Burnt

Friday night, trying to get a rise out of JenH, I said that nothing I cook for myself is ever bad. She ignored me, and I jinxed myself.

I made my apple pie on Saturday and put it in the oven. Half an hour later I smelt burning. My pie was turning black and the apples inside were still raw. My oven is apparently broken, and I have to go buy an oven thermometer so I can figure out what is going on and then see about getting it fixed. I hate these crappy apartment rental ovens.

As a result, I had to run to the store and get ice cream to take with me instead to the dinner Saturday night. I picked up some cookie dough ice cream, because I know some misguided people like raw cookie dough (ugh), and a tub of my passionate favorite, Haagen Daz rocky road. The other ice cream I got, just to round things out, was the Haagen Daz strawberry cheesecake, which is sooooo good.

In other cooking news, I tried made a Thai vegetable curry on the weekend, avoiding the oven and using the stovetop. It was sort of insipid and watery. Last night I replenished my stock of granola. I really do not like to eat boxed cereal. Homemade granola is way better tasting, better for you, and cheaper (if you get the ingredients from the cheap bulk bins at the grocery store). It’s also incredibly fast and easy to make. If any of you are interested in trying to make your own, here’s the basics:

• 4 cups oats (flake oats, not quick or instant)
• 2 cups grated coconut
• 1 cup flaked almonds
• 3/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
• 1/2 cup honey

Mix the oats, coconut, and almonds together. Stir together the honey and oil, then stir it into the oat mixture. Spread the mixture onto a large cookie sheet and bake til golden in the oven at 400 degrees, stirring occasionally to evenly cook the granola.

• 3 cups raisins/ dried fruit like cranberries, blueberries
• 1 cup chopped apricots or pears or figs
• 1 cup chopped pecans or cashews

Once the granola is evenly toasted, remove from the oven and stir in the additional fruit and nuts. If you prefer sunflower seeds, rice krispies, etc. you can swap them out for the fruit and nuts. Any granola you don’t want right away can be stored in the freezer.