Where there is smoke....

There wasn't fire - until Tom opened the oven.

I guess I should explain...I wanted to make a meatloaf. I have a really good recipe that makes a meatloaf that is like Swedish meatballs. Very yummy! I don 't make it that often because it takes over an hour to cook and usually I am in and out of the kitchen in about half that time. Yesterday though I just wanted some so I made it.

I don't know what the exact problem was - maybe I used meat with too much fat (but that is what is cheap and I can afford). Maybe the loaf pan was too full. I don't know. I put it in the oven and about 45 min into the cooking time I heard the sizzling of the grease but didn't think much of it.

Tom came home and went into the kitchen and saw some steam or smoke coming out of the vent in the oven. He opened the oven to see what was going on. That was a big mistake. Opening the oven allowed just enough fresh air in for the grease to actually ignite. (As well as letting the smoke out) We closed the oven and turned it off and went out to dinner.

This morning I used the oven's self cleaning option and stunk up the house even worse. However with a fan and some open windows it is back to normal here. I even managed to salvage the meatloaf and we are having it for dinner. Somehow it just doesn't seem as appealing tonight though....