All righty then! Can you guess what this is? I think it looks a little bit like I have summoned Satan who has possessed my coconut cream pie.
Might as well be that.
What the fucking fuck?
I knew I shouldn't put the pie under the broiler that close to brown it. I mean, it wasn't even as close as it could get. AND it was in there less than a minute.
But, but, but...
I didn't want to put the pie in the oven at a baking temperature because the pastry at the bottom of it was already plenty brown enough and the internet assured me that using the broiler to brown the meringue was a time honored way to do it and even suggested using the highest rack available and I believed them. Which, if I were in my right mind and younger, I never would have. I also hardly ever use the broiler and I guess I just didn't realize the supernatural power of it. I think you could brown ice cream under that thing.
But it is a pretty cool picture, don't you think? How telling it is that after my initial horror at the smell and sight of flames shooting out of a coconut cream pie, I reached for my phone to get a shot. I knew the flames weren't going to spread and they quickly died down and went out.
I scraped all the burnt meringue off and what lies underneath seems pretty okay. And then I whipped some cream to use as a topping and so all is not lost.
It's been a slightly unusual day in other ways, too. The heat is even worse than it has been and it feels as if you tried to go outside and do anything more strenuous than standing in the shade for a minute, you would almost instantly look like my pie did. We, too, are under the dreaded Heat Dome and it is not even vaguely tolerable outside.
Also, I have just not been hungry today. At all. I have not spoken much lately about the Zepbound Journey but I am still on it, still marveling at how the importance of food and eating has lost it's place in my personal hierarchy of needs. I've been on the third increase in dosage for three weeks now and I'm staying right here with it for at least another month. I'm still not having side-effects beyond a little bit of a dry mouth at times which is hardly a big deal. And I still do get hungry at which point I eat. Generally three very sensible (mostly) meals a day and my delicious snack of cottage cheese and fruit. I managed on our trip to make decent choices, I think, and was very happy about that.
But today? Not so much. I had to give my egg to Mr. Moon at breakfast and lunch was a small bowl of salad on top of some quinoa and my snack was a few cherries. I have no idea what caused this sudden disinterest in food today but I am sure things will be back to normal by tomorrow. I'm cooking some fish tonight and new potatoes that we grew, maybe green beans, and a tomato and cucumber salad. So I'm not exactly starving here.
Speaking of fish...
I actually think I see the face of Satan in that pie. That's hilarious, and sad, because it took you days to get it all ready to go-dumb broiler! How'd it taste? :D Happy Birthday, early! -Nicol
ReplyDeleteIt was just about as good as a pie can get. Seriously.
DeleteI know in my heart that the pie...with burned parts removed.....will be well worthy of eating! Ooops.....yep...broiler gets me almost every time..no matter how hard I try! And.....sending Birthday wishes for you for tomorrow.......another sun trip, fun trip.......or trip...in general...a FULL trip in all ways..... may your day be full of love and good
ReplyDeleteSusan M
Thank you, Susan. It's been a good day.
DeleteHmm. Creme brulee.
ReplyDeleteOh, to be 71 again! Happy birthday!
DeleteWell, thankfully, underneath the burned parts, it was almost as delicious as a good creme brulee.
DeleteYes. I am trying to remember that 71 is very young.
Flaming Coconut Cream pie makes me think of Baked Alaska which I've had only in a restaurant.
ReplyDeleteYou made a good rescue removing the burned top and replacing it with cream. Sounds perfect to me.
Your freezer is well stocked with fresh fish, and your photo shows a great catch.
Wishing you all the best on your B-day! Celebrating with Hank and Rachel will be fun. They never disappoint.
I knew the fire wasn't going to spread so I didn't really freak out after the initial shock. Fire? In the oven? A pie on fire?
DeleteYes. We are rich in fish.
I've had a good birthday for sure.
Have to say I love the picture of Satan's Coconut Cream Pie. Good on ya for sharing it. Nice save by the way. Think I have told you this before, but we share a birthday, so Happy B-Day to you.
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten, Jim! Happy birthday to you, too!
DeleteYES satanic pie- My favorite! Good save BTW- whipped cream fixes a lot of things in this life. I am seven years older than you, you baby! Have a great day even if there is nothing going on. Send Maurice to bad kitty camp!
ReplyDeleteThe photo of the menfolk and their mermaids is splendid!
I will probably never stop laughing about that pie. If I hadn't been right there, it would not have been a laughing matter though. And it turned out to be delicious.
DeleteI think I need to send Maurice to reform school. Do they still have those?
Yes. Those guys were happy, happy, happy.
The fish are impressive.
ReplyDeleteEven more impressive is the fact that you were so fast with the camera. I would have just been screaming. My mother told me to crack the oven door when I was broiling and so I have always done that. (Funny I rarely listened to my mother but for some reason I follow that rule) Since I have the door ajar I always watch it color under the broiler and yes it happens fast.
I remember when it was a well-known fact that you had to keep the door open when using the broiler. The instructions that came with my oven did not mention it and I've just looked it up. Supposedly, some newer ovens do not require the open door.
