I first learned about the power of too much sugar as a teen, trying to make shortcake. It overflowed like lava. But just yesterday (many decades past my teen years) I had a butter disaster in the microwave. I'm sure smart bakers use the stove. I had melted the butter for a recipe the day before in a mug with sloping sides, then got called away. Next day, ready to make my pumpkin bread, I got the mug out of the fridge and nuked it for 30 seconds. Not enough. 30 more seconds... But within 10 seconds there was a boom as the middle overheated, exploded all over the microwave, and knocked the mug over, spilling butter everywhere. Amazingly, there was still a ring of unmelted butter inside the mug.

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