We interrupt your day for thisPublic Service Announcement

Rice Krispie Treats and microwave ovens do not mix. Go tell your children this right now. Go on. Tell them. Before you have to deal with one of these.

This is a Rice Krispie Treat that my teenage son microwaved for 20 seconds this morning because it was hard and he wanted to soften it up. It was bigger, but bits of it broke off when I ran water on it to stop the smoking. He put two bars on a plate, set the microwave for 30 seconds, then turned his back to pour a glass of milk. When he smelled smoke, he turned around and yelled. I came running. Thick white smoke was billowing from every possible orifice of the microwave. So much smoke in fact, that you could not see the microwave. He reached in and opened the door, I grabbed the plate, shoved it in the sink and turned the water on. But by then thick smoke was swirling throughout the kitchen and snaking its way into other rooms. I opened the back door, sliding-glass door, windows, and fanned like mad with a towel, but since it was dead calm outside, it didn't help too much. I had to get the smoke out before it set off the smoke detectors, which are wired so that they automatically call the fire department. Can you imagine huge firetrucks rolling up, sirens blaring, uniformed men running, all for that measly little Treat?

Two hours later, the house still smells funny. I cleaned out the microwave which surprisingly escaped unharmed, have both Ionic Breezes in the kitchen, and one of those plug-in air fresheners cranked up on high. Burnt Krispie is one of those long-lingering scents.

So now you are informed of the dangers of Krispie Treats and microwaves. Have you warned your children? Your husband? Your cats? {Who nuke their Fancy Feast when you're not around. (Which explains why the microwave always smells like tuna.)}

Oh, and the second Krispie Treat? It came out of the microwave looking the same as it did when it went in. But it didn't smell the same.