder we do this year after year, yet in approximately one week’s time I will once again have a house brimming with people and more bellies to feed than I can fathom. My oven will be full of food that will hopefully not burn. (The National Fire Protection Agency says, “Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.”) But just in case, I’ve got my fire extinguisher handy and Pizza Hut on speed dial.
Unfortunately, kitchen fires aren’t the only cooking hazard that can occur on Turkey Day. Just when you think you’ve got the flames under control your bake ware can spontaneously explode. It’s true. I’ve seen it with my own eyes--my sister-in-law’s Thanksgiving Ham wound up in the kitchen sink. Whether the glass Pyrex dish was just responding to the pressure to perform or trying to get a little extra attention, upon eruption it caused a big bang and posed a serious hazard.
[See Three Years Later: Pyrex Dishes Still Go Boom. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/08/pyrex.html]
But really, once the burning birds and exploding hams are under control, all that is left to wrangle is the family squabbles. I’m sure you have a Leave It To Beaver family where June and Ward are sitting across from one another complimenting each other’s lovely attire, but in my dysfunctional family snarky remarks and hot topic debates fly around the room like a bat trying to escape. Suffice it to say there have been years when the only thing our guests were thankful for was the opportunity to escape out the front door.
So with eight days and counting I’ve got my work cut out for me to prepare dinner for two dozen people--representing six different families, three different religions, two opposite political parties and several diametrical views--which won’t be half as challenging as coming up with four hours worth of safe conversation topics.
I’m just thankful we’re all in it together.
Au revoir for now (and may your ham not wind up in the sink)...n
2008 Copyright Nicole Hanratty](640DD7EF-A140-48FC-ADD8-A540D0263F12_files/shapeimage_7.png)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thanksgiving 2005
My sister-in-laws Thanksgiving Ham was in the oven cooking in a Pyrex dish. When she opened the door to pull out the ham and check on it, the dish imploded in her hands. (Luckily, she was not burned as others have reported.) When the dish shattered, the glass flew all over the place and the beautiful Thanksgiving Ham was full of shrapnel.
Pyrex safety tips say, “Avoid severe hot and cold temperature changes. ... Use minimum amount of cooking time. ... No stovetop, broiler, toaster oven, microwave, browner or any other direct heat source. ... Do not add liquid to hot dish or place hot dish or glass cover in sink, immerse in water or place on cold or wet surfaces.”
