A few months ago I was boiling eggs, walked out of the kitchen to do something or other in another room and became involved in whatever it was I was doing. About 15 minutes later, I heard some cracking noises and then remembered the eggs. The water had boiled away and one of the eggs had cracked in a few places -- but that was all.

I started to then think about how much more serious an event like that could be, depending on what I had on the stove.

So, ever since then, regardless of what I'm cooking, if I leave the kitchen, I set the good ole Presto timer. (It has a loud ring.) Even if I only set it for 5 minutes, it will at least remind me (when I get involved in something else in another room) that I need to go check on whatever's cooking (and reset the timer for another 5, 10 or 20 minutes (or longer), as the case may be).

It's now a habit and one that I think is a good one.

Christina