The Big B cookie

For the record, the cookie was okay.

I make that statement with a lopsided grin. It's important though. It isn't just any cookie. It was a 16-inch chocolate chip cookie baking in my oven on Saturday night.

I was making it for my granddaughter's birthday the next day. It was the first time I had made a pizza-sized cookie. And according to my husband it should be the last time.

This is where the "rest of the story" happens. I had noticed it was slightly running over, so I put a cookie sheet on the rack below it. Then I went about my business. I knew it would take a long time to bake and the timer was set.

A short time later I smelled smoke. Burnt cookie type smoke.

Going to the kitchen I saw flames shooting up the inside of the stove. The run over from the cookie had missed the cookie sheet and landed on the heating cable causing a major fire inside the stove.

Grabbing a potholder I pulled the cookie out of the oven and slammed the door shut.

That is why the cookie is okay. The house did not fare so well. I had not realized how much cookie had spilled over and how much smoke can result when this spillover burns to a black ash crisp.

Let's just say we are now in the process of repainting three rooms, cleaning carpet and draperies and washing down walls.

After the fire went out, I finished baking the cookie while trying to air out the house.

For the record my granddaughter loved the cookie and no one seemed to notice any smoky taste. Maybe the two cans of frosting I used for decoration helped with this.

If you are thinking of asking me to make the world's largest cookie, do yourself a favor. Have the fire department on standby.