It's been very busy in Rue's kitchen the past couple of days. The actual location, not the website!

I have a white Kitchen Aid free-standing gas range that has been acting up. It freaks me out that my range is computerized. I still can't quite wrap my head around it. The concept that is, and not the range. I digress.

Most of yesterday was spent cleaning the cooktop:

"Easy-Clean Ceran� Cooktop

The Ceran� surface on KitchenAid� ranges and cooktops makes cooking fun, and cleanup easy. Simply wipe the smooth surface with a sponge, and relax."

I assure you that it really is not that simple. When I spill something on the cooktop, or when a pot boils over I wait until I'm done before cleaning it. Mainly because I'd rather forgo the second and third degree burns. Once I've cleared the dishes, pots, pans and so on and so forth I clean the surface with a hot soapy sponge. This method does not remove the cooked-on grime, however. Thus, clean up requires a cream cleanser specifically for this purpose and a scraper. I hadn't had the time to do this since Boo was born... Thank Goddess the oven is self-cleaning!

So, armed with a scraper, cream cleanser and a lot of elbow grease, I went to work. I wish I had taken a before picture, because she looks unrecognizable. The irony is that if the range hadn't required servicing, I wouldn't have cleaned it anytime soon.