Now I know what pepper spray feels like!

Here is the background on my spicy experience of the day.

Tonight I tried a new recipe - Rachael Ray's Dinner Size Texas Cheese Fries. It requires a lot of prep work - more than my usual quick recipes. It also has quite a few steps. You don't just throw everything in the pot and let it be. I usually try to do these more complex recipes when Dusty is home to keep Cayson out of my hair.... silly me, decided to do this one while Dusty was working.

Cayson has been very needy since being sick. He got spoiled by all the attention and cuddling and now he expects me to hold him and play with him all day long. So, I am trying to make dinner and Cayson is at my feet bawling. Trust me, I'm not neglecting him... I gave him plenty of toys and distractions.

I chopped up the garlic, onion, & jalapeno and then washed my hands thoroughly (I thought). I opened the oven to pull out the fries to flip and a poof of steam hit me in the face. I thought something got into my eye and without thinking, I put my finger on my eye ball to wipe it out. HUGE MISTAKE! I repeat - HUGE MISTAKE! My eye ball started burning like crazy. I ran to the bathroom while calling Dusty to come home.

Dusty walks in to find me in the bathroom crying and washing my eyes out and Cayson attached to my leg crying hysterically. Somehow this jalapeno burn spread to my other eye, my face, my lips, etc. Holy cow, it burned. I always laugh when I watch Rachael Ray and she says not to touch your eyes after handling peppers. Stupid me! I couldn't open my eyes and my face was covered with splotches of red.

Mom came to take Cayson since I wasn't in a position to take care of him. Thanks Mom! I took a shower and it helped immensely. I was able to finish dinner and it turned out pretty good. I was soooo lucky to have Dusty available to run home and have my mom so near to help out. So, that's my experience for the night!

Here's my two-cents on the recipe by the way.... it's pretty good and pretty spicy. I did two jalapenos instead of one because I used to like peppers before tonight's experience... I'll probably forgive the peppers and use them again.... because deep down, I have a passion for hot spicy foods. Oh, Rachael Ray said she came up with this recipe for a healthier spin on chili cheese fries. It's not healthy all together but better than what you'd get at a diner!