In my cake post earlier this week, I forgot to address another moment of culinary near-failure. I was about to begin the Magnolia Bakery recipe for chocolate buttercream frosting when I realized, “Oh crap, you have nothing even close to a double boiler.” The recipe calls for 9 oz of chocolate melted in a double boiler and then cooled before being mixed in with the butter, sugar, etc.

I own only one metal bowl, so I filled my smallest saucepan with water, placed the bowl in it, and poured in the chocolate. I used an oven mitt to hold the bowl when I stirred, protecting me from hot metal and boiling water.

Next kitchen investment: a set of glass bowls.