My worst-ever kitchen disaster was when I was taking a thermodynamics class (learning all about how gases expand and create pressure). I had come home with a killer headache and decided that a batch of pancakes with warm maple syrup would make me feel better (mistake #1). I put the quart bottle of maple syrup in a pan of water to heat on the stove while I was mixing the batter, but somehow forgot to remove the cap (mistake #2). One of my roommates came in and commented that the pan with the syrup bottle had boiled dry. As she was adding boiling water to the pan (mistake #3), the bottle exploded from the pressure (remember the gas expanding class?) and there was a shower of glass and maple vapor for a radius of about 8 feet. We were lucky no one got hit by the glass. It took forever to clean the stove, the floor, the walls, and the ceiling, and when we finally got done (bless her for not fleeing the scene!) I went to lie down. But I soon discovered that I had to take a bath--the syrup had effectively moussed my hair and penetrated my clothes, leaving my skin sticky.

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