Proof That God Exists & He Loves a Housewife Martyr
Posted by Heather in A Bunch of Nothing, Materialistic MeAre you the type who needs proof that God does exist? And that God loves him a housewife martyr? Let me offer you this:
Heather's Le Creuset Set
See, I told you. There is a God. And he loves a housewife martyr. This is how I am repaid for the hours and hours of toiling over the ironing. With a 22 piece set of Le Creuset.
OMFG.
I had to fix myself an extra-strength nightcap, I still can’t believe it either.
The best part about this Le Creuset set, other than it brings me yet another step closer to becoming French and makes me look like a certifiable cook, is that I practically STOLE IT.
Someone was selling it on Craigslist for $250. TWO-HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS. Which, if you don’t know, is about the equivalent of one piece of Le Creuset. Some of the pieces have never been used.
I got her down to $200.
OMFG.
I accept your praise and idolization, thank you.
(Seriously, I had to take another sip of my extra-strength nightcap to fortify myself against the continued shock and disbelief. This drink is so strong I think it’s growing hair on my chest.)
When I got home from the heist, I carefully laid my prize out on my den floor and gazed at it for at least an hour. It was during this time of intense love and caressing that I discovered THIS!
Fraudulent Le Creuset pieces.
OMFG.
I would call the cops if I hadn’t practically stolen it already. Even so, these fake pieces did cast a cloud upon the French sunshine of my day.
But then! I discovered something really awesome.
It’s not a Le Creuset piece. It’s a Descoware piece, which is what Julia Child cooked with. They don’t make it anymore since Le Creuset bought them out and acquired the rights to their signature flame color.
So not only did I acquire a piece of history, but I’m pretty sure this is a sign I’m going to be famous. Forget that Kevin Bacon six degrees of separation bullshit, I have a direct link to Julia Child.
And since I’m going to be famous, I guess I better hone my chops. I have a few questions and would like your assistance.
Is it pronounced Le Crew Say?
Exactly how to pronounce it is driving me insane.
Also, what exactly do you do with two small pots?
I think those are bean pots? But I’m not sure. If they are, what do you do with bean pots?
And what do I do with this?
Such a tiny thing.
And then came this confusion:
I know the one circled is their au gratin dish, but the one to the top right is almost exactly the same, only the handles are different. What is that second one? Just a random serving dish so that I can lord over people the extent of my Le Creuset collection? Oh goody!
I have more questions, but honestly, Photoshop and drawing circles around stuff has exhausted me. And it’s been 30 minutes since I last humped the braiser pan, so I’m going to do that one more time, even though I don’t exactly how to braise anything. Yet.
Entries (RSS)
what a beautiful set. sorry about the fake ones. my aunt is a le creuset fanatic. there is a le creuset outlet on the way to my parents’ house. i have never been, but you have inspired to stop by. have fun cooking and figuring out what each piece is used for. take care.
I am flame colored with envy. I spent almost my entire Christmas budget on a Le Creuset cast iron skillet for my husband. We sleep with it in between us in bed. Well no really, but I do like to leave it out on the stove so I can gaze at it every now and again.
.-= Kirsten´s last blog ..The Year of Friendship =-.
That is awesome! Craigslist is so great.
.-= Rachael´s last blog ..2009 SNOTW Movie Awards =-.
le croo-say is how I say it.
if these pieces are old enough that the black handles on the lids are metallic and get hotter than h*ll when you are cooking with them, then ask at the nearest LC outlet for a few new handles.
how much liquid do those small dishes hold? they could be the right size for making individual serving sized items, for your fancy romantic date night dinners. or chowder. or, if they are smaller than I’m thinking they are, you could use them of ‘pots de creme’ which is really, really rich baked custard flavored with chocolate or coffee or just vanilla.
the little tiny skillet is good for cooking one egg, or a tiny bit of garlic or onion & such. or one sandwich. it’s not very good for it as you will likely burn your fingers trying to use it on a normal stove burner.
$200? I am flabbergasted. In shock.
Also – green with envy. I covet your cookware.
.-= Veronica´s last blog ..Growing up =-.
I scored a few Le Creuset pieces at Marshall’s and was psyched. You struck gold, even if some of it was a gold plated knock off. What a find!
How beautiful. I am imagining all the delicious meals and smiling. Yum yum.
oh my goodness, I’m so jealous! Nothing that good ever shows up on Craigslist around here. I’ve been drooling over Le Creuset for awhile, but I still don’t have a single piece!
.-= Jenn´s last blog ..Looking Back at 2009 on Jenn Cooks =-.
Awesome deal. Twisted Sister and I find great deals all the time on Craigslist but nothing like that. Twisted Sister is building a room and has found windows that cost up to several hundred dollars for 15.00 a piece. She racked up. Plus we got 6.00 pavers for 1.00.
