We got word that the replacement part for our broken oven was backordered for several more weeks. Admittedly, I did not take this news well.

Even though the weather here in Colorado has occasionally been unseasonably warm, I longed for us to be able to bake again: chocolate wacky cake, olive oil cake, berry cupcakes, pudding chômeur, spanakopita, roasted broccoli and tofu, cheese and leek pie, lemon potatoes.

Instead, we counted our blessings that we still had a functional stovetop and hail-battered outdoor grill.