The Pie That Almost Caught My House on Fire

So yesterday I decided to make a strawberry-rhubarb pie. (I actually went to the produce market and bought more rhubarb. I tell you, my obsession runs deep.)

Anyway, all was well and fine while I was baking the pie. With only ten minutes left of baking, I removed the foil from the edges of the crust. I came back in a few minutes later and removed the pie from the oven. It had bubbled over in the oven. I was annoyed about the mess, because in May the same thing had happened right after I had cleaned the oven and I really loathe dirty ovens. (And microwaves! Don't get me started on that one.)

I had a "rustic raspberry pie/tart" in the oven on a small baking sheet, but it needed a little more time, so I turned on the timer and walked away. When I came back in, the inside of my oven was on fire. At first the flame was small, like a candle. Then it grew to about 10-12." Smoke was billowing out of the oven. I was freaked out a bit and freaked the little ones out a bit, too.

The flame extinguished itself in what seemed like forever. And after I determined we were safe from danger, Sawyer and Spenser walked into the kitchen wearing plastic firefighters' helmets on their heads and paper doctors' masks on their faces.

But I saved the pies! Oh, and the house, too.

Today I think I'll stick to making another batch of strawberry-rhubarb jam.