I feel special just having Kitchen Aid cookware cause I dont’ think I could ever afford Le Creuset.
I am filled with jealousy, so it’s hard for me to answer your questions. Also, because I have no idea what the answers are, but no one has to know THAT.
.-= Marinka´s last blog ..Bathroom Intimacy =-.
No way. No way. No way did you get all of that for 200. Incredible Heather.
.-= OHmommy´s last blog ..Don’t suggest building an igloo. It will make me cry. =-.
I think you pronounce it “Shit I Don’t Understand Because I Only Serve Take Out.”
.-= Bejewell´s last blog ..Baby New Year: Somebody Call Child Protective Services =-.
That is incredible!!! Someone must’ve died and a family member just wanted to get rid of it. I bow to your deal-making and luck in getting all of them!! I bet you ended up buying it for less than a dollar a pound!
.-= Amy @ The Bitchin’ Wives Club´s last blog ..2009: Bidding Adieu, Best Of’s, and Recapping =-.
THAT IS AWESOME.
.-= AMomTwoBoys´s last blog ..Dear 2010 =-.
Oh so jealous. I wanted to register sooo bad at a local cooking store that sells all the Le Creuset cookware for my wedding, but just knew that was a selfish, selfish act. So I stuck one piece (Dutch Oven) in my wedding registry at Bed Bath & Beyond and will probably faint if I get it and then make that person take it back because I know they spent way too much on me. Le sigh for Le Creuset. Congratulations!
.-= Queen of Quirky´s last blog ..And our holiday season comes to an end =-.
You just said you were going to hump the braiser. I love you.
Congratulations on your freaking amazing score!
.-= Robin ´s last blog ..the one where my husband dances & shows my mother his lily white ass. =-.
JEALOUS OVER HERE. It’s gorgeous! I have a grand total of 1 piece. I was considering asking the MIL for some for Christmas, but I went with a new everyday china pattern intead. This makes me wonder if I made a mistake. And also if I should be looking for things I don’t need on Craigslist way more often.
.-= amy2boys´s last blog ..Photo Management – 10 Best Tips Please =-.
Man, everybody else has good Craigslists but me!
I think that is a gratin dish – and another smaller gratin dish with different handles. I know this of course because I cook all the time, never burn the mac n cheese and my husband does not ever sigh when he sees dinner and say “I wish I had gotten home earlier so I could have cooked”.
Here’s one thing I do know though! It’s pronounced more like Luh Cruh zay. It helps if you are imagining you are lifting something heavy as you pronounce each syllable. I know but it’s the closest I could get
.-= Sophie, Inzaburbs´s last blog ..I’m Not Always This Graceful and Elegant =-.
SO awesome! I have one Creuset piece from my mom in that same lovely color. Drooling over your haul. But I draw the line at humping my computer screen. Tee hee.
Far be it from me to tell you what to hump, but that big ol’ sassy dutch oven on the back row has definitely got my attention… Rawr.
.-= Babybloomr´s last blog ..Holiday Aftermath: The Movie =-.
P.S. Also? Bean pot, schmean pot– I say you just got a kick-ass pair of ‘look at me’ earrings!
.-= Babybloomr´s last blog ..Holiday Aftermath: The Movie =-.
Hell, even with the fake ones you made a major score. Who is this crazy woman getting rid of all that great stuff? And to think I thought I scored at the outlet with my Dutch Oven and skillet pan for around $250. I do use the hell out of that skillet pan and my upper arms look so great from lifting it. I will be using my Dutch oven later this week. Is it too immature to giggle everytime I say Dutch Oven, because I think of the one performed in bed?
.-= SoMo´s last blog ..Houseguest Beware =-.
!!!! I am beyond jealous.
.-= Ariel´s last blog ..Hail, oh proud and mighty year =-.
I don’t know you, but right now I hate you a little bit.
that’s a swell collection score!
but what does this mean for the crockpot??
.-= Wendy´s last blog ..the babysitter suck up =-.
also, my hubs would use that pan with the double spouts for melting butter with herbs and garlic. it’s french, right?! butterbutterbutter!
(doesn’t matter that i’m trying to avoid dairy….oh, that’s just me….)
.-= Wendy´s last blog ..the babysitter suck up =-.
Oh NO! This was the tiny piece of crack sure to lure me away from recovery from Craigslist addiction. I’ll be calling my sponsor only after I find just ONE more treasure from the abyss of Craigslist.
I am a drooling blubbering mess of envy right now. You have just scored the deal of the century. I bow to your Craig’s List awesomeness.
Also, that tiny deep frying pan? Perfect for sauteeing mushrooms, or making a quick frittata, or browning sausage, or, well really, why don’t you just sent it to me, and I”ll take some pictures showing you how to use it?
