H2S's Fallibility is Showing...

[Sparkly]

H2S in the kitchen is all prowess, finesse, occasional BS -- but almost never does he really make a mistake.

Tonight we were making quesadillas. My method for flipping them is to take a spatula, toss 'em, and hope for the best. H2S, on the other hand, has this fancy-schmancy two-pan method, where he covers one pan with the other and flips them, so the quesadilla falls to the second pan on the other side.

Unfortunately, his index finger made contact with the hottest part of one of the pans and he got a pretty bad burn. He quickly ran water on it, I put ice on it, and then he checked the Kaiser website to see how they suggest treating burns. "Do NOT put ice on a burn!" (Oops.) They also said if the burn is on your hand, call in for medical advice.

So he called in. Suddenly, speaking to the nurse, the man who moments ago was screaming, swearing, and telling me how badly it hurt was playing it down. "I'm really not in a lot of pain. It's pretty small, just a half inch." (It's twice that at least.) "I really wouldn't have called at all except your website said I should. It's not that bad."

Later, while we were eating, we got to talking about stereotypes of "strength" and "manliness," for some reason. I noted, "You were swearing over the pain of that burn, then you told the nurse it didn't hurt much. Were you seeking sympathy from me in screaming about it, or playing it down to the nurse to be strong and manly?"

"Neither," he said. "She said if it's really bad I'll need a tetanus shot." (He hates needles.)

Anyway, I thought you cooks would get a kick out of the story -- and maybe offer him a little sympathy. :)

[NMDemDist2]

1. aahh poor baby

some neosoprin and no wrap is a good idea

as for flipping quesadillas why the big worry? you let it cook til the tortilla is browned nicely and by then the cheese is melted enough to stick to the top tortilla. just hold the top one in place with one spatula and FLIP with a big spatula

sorry to hear H2S burnt himself, it's never fun but it will get him out of KP for a couple days anyway. having burnt myself on espresso steam wands lots of times, just leave it open to the air as much as possible and keep an antibiotic ointment on it and he'll be better in a couple days

if not better (ie obvious healing and MUCH less painful) in a couple days, go see your family doc

[Stinky The Clown]

2. And while I'm on the phone, in total agony, talking to Flo Nightingale ...

Sparkly is signaling me to allow her to ask the nurse a question. So, even in my mortally wounded state, sharing perhaps my last moments with my beloved wife, I allow her to speak to the nurse .......

"Can he wash dishes or should I plan on doing them for the next week .... ?"

The nurse spit out her coffee. She then told me to call back to make a tetanus appointment within the next 72 hours ......

Yeah ...... right ......

I should get some sympathy ... but I don't even have a dog anymore ....... ;)

[Warpy]

3. I tripped in the kitchen

and stuck my hand out to catch myself. My palm slapped down on a still hot electric unit on top of the stove.

I had a huge second degree burn covering the entire palm of my right hand (and I'm right handed) and no health insurance. I just let the blisters form and stay there and kept putting Vitamin E from punctured vitamin capsules on it. I kept a fluffy gauze dressing over the whole business.

Eventually new skin formed under the blisters and they broke. I don't have even the suggestion of a scar.

That's my worst kitchen injury, and I credit my recovery to dumb luck.

Oh, and that's the last time I've used an electric stove. Every place else I've lived, I've specified gas.

[eleny]

4. We have to teach you the two spatula method

Meantime, heal up and gee well soon! :pals:

[Lugnut]

5. Awwww you poor thing!

I can see who the drama queen/king is in your household. :D

[merci_me]

6. Yep, two spatulas is the way I do it, too..

I'd be LOL, but I'll take pity, since you were so careful to warn us about the danger of adding the water to the 2 hour pre-heated iron skillet when making bread with the two stones. Yeah, like I'm ever going to be doing that in my lifetime, but thanks for the warning anyway.

I'm glad to see you didn't injure one of you typing digits. Now take a couple of aspirin and get a good night's sleep.

Mary

[housewolf]

7. Oooohhh... burns are just the WORST kind of injury...

I hate burns, they hurt hurt HURT! Not to mention make you feel REALLY stupid.... and put you in a REALLY bad mood...

I have a product called "Magic Water" that heals up burns and cuts SO fast that you can almost watch them heal. I gave some to a friend of mine who had a enormous burn on her arm that she got by using the hot grill to stop a fall... it was something like 3"x2" and Soooo nasty... She swears by Magic Water now, it healed her right up with no infection.

Sorry you got hurt, H2S... Tell Sparkly that you get an extra dessert to make you feel better...

[SW FL Dem]

8. Aww Poor Husb! .

Burns hurt like heck. Hope he recovers! I don't blame him, I hate needles too.

[eyesroll]

9. Oh, ouch!

:hug:

My kitchen injuries are usually exceedingly minor burns and cuts and the occasional big ugly cut. (When I'm doing massive amounts of cooking, I end up with at least a few burns and cuts.)

I can think of at least two occasions where I cut myself in the kitchen probably bad enough that I should have gone to the hospital, but I didn't. I'm stubborn like that.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. Actually, the very worst kitchen injury I ever got

was many years ago. I was then working for a national restaurant chain running their test kitchen at headquarters. In addition to the usual test kitchen crap one performs, I had to cook once or twice a year for high level corporate and fat cat dinners.

This particular time, I was making something that needed a hit of Tabasco sauce. The little hole in the top of the bottle was clogged. I had the bottle open and hit the bottom of it against the counter. The clog broke ..... and flew into my eye!

Now **that** was pain!

[wildeyed]

11. Ow!

Have you ever rubbed your eye after cutting habeneros? That is not fun either.

Hope your burn heals fast :hug:

[eleny]

12. yikes!

we like to get chiles roasted at the green grocer at the end of the summer when they have the rolling roasters going. one year, i seeded a half bushel when i got home. and i didn't wear protective gloves. my hands felt hot for days. i can imagine how that habanero "rub" felt. =:-O

[Lugnut]

13. I'll bet.

My eyes are tearing just imagining how awful that was for you.