DeleteForgot to say happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThose are two outstanding photos - Satan Possessed Coconut Creme Pie and those snappers (and happy fishermen) (I'm green with envy, in our land-locked state)! Happy birthday, youngster! Enjoy your lunch with Hank and May - that sounds like a perfect celebration.
ReplyDeleteChris from Boise
We are very lucky indeed to live in a place where we can get fresh fish. It's not cheap though, even if you catch it yourself. Maintaining a boat and paying for the fuel probably makes it more expensive than in the stores but at least we know it's fresh.
DeleteHappy birthday to you!🎉🥰Xo, Rigmor
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Rigmor.
DeleteOh dear, that pie! But when you said you just scraped the top off and covered it with cream I had to laugh. When I heard the sound of scraping in the mornings as a kid it meant that mom had burned the toast again - but we lived didn't we! Happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteOh gosh. You have reminded me of that sound of scraping burnt toast. Why was the toast always burned? My mother would say, as she handed us our black, scraped toast- "It's good for you."
DeleteHappy Birthday for tomorrow! I hope the "burn" flavour didn't travel through the pie. Those are three fine looking fish!
ReplyDeleteIt didn't! The pie was delicious.
DeleteI would have immediately grabbed my camera, too. Amazing! More amazing is that you resurrected it. That catch the guys are showing off looks so good. Happy birthday, dear Mary Moon! I’m glad you came into my life. Wishing you a day filled with love and a wonderful lunch with Hank and May. Consider yourself wrapped in Spanish hugs.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read your comment this morning, it made me smile so big. Thank you, Mitchell. You make me so very happy. And now I've just listened to Blood, Sweat, and Tears singing that song. Instant time travel. Thanks for reminding me.
DeleteGreat save, and I do think taking a photo first was a bit crazy! Hope that pie was tasty at least. Have a very happy day this year to celebrate another trip around the sun. I have quite a few years on you, and remember how wonderful it felt to finally be in my 70s. It can be lots of fun, and I'm sure your next decade will be full of fulfillment and adventures.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet message, Barbara! I am very grateful to be reminded that it's definitely not all over at 71. And everything does become more precious at 70, doesn't it?
DeleteA flambéed coconut cream pie. I would have taken a picture of it, too.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a very happy birthday!
I mean- how often do you get a chance to take a picture of a flaming pie? The opportunity arose. I took it!
DeleteI'm impressed that you were able to scrape off the meringue and save that pie! Good work, Mary!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful birthday and that the year is filled with peace, love, laughter, good health, and fun adventures. xo
Rather unbelievable that the pie's taste was not ruined.
DeleteThank you for the wonderful birthday wishes.
Happy birthday Mary! And many more.
ReplyDeleteI stopped on the highway once, to take a photo of a boat on fire. The owner of the boat, saw me take out my phone and said, don't worry, I've already called 911. I felt so bad, but I really wished I had gotten a photo of that boat:)
Oh my god, that made me laugh. I adore you.
DeleteYeah, the 70s and I don't mean my 20s. I remember when the thought that I would be alive when the century turned from 1999 to 2000 was astounding! I would be so old at 50! and now I'm 25 years past that.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you managed to salvage the pie. Broilers are devilish. You can look at whatever is under it and it's barely turning brown and then 2 seconds later it's burnt.
I can remember vividly the place I was standing when I did the math as a child to see how old I would be in 2000. I was almost certain I'd be long-gone by then. Perspectives really do change as we get older, don't we?
DeleteYes. Broilers are tools of Satan. I have proof now.
My coconut cream pie story - I was a young mother (harried, pressed for time, and expecting in-laws visit) So filling made from scratch, pie shell made from scratch, glorious meringue 3 inches high, put in oven....Oh my God, I forgot to bake the pie shell!! So out of the oven, scooped off the meringue, scooped out the filling, baked the shell, replaced the filling, salvaged the meringue, and tried again. Believe it or not, it was very presentable - no one ever knew. My mother-in-law was not a baker, so she was impressed with anything this little southern girl baked.
ReplyDeleteOh, Ana! What a great story! You were incredibly smart and determined to save that pie. I commend you!
DeleteMonday morning and a hearty wish for a beautiful birthday day!
ReplyDeleteBoth the refurbished pie and those fish are OMG-worthy!
Happy = time spent with Hank and May! 🎂🍸
And I got to see Lily and all of hers too so it was extra special.
DeleteI'm glad you were able to save the pie! That must have been alarming but in retrospect it IS pretty funny. Those are some beautiful fish! Happy early birthday. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Steve. I have a feeling you would have taken a picture too. I mean- what an opportunity!
DeleteHappy Birthday Mary! So many of my favorite people are born in July, including you! I hope you have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like a lot of birthdays come along in July. I just looked it up and found out that August is the month when most babies are born, followed closely by July. Ha!
DeleteHappy birthday tomorrow Mary. Seeing your children for lunch on your birthday, now you know i think there is nothing better. Enjoy it and also have no expectations, because i find it is expectations that always humbugs up my celebratory days.
ReplyDeleteIt was absolutely great. Thank you, Rosemarie! And you're right about expectations. I had none and so it was a humbug-free birthday!
DeleteHappy birthday!! I hope the day is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteIt's been very, very good.
DeleteBest birthday wishes!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary!
Delete