Emotional Ties. . . with cookware?
I had a fun Pampered Chef party last week (whole food gluten-free!) and I ordered a ton of great new stuff. The hostess specials can be pretty amazing! For just $120.00 I got seven baking stones (all different varieties- I only had one previously- it feels a little crazy!), a chef’s knife, a batter bowl, new measuring cups and spoons (the spoons are so cool- they fit in narrow spice jars!), bamboo cooking tools, a mini scraper, a mini whisk, two silicone gloves (won’t burn myself in the oven again!), two silicon hot mats/trivets and one of those really cool can openers that leave no sharp edges.
Oh, and my husband treated me to a set of their stainless steel cookware (!). I had never even held a Pampered Chef cooking pan or pot so I was quite impressed when we got to handle one and see how thick and heavy it is. I had noticed in the catalog that the cookware has a lifetime warranty, but I never figured I’d be able to splurge on some. My mom (who is one of the thriftiest people around) bought a set of Saladmaster cookware (also has a lifetime warranty) when she was first married and it was one of the costliest purchases she’s ever made but also one of the best investments. She still has the cookware and it’s still in great shape (and I just looked on ebay and there’s no doubt it’s holding its value!)
My sisters who came to the party encouraged me to use one of the “half-off item” offers for some cookware and my husband was persistent that I should. Now, before you get jealous of me, let me give you an idea of what I’ve been working with in my kitchen over the years (and I’m not complaining, I’ve gotten along just fine!). I have never had a cookware set. I had cheap enameled pots and the dreaded teflon cookware when we were first married. Over time I collected a pot here and a pan there (often from the local thrift shop). My mom bought me a nice Farberware soup pot at an outlet store, but the poor thing had no lid and though it is one of my most frequently used pots it still has no matching lid. Some of my pots were so thin (and things burned on so many times) that they needed to pass on to “cookware heaven”. But, in more recent history I have accumulated one by one a little bit higher quality items (mostly from T. J. Maxx- Chantal and Oneida brands). I consider them my “nice” pots though they’re probably pretty ordinary.
It is kind of funny to think that cooking is my thing and yet I’ve never had very high quality cookware. So I am very excited about the arrival of my new Pampered Chef items later this week- but at the same time I’m starting to have a bit of a sinking feeling. I know I’ll have to part with my current pots and pans to make room for the new. I began to realize that I have a bit of an attachment to these items. We’ve been through a lot together!! I normally pass everything along to our local thift store, but since I have this emotional connection to these pieces I’m having trouble with the idea of just bagging them up.
I mentioned this to my fourteen year-old son, John, and he could appreciate my sentimentality. Of course, (as an avid ebay buyer and seller) he quickly came up with the idea of auctioning off the cookware. He felt certain one of my “fans” would be psyched to own my pots and pans, just like people want Elvis’ toilet seat cover. (It’s pretty cool when your teenage thinks you’re that “famous”!).
A friend dropped by for tea today and I offered her a pot. She went home with a 3 quart Farberware saucepan (with matching lid!). If any one else wants to stop by for tea and a pot, just give me a ring!
It might just ease the pain of loss a bit making the break gradually. (I hope I won’t need counseling out of this!). You all might think this is super silly (and maybe I’m exaggerating a bit) but I really do get a little choked up about saying goodbye to this cookware with which I’ve made so many memories (and special meals!).
8 Responses to “Emotional Ties. . . with cookware?”
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Kim Wilson has spent over 12 years developing recipes based on whole, natural ingredients. She has seven diet and health books currently in print and still enjoys working on recipes to satisfy a variety of needs. She is particularly motivated to develop recipes that help those dealing with food allergies and conditions like candida. If you are looking for tasty recipes that avoid animal products, wheat, soy, dairy, eggs, yeast and other problematic foods, you've come to the right place. It's Kim's sincere hope that you find some highly enjoyable, highly beneficial foods on this blog. You can check out more articles as well as information on her books at www.simplynaturalhealth.com
I am so happy for you! You definitely deserve to have the best cooking tools and pans around – after all, you’re a cook book author
What a great husband to splurge on the cookware set. It sure is the best-quality cookware I’ve ever felt.
HOORAY FOR NEW KITCHEN TOYS! I mean tools!
And double-hooray for getting rid of the nasty Teflon!
It was MY PLEASURE to help you get all those stones and your Stainless Cookware! I learned SO MUCH from you, Kim, and have already made the hummus, and the flatbread here at home. The Flatbread in particular, with the rice base will be a regular… so easy, tasty and healthy. (when baked on a stone, of course). You’ll have to post photos when your cookware arrives… ENJOY!
Hi Kim, Where do you live? If you’re in New York and i”m in Fallbrook, CA – dropping by for tea will be a challenge. But if you’re close enough, I would love to do that sometime – pans or not!
Francie
Oh, that would have been fun, but I’m a bit more north- in New Hampshire.
Can’t wait till the cookware arrives! Yes- I will certainly post a pic, and then get cooking!
Hi KIm, need new cookware tired of the teflon. let me know if it is a great as it seem’s to be. Had an edoscopy done again for my celiac and still have a problem with hidden brow. live in N.H. also. Marilyn
I am very pleased with my new Pampered Chef cookware. It was quite an investment, but I consider it that- an investment. I’ll have it for the rest of my life (it has a lifetime warranty).