pan – ARTFOODHOME.COM

Is this one sweet pan or what? We bought it a few years ago at a neat Kitchen Shop in Mount Pleasant, SC (Coastal Cupboard). I was looking at it and a man walked by, said he had it and that it was THE BEST pan… EVER. Well, I have to agree… Made by J.A. Henckel, this is more than just a pan that looks good, its performance is top notch! Everything that I’ve made in it has turned out divine. Today, I’m making a wee little pork sirloin roast. My roasting pan bit the dust, so I’m going to sear in this pan and then put it in the oven… It can handle temps to 500 degrees fahrenheit, so at a temp of 350F I’m set! So if you find yourself needing a great sauté pan that can do more than sauté this is the ticket! For more info on J.A. Henckel cookware, click HERE…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

le creuset french oven 030911 — Image: lecreuset.com

If you’re like me and you like to cook… a good pan is essential. One that has worked for me for years and years is my Le Creuset French Oven. I have the 7.5 qt and that puppy is heavy, but that’s why everything that is cooked in it does so well. It’s great for big pots of soup, stews, just about anything… I’ve used it over and over and over, and I think it has now bit the dust. Partly my fault (boo hoo) I guess… The finish started to come off the bottom mostly, or so I thought… I took it to a local kitchen store, where they told me to clean it with Bar Keeper’s friend, and it would be good as new. They also told me it was OK to use regular stainless spoons, etc. I started scrubbing, the thought disgusted me that this was hardened cooked on food stuck to the bottom of my pot. UGH. I scrubbed and scrubbed and it started to come off… OHMYGOSH, like a new pot… then I started up the sides where it was about an inch high of the same and then I stopped dead in my tracks. This isn’t hardened food, this is THE FINISH. Oh, boo… the pot is no longer non-stickish… it’s super stick’ish. So I’ll save for another one day. For now I’ll wish I would have visited the LeCresuet website sooner!

With that being said, I highly recommend this pot. You see all the chef’s use it, it’s quality stuff! Just don’t use Bar Keeper’s Friend or any other product that can scratch the surface INCLUDING stainless spoons… use wooden, ugh.

If you get a chance, check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com !