I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and long weekend. I ended up taking Thursday off (not a company holiday) so I could sleep in a little, finish up a scarf I was knitting for my mom’s stocking and cook Christmas Eve dinner. Besides, I was feeling pretty under the weather.
All went according to plan except for when I got to the salad. Typically, we enjoy a delicious applesauce and strawberry Jello salad during the holidays. The night before our dinner, I mix everything together so it has ample time to set – this includes a cup of applesauce. When we had done our grocery shopping for the meal, I decided we didn’t need applesauce, because we had half a jar leftover from Thanksgiving. Rookie mistake. Did you know applesauce goes bad approximately 10 days after opening the jar? I didn’t. I saw that on the label when I went to make the salad, but it was already 9 PM or so and the stores were closed. I had to make the salad so it would set overnight and be ready for Christmas Eve. Despite the smell of feet, I told myself everything would be ok. The next day, when I pulled the salad out to finish it up, I realized my hopes had been smashed. The salad didn’t miraculously go “un-bad.” It was still nasty.
I ruined Christmas Eve salad.
I was a little annoyed, but I could deal with one ruined dish. Who needs the Jello salad anyway? Well I decided to move on to the pecan pie. I was making it completely from scratch. I have made many pies from scratch before, but I had never made pecan pie. I have this great little pie tin with holes in it to allow the dough to breathe. I also like to poke little holes in the dough with a fork to allow extra opportunities for air to escape so the dough doesn’t bubble up. Apparently I lost my common sense, because I poked holes in the dough in the pan with the holes when I was making a pie that had a very runny filling. Thirty minutes into baking, John went to check on the pie and discovered we had a pie full of slightly candied pecans and an oven bottom full of pecan pie sugar goo.
I ruined Christmas Eve pie.
It was 3:15 PM. Fortunately, the commissary was open until 4. All the German grocery stores were closed. We got there as fast as we could and bought a frozen Sara Lee pecan pie and some more ingredients to make the Jello salad for Christmas day instead. I made myself feel better about my mistakes by noting how many other people were at the store and pretending that all of them had ruined parts of their meals too.
For whatever reason, I decided to share this wisdom with the checker. It came out something along the lines of “wow, there are lots of people here with ruined meals.” As if that makes any sense without the back story! Then, I smiled. Apparently I had a huge speck of pepper in my tooth.
I am refined, ladylike and a very competent cook.
I somehow ruined a spinach quiche earlier this year (though I’m still not entirely sure how I did this). I opened the oven door and I had a pie crust with spinach in it, and an oven bottom full of perfectly cooked quiche (the fluffy egg part). Somehow that part had fallen? overflown? no idea! out of the pie crust leaving the spinach behind. I was so sad.
The other people in the store probably DID have partially ruined meals, that or they were just then beginning their holiday preperations.
Sorry about your quiche, but I’m glad I’m not alone in the pie-related foods fiascos.
OHH okay. That makes more sense. I was thinking that you ruined a lettuce salad… I couldn’t figure it ou!
🙂 Ya know, I’m pretty sure I could ruin a lettuce salad too. Other than dousing it with dressing, I’m not sure what I would do to ruin it, but I’m sure it could be done!
Sorry about your pie and salad! Sounds like you were able to get it taken care of though, just not the way you planned….
It’s been fun hearing about your visit with your family, glad you’re having such a nice time with them!
Thanks, Heather! We’re enjoying keeping up with you guys via your blog as well.