Hi KL, I am also glad that you and house are well. What a scare.

I have left a whistling kettle on the stove and got on a plane and flew from Boston to Chicago. SO found the flame still on, absolutely dry kettle w a melted lid that had fallen inside. OMG. The second time it happen I was home but, you know, you go out on the patio for a moment and see a neighbor then go around the fence..... I can't hear the kettle if I am not in the house.

I now use a small timer I got for meditation. It has a clip on the back and I clip it to my clothes. I will hear it no matter where I end up.

Regarding an oil fire, put the lid on the pan or the pan in the oven if you can w/o burning yourself.

And, pls tell me about fried cucumbers. Do they taste similar to fried zucchini?

ANN