It's Christmas Eve and I thought I'd get an early start on my last baking. I was really far with everything yesterday but the lights started flashing, so I was afraid to continue. But the power stayed on. So this morning I had to tackle the gluten-free apple tart. I've been experimenting for years to get it right, with mixed success, so last year I made a gluten-free trifle instead, but hardly anyone would eat it. So this year it's back to experimenting with the apple tart.
My husband went shopping and chose a gluten-free cake and cookie baking mix. He couldn't call home to see if it was the right thing because the cellphone servers were still down.
Okay, so I had to make do. The crust looked and tasted good, and I put together a great-looking tart with a lattice top. Into the oven it went, and I turned on the timer. Then went to melt chocolate for cream puffs, forgot the timer was going, and didn't check first to see how long the tart had been in the oven. So, erased the tart timer by accident. Okay, will have to guess and just keep checking.
Then I notice smoke coming out the oven exhaust. Check inside, and the tart dough has liquified and is dripping all over the inside of the oven. So, put a small cookie sheet under the tart to catch the falling dough.
A few minutes later I smell something burning, and there's major smoke coming out of the oven. Look inside and there's big orange flames from the burning crust all over the bottom. The smoke alarm didn't even go off! I quickly pulled the tart out of the oven, grabbed the box of baking soda and doused the flames. Phew! Fire is out. But the tart is barely half baked, so back in the oven it goes, on a fresh, larger cookie sheet. I watched carefully, and finally it looked "done"
My husband went shopping and chose a gluten-free cake and cookie baking mix. He couldn't call home to see if it was the right thing because the cellphone servers were still down.
Okay, so I had to make do. The crust looked and tasted good, and I put together a great-looking tart with a lattice top. Into the oven it went, and I turned on the timer. Then went to melt chocolate for cream puffs, forgot the timer was going, and didn't check first to see how long the tart had been in the oven. So, erased the tart timer by accident. Okay, will have to guess and just keep checking.
Then I notice smoke coming out the oven exhaust. Check inside, and the tart dough has liquified and is dripping all over the inside of the oven. So, put a small cookie sheet under the tart to catch the falling dough.
A few minutes later I smell something burning, and there's major smoke coming out of the oven. Look inside and there's big orange flames from the burning crust all over the bottom. The smoke alarm didn't even go off! I quickly pulled the tart out of the oven, grabbed the box of baking soda and doused the flames. Phew! Fire is out. But the tart is barely half baked, so back in the oven it goes, on a fresh, larger cookie sheet. I watched carefully, and finally it looked "done"
It sure doesn't look very appetizing, but I can't start over. Hope it tastes okay, and not like smoke. So now my one cookie sheet is badly burned, and the house smells like smoke, and it's just 9 am. Oh well. They say it's the thought that counts, and I did try. Hopefully there won't be too many candles on on the table at Christmas dinner tomorrow, and people won't notice.
Hope had more success with her baking earlier in the week. She made a gluten-free fruitcake which turned out just fine. Miki doesn't care for fruitcake - like most people - so barely gives it a glance, as she's busy cutting paper snowflakes. But she does admit it looks very nice.
Hope had more success with her baking earlier in the week. She made a gluten-free fruitcake which turned out just fine. Miki doesn't care for fruitcake - like most people - so barely gives it a glance, as she's busy cutting paper snowflakes. But she does admit it looks very nice.
RSS Feed
