KDRose.com - Wanderlust, Grounded
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Links

Brownies and the Toaster Oven Incident

11/13/2011

13 Comments

 
I need to tell you about the toaster oven.  

We finally got a toaster oven.  I admit it.  I broke down.  I couldn’t take it anymore.  To be fair, I’ve noticed that, at this stage, a number of assistants finally broke down and bought something.  For one girl it was a cell phone.  For me, apparently, it was the toaster oven. 

But seriously, let’s face it guys, I’m a baker.  A baker without an oven.  So really it was inevitable.  And, of course, full of a bit of drama.  Because this is France and apparently, that’s how things roll here. 

I decided to buy the oven and approached The Roomie about going to the Leclerc (a large Walmart-esque store not far from where I live) in her car and getting one.  She heartily agreed and we both got pretty excited.  Because, really, we’re food kids and the idea of being able to cook more food was nothing short of thrilling to our oven-depressed minds.

So we went to the store and we picked out the one we wanted.  Of course, it was the last one, so we had to wait for an employee to find the box and pack up to the display oven.  Fine.  Good.  Oven packed, purchased and put in the car.  Other pertinent shopping, done.    

It’s hard to explain the sheer excitement of bringing home our new baby.  We packed it safely in the car.  We gingerly carried it up the stairs and over the threshold.  We unpacked it with anticipation.  We gave it a special spot on the countertop.  I, of course, made brownies.

Because that’s what you do when you get a brand new oven.

Actually, I made some amazing brownies. (If I do say so myself)

They were really delicious. 

Then, the next day, I roasted cauliflower.  Because roasting cauliflower magically transforms it into a steaming bowl of heaven in a bowl.  Trust.

And that, my friends, is where the magic ends.  Rudely.  Abruptly.  Shockingly.

Because on the third day, late in the evening, I went to make cauliflower au gratin (which, as a side note, I do not know how to make.  I was just making it up).  I preheated the oven.  I had the gratin prepared.  I opened the door.  But then door got stuck.  So I pulled the door again.  And WHAM!  The entire front piece of glass shattered.  I was shocked.  I was confused.  I was…speechless.

The Roomie’s response was something akin to, “wow!” and then “I guess we’re going to Leclerc tomorrow.”

Wow, indeed.

That evening and into the following day, I shared the shocking news amongst friends.  To which the vast majority replied, “Good luck.  The French never give returns on anything.”  Shite.

Later that next evening, armed with my receipt, my Roomie and the clearly defective toaster oven, we walked up to the customer service desk and tried to return our merchandise.

Mais non, she said, the window is not covered by the warranty.  Only the heating element in the interior.

But, my Roomie insisted, it is because of the heat that the window is broken.

Mais, non, she replied, I think it is not possible. 

Still convinced that we could prove that the window was defective, we soldiered on.

Non non!! I exclaimed, you must look at the window to see the problem!

After a bit of coaxing, we handed over the box to the woman.  She finally opened the cardboard, pulled out the Styrofoam, looked and, shocked, phoned the super secret French Leclerc person.  (It seems like there’s always a super secret French authority figure on the other line.  Haven’t they heard of a manager, for goodness sakes?)

 Mais non, she explained to the person on the other end of the line, the window is broken in a million little pieces.  It must be from the heat.

And that is how we got a refund on our toaster oven.  Win.

We didn’t just up and leave with our refund.  Oh, no.  We got a replacement.  We even upgraded.  And while he doesn’t match our white “décor” as well, I think (and hope) that this new one is here to stay. 

…brownies, anyone?
Double Chocolate Fudge Brownies (from Can You Stay for Dinner?)

Ingredients:
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup  butter
2 cups sugar
4   eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup  flour
2 cups mini semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Place chopped chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl and heat forabout two minutes or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is melted.
Add sugar. Whisk in eggs and vanilla. Add flour and nuts; stir until well combined. Pour batter into a well-greased 13×9” baking pan.
Bake 30 to 35 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs.
13 Comments
R. Riley
11/13/2011 01:03:52 am

Your stories are wonderful! Being here in the States, we don't think of how difficult something like a simple exchange would be. Maybe alot of US people who abuse our "return policies" here should live abroad for a bit? It sounds like your US training has let you deal with european issues quite well! :)
I love the new toaster oven! A great choice and hopefully no shattered glass! Thank you for your posts!

Reply
Elizabeth Snyder
11/13/2011 01:12:45 am

OOOOOOOOh!!!! I've only heard rumors! They DO exist!!!

Reply
Teresa
11/13/2011 01:21:25 am

*Never take a "no" from someone that can't give you a "yes."

*Love the photo of you in the toaster oven door.

*We haven't bought butter since you've been gone. YOU are definitely a baker. It is in your DNA. I think that you are a writer too.

*The new oven looks larger. Is it?

Reply
michelle gonsalves
11/13/2011 01:39:39 am

Love this! Yay for toaster ovens! <3

Reply
Carla Neuman
11/13/2011 01:58:12 am

Hilarious!!! Great story, but I am so happy the brownies were not hurt in this story!! lol I do miss brownies, not too ww friendly at least the way I like them!!!

Reply
Mme Naditz link
11/13/2011 02:36:35 am

Même l'impossible est possible ! :-)

Reply
Valerie Small
11/13/2011 05:45:45 am

Leclerc... the French Walmart... they are much better about returns than going to just about any other store. I returned a vacuum cleaner without problems, but like you I was prepping myself for a fight. No need. Maybe my accent helped or, more realistically, the fact that the box hadn't been opened. I love your reference to the super secret salesperson. It's so true!!

Reply
slenderella newman
11/13/2011 07:03:35 am

Funny story! But now I'm thinking BROWNIES --- NOW!!!!!

Reply
Sandy
11/13/2011 07:23:04 am

Fabulous storywriting, as usual Katie. I feel like I'm living in France vicariously through you. Good luck with the new oven and kudos for holding your ground with the return =)

Reply
Marsha Carvalho
11/13/2011 11:00:45 am

Hey! That's the recipe I cut out from a magazine decades ago that was <wait for it-t-t-t-t-t> attributed to Katherine Hepburn! Another Kate! And you are right...they are the best brownies on the planet! I am excited for you that you got a toaster oven that will accept a 9x13 pan! Way to negotiate, BTW... :)

Reply
emiglia link
11/13/2011 08:36:31 pm

I would have been a naysayer -- I once spent an hour trying to return a duvet that was still in its original packaging with a receipt at the Galeries Lafayette and ended up with a gift certificate to the home goods store -- but as they say, impossible n'est pas francais ! Those brownies look incredible.

Reply
Karen V. link
11/14/2011 02:50:49 am

Great negotiating skill!! Are you sure there is no lawyering in your blood? ;) I too, never thought about how difficult it would be to make a return in a foreign country!

As a baker, it was quite clear that you would not settle for a "no" on that oven!! Good for you and for everyone who got one of those delicious looking brownies!

Reply
what is the biggest air fryer link
9/2/2021 01:43:53 am

Cooking in the air fryer is a great alternative to get healthier food and is a perfect option for a person seeking a comfortable and luxurious life. Moreover, the air fryer’s easy maintenance and cleanliness feature include over and above convenience to the modern kitchen.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Katie

    Baker. Traveler. Writer.

    Archives

    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    March 2017
    November 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    December 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    August 2014
    June 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013
    October 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.