Technically I did not burn down the house, but I burned the crap out of a pot of chili. I had my cast iron pot filled with what I thought was simmering chili before I went upstairs to do a little work. I came back down stairs to a smoky house and about an inch of chili char on the bottom of the pan. My smoke alarms will normally shriek and yell if I so much as get a piece of toast extra crispy, but this time there was not even a whimper from them.
For about a week everyday I would boil water in said pan and scrape. Empty water, fill, repeat. Today I finally got the pan completely cleaned, but I broke every law of single cast iron ownership in the process. I scrubbed and scrubbed with steel wool and (gasp) soap. Now I am having to start from scratch seasoning the pan. Bummer! It makes me ill to start over. At least I save bacon grease and the whole house smells good, as the bacon fat filled pan is baking on a low heat.
Oh, I hate to burn a cast iron pot and have to spend so much time to revive the pot. Like you said, at least bacon grease is good to make the house smell nice plus season the pan. Maybe you should check the smoke alarms. Pretty tree.
ReplyDeleteI just hate the re-seasoning process, but I had to do it. I would hate losing the pan more.
DeleteWhat a disaster with the pot.
ReplyDeleteI like your tree.
Our home smells particularly Christmassy today. For more years than I care to think about I have been making Christmas cakes as gifts for family and friends. Today I finished the 2020 batch. Next week I will move on to shortbread and gluten free chocolate brownies. And then to wrapping/posting the haul.
Oh what wonderful gifts! I don't have a house that smells like Christmas today, in fact it is in complete disarray.
DeleteOh, no! So sorry to hear about the pot. But, so glad you didn't burn down your house! I would check the smoke detectors just to make sure they are working!
ReplyDeleteThat tree looks gorgeous!
They are working, I evidently had the door closed to the master control and it did not pick up the smoke
DeleteYikes! I burn cookies all the time because I get distracted with other things while I'm waiting for them to bake and I don't hear the timer go off.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah cookies are likely to burn here too.
DeleteI am enjoying your Christmas sightings. You have a knack for making things look pretty. And I had a near brush with a fire in the kitchen last week. Must be something in the air (besides smoke).
ReplyDeleteI think there is still a lot of 2020 bad juju happening!
DeleteGlad you didn't burn your house down! Sorry about your chili and having to start over with your cast iron. Your little tree is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI am glad I did not burn the house down too!
DeleteI'm glad you were able to clean your cast iron pan after the chili episode.
ReplyDeleteMe too Belinda. You would have thought I 'd have learned by now!
DeleteI would be ill too! Hubs washes my cast iron skillet all the time and I haven't killed him yet(though that is grounds for divorce in some pockets of the South, right?).
ReplyDeleteOr even murder! Lol
DeleteOh no. So sorry you burnt your pan, but yay that you were able to get it cleaned. I will admit that cooking in cast iron scares me. Your tree is very pretty!
ReplyDeleteCast iron can take a beating and will last for over 100 years. They just don't take well to scrubbing unless you season them right away.
DeleteSo glad you were able to save the pan. I didn't feel well yesterday, and put a small pot of chicken & dumplings (from the freezer) on the stove to reheat. I must not have had it as low as I thought, because I came out after a shower & the bottom of the pan was burned & stuck. I was able to salvage the rest of the soup & a good soak got everything off (not cast iron). But, what a good time. ;-)
ReplyDeleteYour tree looks lovely! Today I'm planning to make cardamom bread (will freeze for the holidays). One more festive task to get done. Also need to finish up the scarf I'm crocheting.
Do you share recipes? I would love to try the cardamom bread
DeleteI'm so sorry-for th eloss of the chili, th esmell, and the new work on your pan. We;ve had a microwave issue-something sparked and we can't figur eout what. Now I can only use it for under 10 minutes at a time. Tiis not even two years old.
ReplyDeleteI just need to remember to make all soups, stews and chilis in either the crock pot or stainless.
DeleteYour tree is so pretty! And your mentioning almost burning the house down makes me think I should check the battery in my smoke alarm!
ReplyDeleteMine are even working. I guess the smoke was just contained in the kitchen and never made it to the detector.
ReplyDeleteNow I don't feel as bad about the food I burned yesterday. It was roast beef. I have never before burned a roast, but that one went in the trash. At least I was using a covered pot that can go in the dishwasher. The tree is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie