The Secret Life of Oven Mitty

Jan 13th, 2009 by Marilyn

Today, we bid farewell to an old friend. It pains me to say so, but it’s time. Yes.

Oven Mitty has pulled out his last banana bread.

I know. It’s not easy for me either, buddy.

We’ve worked in the trenches together for so long. How long? Let’s take a look.

Good times, and not always pretty. But – look past the scars. This kitchen helper was more than just useful, more than burnt batting – a mitt with real oomph. Sure, he’d run into a burning oven for you. But he could also be tender…

…bashful even.

And the talent! Always with the clowning in the kitchen.

There was The Manatee…

…the Jumbo Jet…

..and of course, The Diving Orca. After the Broiler Grab Incident of ‘99, that one was never the same.

If I had my druthers, he’d never go to that big Bed Bath in the sky. But…it’s time.

I salute you too, my friend. I will warmly remember you forever.

Or at least until trash day.

oven mitty, good night!

Tags: bb, friends, kitchen, oven mitts

Posted in friends, kitchen

35 Responses to “The Secret Life of Oven Mitty”

on 13 Jan 2009 at 10:13 am1Joel

I know it’s 8 degrees there. But maybe you need to get out…
on 13 Jan 2009 at 10:19 am2Carol

What kind of glue are you using to make that recipe collection? Still, I really liked Oven Mitty’s impressions. Farewell, Oven Mitty.
on 13 Jan 2009 at 10:21 am3Erin

Gah! I’m glad you’re finally throwing that thing out. You’re going to end up burning your fingerprints off, and then how would you blog
on 13 Jan 2009 at 10:24 am4Marilyn

Well now, that’s a fine reception! I lighten things up and suddenly I’m sniffing glue. Last time I go all whimsical on you people…mumbly…stupid blog…
on 13 Jan 2009 at 10:53 am5Karen @ Mignardise

So funny. I, for one, enjoy posts like this!
on 13 Jan 2009 at 11:07 am6Robin

Best. Post Title. EVAH.

Plus I love the comic-style word balloons. (Do you read the comics? If so, do you read The Comics Curmudgeon?)
on 13 Jan 2009 at 11:30 am7Rechelle

I… I… I never knew Marilyn. It is both horrifying in a puppety sort of way and sweet like Kermit the Frog at the same time.
on 13 Jan 2009 at 12:38 pm8Francie

Marilyn,
Mitty had a good, long life. He would want you to be happy. Move on.

Francie
on 13 Jan 2009 at 1:52 pm9jenni

R.I.P. Mitty. You served well and have the scars to prove it.
on 13 Jan 2009 at 3:49 pm10Joyce

A very cute post today! An old oven mitt is like an old pair of shoes- they are hard to part with.
on 13 Jan 2009 at 3:53 pm11Dana

Hilarious! I have a double oven mitt that looks totally disgusting and is one torn thread away from actually burning my hands, but I love it so much I can’t part with it.
on 13 Jan 2009 at 4:46 pm12theresa/t does wool

oohhh…to funny…I have a couple of his buddies over here!!
on 13 Jan 2009 at 6:07 pm13Michelle

God, you’re a silly bugger! Great post I look forward to the day you get to meet Nessie– a souvenir Loch Ness oven mitt from our Scotland honeymoon. I think you two would get along famously.
on 13 Jan 2009 at 7:12 pm14PVS

Ha! I love it. Are you going to keep us guessing or can you tell us how old Mitty was? And where did he originally come from? Was he single or did he have a mate? RIP Mitty.

We can’t wait to meet the replacement.
on 13 Jan 2009 at 7:38 pm15Lola-Dawn

Rest well, Oven Mitty! I too sent an old and faithful Mitty to the great Kitchen In The Sky this past week … okay, maybe I have an overactive imagination as well! Great post. Don’t let the nay sayers stop you from exercising your whimsy!
on 13 Jan 2009 at 8:00 pm16april

My mom would like to know if you could fill in at her puppet factory? You seem to have the credentials. Also, I think I have a very nice mate for your oven mitt, if he doesn’t want to retire alone.
on 13 Jan 2009 at 9:17 pm17Renovation Therapy

OMG. You are so funny. Goodbye Mitty! You were awesome!
on 13 Jan 2009 at 10:48 pm18Carol

People, I was kidding about the glue. I was greatly amused by ol’ Oven Mitty’s impressions. Go, whimsy!
on 14 Jan 2009 at 9:36 am19Marilyn

Yes, everyone was kidding about the glue! I had to be sniffing something much harder to perform oven mitt puppetry.
on 14 Jan 2009 at 9:51 am20Debbie from Illinois

Has Mitty seen his “replacemitt” hanging around the kitchen or is the newbie being hid until Mitty has been put out of his misery???

Great Blog! The banana bread looks wonderful.
on 14 Jan 2009 at 11:06 am21Sara

A Hoy Award Nomination for you, over at my place. I enjoy your blog!
on 14 Jan 2009 at 4:59 pm22brooklyn farmhouse

Oh my god, hilarious!!!
on 14 Jan 2009 at 5:37 pm23Sharyn from Pittsburgh

Please post the recipe for that lovely cake/bread thing in the first picture. It looks amazing!
on 15 Jan 2009 at 10:05 am24Laura Mattern Willis

He will be missed…and so young to be gone already….
on 15 Jan 2009 at 4:12 pm25Marilyn

Mitty thanks you for your good wishes, and wants you to know how touched he was about everyone chipping in on the gold watch.

Thanks, Sara! Glad to see you and so happy you enjoy. I’ll come by to pick it up.
on 16 Jan 2009 at 2:02 am26Giff (Constables Larder)

I love this post adios mitty, you will be fondly remembered by a wider audience than you previously might have thought
on 16 Jan 2009 at 9:13 am27the boy

LOL…steak au poivre rebellion! Oh mitty, I would have gladly served on the frontlines of any effort to put down that rebellion.
on 16 Jan 2009 at 2:49 pm28averagebetty

I think I saw Mitty on the red carpet of the Golden Globes…. or maybe that was Mickey Rourke? You done brought the crazy and I loves it!!
on 16 Jan 2009 at 11:17 pm29Marc @ NoRecipes

LOL… A touching tribute:-) I have an old spatula I got for free as part of a “bonus” with a knife set that is scorched and has pieces missing and yet I can’t bring myself to get rid of it because it flips thing over better than any of my fancier spatulas I actually paid for.
on 17 Jan 2009 at 5:05 pm30Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)

Hope that by now you’ve brought a new mitty into your family. This post had me laughing for days!
on 21 Jan 2009 at 3:22 pm31bungalowbliss

This post is friggin’ hilarious–though my sentimental side did cause me to tear up a bit. So long, Mitty. It looks like you’ve had a good life.
on 06 Feb 2009 at 5:15 pm32Friday Snack Pack - Slashfood Ate (8) | FuzzyClam.com

[...] us well over the years. In this fun little post on Simmer Til Done, Marilyn says [...]
on 23 Apr 2009 at 11:17 pm33Lizzie

I so feel your oven mitt pain….I’ve been there and back…and back again….be strong…lol
on 23 May 2009 at 8:20 am34Stephanie

Oven Mitty? Is that you SpongeBob?
on 25 Jan 2010 at 2:43 pm35Cindy Dyer

Great post! I think you should frame Mr. Mitty in a shadowbox, maybe with a background collage of meals that he has helped pull out of the oven?—a 3-D reminder of all the wonderful things you’ve cooked before you got the shiny new oven mitt! Think about it.