How to Boil an Egg

The things I take for granted! My thanks for daily blessings range from the love of friends and family to the joy of songbirds in the morning. They have never included such mundane conveniences as a working stovetop. Until last month, when the gas burners would neither turn on nor off.

What to do? Happily, we’re reasonably accustomed to sandwiches, cold snacks, and carry-out. We’re fortunate enough to afford an electric kettle for morning coffee. As for foods I’d normally cook in a skillet or saucepan, necessity is the mother of invention. Some experiments were more successful than others. Breakfast potatoes crisp even better in the oven than a skillet. On the other hand, even after pricking the shell to prevent an explosion, I doubt I’ll ever again try to hard-cook an egg in the microwave.

My gratitude list now includes a working stovetop and so much more. Thanks to the appliance techs who came out on a Saturday to check for safety, ordered the parts, and made the repair. Thanks to the workers who manufactured those parts and the truckers who brought them from the factory. The list goes on and on. Still missing are other blessings I haven’t thought of yet, because I still take them for granted.