
The first thing I want to say for the record is that the smoke alarm did not go off. Whether because it wasn’t working or because of my quick-thinking leap to open all the doors and windows, I’m not sure. But I want you to know it did not go off. I count this as a point in my favor.
So here’s how it all started. I was shopping for some snacks to fuel a marathon writing project when I came upon sweet potato chips. I had had these before and they were yummy and tempting and certainly healthier than some of the other snacks beckoning to me. But I thought the price was a bit steep. Suddenly I got one of my flashes of brilliance. They come upon me now and again. I could make my own chips for a fraction of the price. All I needed was a couple of sweet potatoes or yams and a bit of oil and salt. What could be simpler?
In retrospect I’d say buying the chips would have been a whole lot simpler. Anyway, I got home, sliced the yams, sprinkled them with a little salt, tossed them on an oiled tray, and into the oven they went. There they stayed for what turned out to be a bit too long.
Immersed in my project, I slowly became aware of the unmistakable smell of something forgotten in the oven. When I finally rescued them, half the batch was burnt to a crisp. The last thing I want to say for the record is that the other half was pretty good.
So here’s how it all started. I was shopping for some snacks to fuel a marathon writing project when I came upon sweet potato chips. I had had these before and they were yummy and tempting and certainly healthier than some of the other snacks beckoning to me. But I thought the price was a bit steep. Suddenly I got one of my flashes of brilliance. They come upon me now and again. I could make my own chips for a fraction of the price. All I needed was a couple of sweet potatoes or yams and a bit of oil and salt. What could be simpler?
In retrospect I’d say buying the chips would have been a whole lot simpler. Anyway, I got home, sliced the yams, sprinkled them with a little salt, tossed them on an oiled tray, and into the oven they went. There they stayed for what turned out to be a bit too long.
Immersed in my project, I slowly became aware of the unmistakable smell of something forgotten in the oven. When I finally rescued them, half the batch was burnt to a crisp. The last thing I want to say for the record is that the other half was pretty good.