Crystal Pratt

Why Crystal Doesn't Cook



Posted: Wednesday, December 16, 2009

by Crystal Pratt
Lesson Pathways

So, my husband's multi-million dollar place of employment gave them a whole turkey for their Christmas bonus. Yes, a whole turkey. (Nope, no sarcasm here at all...)

I have cooked turkeys. As a matter of fact, I usually make at least one per month because, well, they go far and I have a lot of people to feed. (Between the two of us, we have six kids - two being teenage boys).

Generally, I take out the top oven rack and put the bird on the bottom rack. However, as they were so generous as to give him a turkey that, well, is not much more than a chicken on steroids, I decided that I didn't need to do that. It fit nicely on the top rack with room to spare.

Or so I thought.

My fourteen month old and I were sitting on the couch, reading Open the Barnyard Door for the three hundred and thirty fifth time today when I heard a beeping from the kitchen. It wasn't the smoke alarm. I had preheated the oven so I knew it wasn't that particular beep. And I had not set the timer for the turkey - and even if I had, it had only been in there for 40 minutes or so. (Granted, it won't take long to cook. Did I mention it was a small turkey? )

I went to the oven to see a "code" flashing on the oven. "F-2" There was smoke/steam coming out of the back burner - but that happens a lot when I use the oven. (I really do think it's supposed to...but then again...)

Of course, MY first reaction is to wonder if there is a manual in one of the drawers. Instead of, you know, OPENING the oven to see what the problem was. I did have enough presence of mind to shut the oven off, at least.

That stopped the beeping for about a minute. Then it started again. I shut it off again and opened the oven to find that my turkey had apparently caught fire. The top layer of skin, well, let's just say I may serve some beans and rice and call it cajun.

I took the top rack out. I put the turkey back in. An hour later, we are alarm free. I'll be sure to ask my husband and the other kids how it tasted. One of my kids has dance tonight, so I'll be eating out. happy.gif
Crystal Pratt is a writer and content contributor for LessonPathways.
com, an education-based website that maps online educational resources into ready to teach units.
Crystal holds a Bachelor's degree +24 in education with a focus on middle level education. She lives in Illinois with her husband, four children, and two step-children.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by Marijo Phelps
 2 years 157 days ago.
143 fans.
How funny! I am trying to relate - I still do kitchen boo-boos but I had to learn how to cook (with much help from my dad) when I was 8 because mom spend most of that year in bed....but I just did the writing thing and exploded eggs in the kitchen because they boiled dry so I guess I DO relate.... GRIN, thanks for the chuckle. Marijo
» left by Crystal Pratt 2 years 157 days ago.
22 fans.
Ah, I know the exploded boiled eggs things as well. My kids and husband will never let me live that down.
 
What's funny is that I learned to cook at a young age too. And I used to be pretty good at it. The older I get, the worse I get. Isn't that backwards? :-)
» left by The Old Gray Mare
 1 year 257 days ago.
53 fans. Follow The Old Gray Mare on twitter!
Too funny. I'm with you, eating out prevents lots of hassles. I enjoyed reading. Love your style!
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