“Our guests are expected in a week and the gas burners are beginning to play up,” I grumbled.
“So what’s new?” my husband asked. “Isn’t that a regular phenomenon? It’s not just when we have guests. They are at it all the time.”
He was right. All the burners of the gas stove, whether you have just two or the luxury of four, seldom work well at the same time – golden gas rule. I love my black glass-topped gas stove with three burners, acquired after an impassioned declamation built around the vagaries of gas burners.
“Deadly timing,” I persisted in my contention that the burners go on French leave when I need them most.
Never given to superstition, he looked sceptical at my illogical arguments and delivered a counter-lecture citing commonsensical reasons why burners cease to work efficiently when treated with scant respect. “For example,” he said, employing his favourite explicatory expression, “they won’t function if clogged.”
His contention was simple. “You and the help are careless when you cook, allowing milk, rice or lentils to boil over. No use wiping the burners clean, the damage is done. Then again …”
He gave more examples and ended with a pleased, “Have I ever allowed anything to boil over?” “Never!” I...Read more
