The Chiffon Disaster

The title of this post is curtesy of my friend, Gwendy who wrote about the Disaster Cherry Jam

For dessert on an Easter dessert, I decided to make a lemon chiffon. This is lemon curd, stirred into unflavored gelitan, and then stiffened eggwhites.

To make lemon curd, you need a double boiler. I have a double boiler. However, out of vanity, I decided that my one-quart double-boiler was not big enough. Not big enough for four egg yolks, 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1/2 cup sugar. My very, very bad.

I have 2 2 quart pans. Slightly different configurations. However, they nest together. I decided I could use them for my double-boiler. Put water in the larger, put egg yolks, sugar and lemon juice in the smaller. Set water to boil. Once water was boiling, put second pan into first. Began stirring. Notices pans had apparently locked together. Thought "Oh shit, will have problems separating them later." Continued stirring custard.

Laws of physics ignore ignorance of cooks. Boiling water created sufficient pressure to blow entire matter off stove.

I remember giving one LOUD "YIP!" My husband heard POP of pan forcing up, my "YIP", then my SCREAMS as boiling mixture hit my face.

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Does not begin to describe!!!!

DROPPED PANS, TURNED FROM STOVE, TURNED ON FAUCET, SOAKED DISHRAG AND PLACED AGAINST FACE!!! REPEATEDLY!!!!

George grabed a bowl, poured in ice and ice water, handed me dishtowel, and I continued face applications!!!!!!!!!!

Once I could remove towel from face for more than 15 seconds, called Gwendy. She knew when I said "Is this nurse Gwendy?" that SOMETHING was wrong.

She brought me salve, and fortuneately, other than one or two blisters on my face, I am mostly recovered.

Clearly, my dessert for tomorrow is not going to happen as scripted. However, I still have eggwhites and lemmon zest. I believe it will turn into lemon macaroons.

BTW. Gwendy and Gil were ALREADY my guests for dinner tomorrow, BEFORE I needed "nurse Gwendy"

NEXT time I go to make lemon chiffon, I will use the 1 quart double boiler. And honestly, how ofter would I EVER need anything bigger??