Leolady's Profile
Le Creuset?
I have so many pieces of enameled cast iron, I don't know how many are Le Creuset, Copco, Cousances, or Descoware.
The pieces I have are flame, red, and yellow for the most part; with a few black, blue, white, and tan pieces thrown in.
I just have tons of the stuff.
How to recognize the death rattle of a KitchenAid?
Don't give up! It can be easily repaired. And because your mixer is 20 plus years young, you have one of the best mixers, not that stuff they sell today.
Kitchenaid will still service your model.
food storage for open pantry
I use vintage aqua glass canning jars for my pantry items. They are decorative as well as practical and come in sizes from pint to two quart. Vintage aqua glass Horlicks jars hold a gallon, and there are 3, 5, and 6 gallon aqua glass country store storage jars available for larger amounts.
What should a home cook buy at a restaurant supply store?
I bought this old grocery paper dispenser to hold huge rolls of kitchen wrap. They have new versions available that would look good in any kitchen.
What should a home cook buy at a restaurant supply store?
I have found lots of bargains in used restaurant supply stores. Everything from heavy sheet pans, stockpots, Robot Coupe R2 food processor, maple butcher block table, Thorpe rolling pin, cooking spoons and forks, spatulas, saute pans, and a lot of other things.
Would it be better to buy a NEW Magimix 5200XL food processor or a USED commercial Robot-Coupe R2N at the same price?
TeRReT is oh so right! I have a vintage Robot Coupe I bought used years ago. It is invincible, although you could see it had not been "babied" in the restaurant that had it before.
The Robot Coupe will be here when I am gone.
Bread boxes?
I guess I bought my vintage breadbox for the nostalgia, but it is good to know there is a couple of practical reasons to have it.
Keeps bread fresher
Defeats 4 legged critters
Matfer or Vollrath stock pots?
I bought mine used, from a restaurant and I haven't had a bit of trouble with all of mine. I have all of the sizes.
Matfer or Vollrath stock pots?
Are you saying you have issues with this line?
http://www.vollrathco.com/catalog_product.jsp?id=4495&cid=48
Matfer or Vollrath stock pots?
I like the old Vollrath aluminum clad bottom SS commercial stockpots. They are heavy duty, cheaper than the fancy lines, and do as good a job as the more expensive lines.
Are you a Label snob when it comes to cookware??
It is easier and faster for a good cook to make great food with the proper equipment. But that does not mean everything has to match, be one brand, or be new and shiny like in a magazine. No one company can make the best EVERYTHING, so pick and choose from everything that is on the market!
A real cook's kitchen should be equipped with the best equipment they can afford for the type of cooking they do. It should be configured in a way that makes for good working ergonomics. It should be comfortable for the cook, well lighted, with plenty of storage, and cheery.
A good cook's kitchen is used, so why should everything in it look pristine. If it is used, everything won't look pristine. Cookware is to be used, not looked at. That is why I don't care if some of my equipment have rough spots and look their age if they perform the job well and are durable. If I save money buying used things that are work-horses but whose finish is not "perfect", then I can concentrate on the meal, not the enamel.
Magazine kitchens are for paper people like June Cleaver. She never got her apron dirty, or her counters, so what WAS she doing in that kitchen? Real kitchens are for a good cook who likes to cook.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not criticizing anybody. This is just my honest opinion.
I am willing to pay only what I have to for quality, and I STUDIED cookware so I could recognize the best even when it was in a junkyard. This was one of my bibles: http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/choclatechef/DECORATING/KITCHEN/BityW4QBGkKGrHqQOKioEsnzrjNqBLQWlf2.jpg
That means, I will do my research and find what I believe is the best quality and put it on my wish list. I research prices retail, then I buy my stuff as much as possible second hand for pennies on the dollar. Since I know what I am looking for, I am then armed to recognize the treasure amongst the trash.
I will pay more for something special I like -- but I won't pay retail or top dollar! My kitchen equipment was all bought used and some of the best things are up to 80 years old and was bought in thrift shops, garage sales, auctions, restaurant supply stores, metal salvage yards, etc.
Pie Crust Pans - What is Your Preference?
Pyrex pans are great, but I like the ones Corningware made. These are white glass ceramic with the little blue flower in the middle. I have about a dozen I have bought over the years from garage sales and thrift shops.
Rolling Pins - What is Your Favorite & What do You Use it For?
In my honest opinion, Thorpe rolling pins are far better than any other on the market. Julia Child had a large 18 inch Thorpe pin, and they are the industry standard for bakeries.
These solid maple, heavy, steel ball bearing pins have comfortable handles and are available in sizes ranging from 12 inch long, 2 1/2 inch diameter barrels to 18 inch long, 4 inch diameter barrels.
I have one in every size, though my favorite is the 15 inch long, 4 inch diameter barrel pin. The weight of the pin does all of the work for you and they are an excellent pin for pastry and bread.
What's The Oldest Thing You Cook In/With?
The oldest things I have are a pair of heavy copper tin lined saucepans from the 1800s.
The oldest electrical appliance I have is a 1930 chrome KitchenAid model G mixer.
Which KitchenAid mixer would be best for my mom?
In my area, the place to go is Mar-Beck Appliance. They will repair all KA mixers,
Which KitchenAid mixer would be best for my mom?
Why not get her beloved old mixer refurbished? The older models are much sought after for their durability.
Deep Lasagna Pan Shopping
I was fortunate to find several sizes of Descoware enameled cast iron deep roasting pans. They are perfect for lasagna.
Food Dehydrator - Should I fork out the cash?
I owned an Excalibur years ago, but I gave it away in favor of using my Farberware Convection Oven with the optional stainless steel mesh dehydrator trays. Both are easy to find secondhand.
Anyone still using a Can-O-Mat?
I don't have a can-o-mat, but I have a juice-a-mat and a ice-a-mat.
What did Santa bring you?
I was a good girl this year, and Santa only bought 9 stainless steel food dehydrator racks for my Farberware convection oven.
I am trying to kick my addiction.
Am I a cookware "junkie"?!
I am as bad as the worst of you guys here! And on top of the home cookware, I went and bought enough commercial cookware to stock a restaurant. And let's not talk about my collection of KA/Hobart mixers, Robot Coupe/Cuisinart food processors, and that type of stuff.
Yes, I am single and I confess............I am a cookware junkie.
Why would I want a dedicated pasta pot/insert?
I have the 20 qt and 11qt commercial stainless steel Vollrath double boilers and have a couple of extra boiler inserts. I took the extra ones to a metal fabricator and for a couple of bucks each had holes drilled into the bottom and sides in a regular pattern.
The 11 qt one is perfect for pasta and small blanching tasks. But when my garden is producing tons of vegetables, I use the 20 qt one to make it easy to process lots at a time and to make lots of chicken, turkey, or beef stock at a single time.
Copper pots better? why?
http://www.frenchcopperstudio.com/kitchenaid.html
[IMG]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/choclatechef/HOBART%20AND%20KITCHENAID/copperbowl.bmp[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/choclatechef/HOBART%20AND%20KITCHENAID/COPPERBOWLINSERT.jpg[/IMG]
Copper bowls and bowl inserts for a Kitchenaid!
Carbon Steel Knives -- Keep or Give Away?
I love, love, love my carbon steel old Sabatier knives and wouldn't EVER trade them!
Which Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer Should I Invest in?
I spent $62 including shipping for the K5SS I bought on Ebay a month ago.
Works great and only a few cosmetic blemishes.
Which Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer Should I Invest in?
Yes you can! All of the hub attachments can be used. The spiral dough hook you can't use.
