A hypothetical fire

When preparing a multi-layered dish for a dinner party, I recommend organizing your ingredients and working patiently through each step. Rebellious efforts to simultaneously saute vegetables, whisk bechamel, and flip crepes will likely result in temporary panic and potential scarring (either physical or mental, if not both).

If you're like me, though, you will ignore common sense and insist on all doing all things at once. When you do, please not place your paper towel-covered plate of finished crepes on your fourth, unused burner.

But because you will, for convenience, place this highly-flammable plate on the stove, let's explore the consequences. You will eventually confuse your burners while attempting to turn on the heat for another pan. You will realize your mistake when the clicking of the gas gives way to a burst of flames engulfing your crepes. You will suppress screams, block out visions of your house burned to ash, and turn off the gas burner. With a pot-holdered hand, grab a non-flaming edge of the plate and carefully (frantically) place (hurl) it into the sink. Your flames have probably died down. Grab up any unburnt crepes and douse the smoldering mess with water.

Check the kitchen for lingering fire or distressed witnesses. Assuming none, assess the damage. If any crepes bear burnt edges, you may instinctively stuff them in your mouth and swallow as quickly as possible, to hide evidence. (Although I certainly have never done this, I would venture that burnt crepes do not taste quite the same.) Arrange unburnt crepes on a clean plate, and be thankful your significant other is still napping in the basement. Continue with recipe as normal. Do not share this story at your party.