All you snobby triple layer stainless steel fancy smancy cookware people?? May the bird of paradise fly up your nose.
(That’s an insult, right? Because I mean for it to be.)
I was suckered into the shiny, reflective world of Big Name Chef endorsed stainless steel cookware, suckered so hard that I bought a complete cookware set. For a woman who came into her culinary years during the T-Fal and Dupont teleflon age, cooking with stainless steel sucks ass. Sure, it’s pretty and shiny, but have you tried to scramble eggs in it? I’m no lame cook but stainless steel is beyond me.
I can’t tell you how many of my soups I’ve oh-so-slighty scorched on the bottom because I might have to *gasp* stop stirring for 2 minutes to break up another Band of Brothers battle between my boys.
Do you know how long it takes before Roasted Red Pepper soup will begin to stick to the bottom of a stainless stick stock pot and slightly scorch if you stop stirring? Less than 2 minutes.
Then there are the special cleaning powder and creams you have to use to keep that stainless steel shiny and pretty. Really? Another cleaning step? Oh, I really want to cook with stainless steel now.
I don’t care what famous chef’s name is on the pan, my fling with stainless steel is over. I guess I’ll get one disease or another from teflon, but at least I’ll enjoy cooking.
In other ranty news…
Hello, Target? Only one choice in turkey hot dogs and no individual packets of Kool-Aid? What the hell is an inconsistent healthy mom suppose to serve her kids? You are interfering with my ability to send my children mixed messages, thank you very much. And $4 for a red bell pepper? Did the Dalia lama grow it or something?
In unrelated news so wonderful it made me squeal in the car, I saw this store is being built less than 5 miles from my house:
That’s the state liquor store.
I literally yelled, “WOOHOO!” as we drove by.
“Mom, why are you yelling ‘woohoo’?” Payton asked.
In any state other than Alabama, this would probably be an easy answer and not an uncomfortable situation. But when you were raised in a small and predominate Southern Baptist town in deep Alabama with a father who despises all forms of alcohol, it makes you cringe and wonder how in the hell you’re going to get out of this one.
However, I’m trying to overcome my oppressive roots and raise my children with a more healthy attitude towards alcohol, hoping they won’t be like me as a teenager and be fascinated with the forbidden. I answer Payton truthfully.
“Your mom yelled ‘woohoo’ because she is a lush.”
“I’m glad they are building a liquor store near the house,” I said to Payton.
“They sell liquor there?”
“Yes, they do.”
“What’s liquor?” he asks.
Um. Um. Um.
“It’s a grown up drink.”
“You like to drink grown up drinks, mom?”
Um. Um. Um.
Gesh, I need a drink.
Entries (RSS)
as one who was raised with stainless steel, the answer is “Pam” nonstick cooking spray and lower heat. It takes the Pam, lower heat and a small pat of margarine for eggs though…then they will just slide right out…maybe
Tossed the Calphalon that was a Williams Sonoma purchase into the DONATE bin at church. Some luck (or unlucky soul) got $1000 worth of crap. I promptly went to Wally world and got $50 set of pots that i have now been using 4 years. Couldn’t agree with this post more.
I think the proper response to that is “fuckin’ right, son.”
The honest answer would have been, “Hell yes I like to drink because it’s the only way I can stay sane while raising you!” But that might be grounds for therapy when he’s grown.
make mine a double
You keep bringing me back to the impulse issue: why did you buy, (just curious, but mostly want you to ask yourself) a whole set? Why not just an itty bitty one for 50$ to see if you like it first? You know, just looking at the name change, header change, wanting to move to Scotland change, entire set of chichilala pans, (don’t want to make you paranoid about what you blog about) but I just keep seeing mother = child. As for the liquor, another too honest inside head left unsaid answer “Yes, at some point, Mommy’s decided that the only way she’s going to make it through this is if she’s totally hammered.” You’re the best. I hate stainless steel.
We got married in May and one of the BEST wedding presents we got was a nonstick skillet. I have no idea how we made scrambled eggs or omelets or even stir-fried vegetables without it.
We tried to do as prin suggested and use the margarine or the cooking spray, but the nonstick just makes it SO MUCH EASIER. Now we gleefully pull down the pan to make eggs. It’s a new lease on life.
I need a life.
Alex: I did only spend $50 on the cookware. While Target charges out the ass for bell peppers, they can have some awesome clearance deals, which is why I tried the stainless steel.
As far as mother=child, there is a train of thought that every person is an illusion or a projection of some part of yourself, so yes, if you buy into that thought, mother does equal child. Or does child=mother and I’m simply a figment of Payton’s imagination? Wheee!
NGS: I’ve tried the butter and all sorts of different brands of non-stick spray and the lower heat. I had to use lower heat or it burned the Pam and burnt Pam with eggs is disgusting. It still stuck.
I’ve only found that olive oil keeps eggs from mostly sticking in my stainless pan. I sure do miss my nonstick cookware though… Happily I’ll be back together with them when I move in January. (yay)
I have a Calphalon set that’s got the anondized (or however it’s spelled) coating inside, and that works pretty well.
Oh honey, forget all that overpriced stainless steal crap. I never bought into it, because I really only use 2 cooking devices, a skillet and, now, dutch oven.
I have seen the way of Le Creuset. Expensive, yes, but oh so wonderful and it has a lifetime guarantee. I have heard of people buying the stuff at garage sale, finding a defect or scratch or dent and sending it back to get a brand spanking new one. Besides, nothing I have cooked in it so far has stuck.
I don’t drink, but I will hold up a glass of Coke Zero to celebrate your new find. I know people were going crazy when some of the hurricane affected areas had bans on alcohol and guns, now that is some deep Southness for ya.
what in the name jack and jose is a state liquor store?
we flew into minnesota a few years ago to visit my family on a sunday, and my poor husband needed a drink badly. (we had flown with a very fussy infant) come to find out they dont sell alcohol on sundays. i really thought my big brawny husband was going to break into tears and sob like a little girl. i guess we are spoiled here in CA we can buy alcohol any time anyplace. hmmmm im guessing thats a good thing…
I don’t get it, there is only one company in your state that sells booze? How weird!
Here, we have four 7-11′s on the same block, all within one mile of one another. The booze is plentiful here in So Cal!
Once, while in North Carolina, I saw a small hut called a “Booze Thru” which allowed patrons to get booze through a drive-thru. Fascinating.
I am also a user of stainless steel recently. I am on the fence about it. I really, really, REALLY hate teflon so I’m not ready to give it up yet.
Did you kow the US is the only country that legalizes Teflon for cooking?
jennchez, Try growing up in a state where they not only did not sell alcohol on Sundays, but you also had to go to a Beer Distributor in order to get beer (looking for beer at the grocery store or gas station? You must be from out of state!) I do like the state liquor store though… the prices are pretty good, and I think the profits go to help old people or something like that.
Oh, and that’s Pennsylvania.
Cagequeen and jennchez: No, liquor is sold in privately owned liquor stores, but they must buy their liquor from the state ABC board, which charges them the same price as they sell it at the state store. So it’s more expensive to buy it at privately owned stores.
It’s only recently you can buy alcohol on Sundays and then, it’s only after 12.
i’ve got serious teflon love.
just saying.
I’m a firm believer in Pam as well. It helps me get through most kitchen disasters. Also, the state I from is very strict on their liquor stores. They are ran by the state and that is the only place you can buy anything other than beer or maybe a wine cooler. For realsies. Needless to say, we use often use them as landmarks in our travel since it’s imperative we know all their locations.
I love my nonstick pans but have to watch the three men in my house like a hawk, as they have no problem using metal in my pans. I can’t understand why they eschew all the nice, safe cooking utensils in favor of a soup spoon. *shudder*
You can buy booze at a liquor store in Alabama on Sundays now? Be still my beating heart! No such thing here in GA.
I too would be squealing with delight over a new liquor store. I too was raised with a negative understanding of alcohol. It is hard to balance that with kids. I’ve had my 6 year old tell me she can’t wait to be an adult so she can drink mojitos! Or when at the grocery store ask if I’m buying more beer for Daddy. Hope the clerk doesn’t hear that!
Now if that liquor store has a drive thru window, you, my friend, have HIT THE JACKPOT!!
I totally understand where you are coming from. I too was born and raised in the deep south woods of Alabama. I like wine. I keep it in the fridge and on those crazy days I medicate myself with it even in front of my kids!
I have recently discovered the martini craze and absolutely love myself a blue martini. I have one whenever I go to a particular restaurant here that makes them. I personally agree with you not to make alcohol such a “taboo”. It’s healthy to talk about what it is and what it’s dangers can be if abused. Just like over-eating or too much TV..etc…
I like to follow the rule my dad always gave me; “Everything in Moderation is the key”
I’m a first time visitor but love where you are going…I’ll be following.