.-= MommyTime´s last blog ..Next Week: Let’s Revive Codpieces! =-.
My boyfriend’s mother works at a Williams Sonoma-esque store and occasionally scores us gadgets, and once, a 4 piece blue Le Creuset set. I was thrilled, until I had the lift the bastards from cabinet to stove-top. HEAVY! No one warned me!
On a related note, my aunt’s Le Creuset survived a house fire and only needed to be Windexed off!
Oh my. That spread actually made me weak in the knees with envy. Now I have something new to obsessively stalk Craig’s List for. Good girl.
.-= Gretchen´s last blog ..Resolution Amendment =-.
Definitely jealous! I got an enamel dutch oven & thought I was pretty damn lucky!
.-= TexasRed´s last blog ..Merry Christmas! =-.
I’m a total nerd.
Here’s what I always consult when I have pronunciation needs.
http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=le+creuset+&submit=Submit
I’m sure you’ll have to cut and paste…but then hit submit and it should work.
.-= Heather (qtberryhead)´s last blog ..Trumped By Santa, A Diamond Bracelet, Christmas Crack, and I Can’t Hear You Because My Headphones Rock. =-.
You are correct, it’s “le crew-say” and it’s fantastic.
Also, I believe the small pots are for beans, but you can also use them for French onion soup, which ties in the whole, “I have French cookware therefore I cook French food” thing you got going.
Nice score!
.-= jenni´s last blog ..Polish Arm Warmers and Writing Class =-.
that tiny frying pan looking thing: you can make me one egg, please. sunny side up.
.-= Lainey-Paney´s last blog ..Resolutions? What??? =-.
You’ll have to re-do the kitchen colors to highlight! Does it go with Turquoise, The Fashion Color of the Year?http://shopping.aol.com/articles/2010/01/04/the-fashion-color-of-the-year-is/?ncid=AOLCOMMshopDYNLsec0001&icid=main|htmlws-main-w|dl6|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fshopping.aol.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F01%2F04%2Fthe-fashion-color-of-the-year-is%2F%3Fncid%3DAOLCOMMshopDYNLsec0001
I’m with Jenni ~ Le Crew Say and french onion soup and all…
on the next note: Hot DAMN! I’m about 6 shades of green
Congrats, Heather.. that is simply awesome.
.-= rachel-asouthernfairytale´s last blog ..Twice Baked Potatoes =-.
Love me some Le Creuset…even if a couple are fakes, it’s still a wonderful buy. I am sooo jealous. I have a couple pieces but want them all. Wonderful stuff. Anyhoo, the husband porn was awesome. I made my husband watch.
.-= Dejoni´s last blog ..Things I’m not gonna do this year… =-.
Wow, I’m in total covet. I LOVE Craigslist. Amazing score. They’re beautiful. Forget sleeping with Le Creuset pieces…just know whatever awesomeness you cook in them is total foreplay.
.-= Tanya´s last blog ..The Poem that Took the Place of a Mountain — by Wallace Stevens =-.
i just…i don’t even know what to say other than i’m ridiculously green with envy!!
.-= Biddy´s last blog ..An Open Letter To Anyone With My Phone Number… =-.
Oh, wow, when you said you got some I didn’t realize you got them all! Wow, I only have a pand and dutch oven, but you – I am jealous.
.-= joeinvegas´s last blog ..New Years in Nevada =-.
Damn. And I was feeling all swell ’cause I got the Lodge brand knockoff dutch oven at Target for $60. It’s fire engine red, and it makes me smile even if it’s not French- Good thing it came in red to match my kitchen b’c the SOB is too heavy to ever move off the stove into an actual cabinet. (my hubby hauls it to the sink to wash……)
That is awesomeballs. For Christmas I got a dutch oven, skillet, stock pot, tea pot, two casserole dishes, two mini casserole dishes and a set of spatulas all in kiwi green. I’m convinced Kraft mac & cheese tastes 1000x better.
.-= corrin´s last blog ..Police Evidence =-.
I’m convinced that spending a fortune on proper cookware is exactly what I need to make be a better cook. Most of my meals are microwaved or boiled…and it must be for lack of great utensils.
Sounds like a phenomenal deal – congrats to you! Enjoy becoming a world famous chef.
.-= LZ ´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday. The Long Goodbye. =-.
ooo ooo ooo *waving hand wildly in the air, doing my best Arnold Horshack impersonation* I know what the tiny little skillet thingy is…it’s to melt butter. Yes, you heard me correctly. Once upon a time, in the days of olde, we had to melt butter on the stove.
I happened across my mom’s little butter melter at Christmas….and you know, I didn’t actually NEED any melted butter, but I had to make tiny skillet thingy feel loved, so I melted a whole stick of golden delicious butter. Yay tiny skillet butter-melter! I have pictures. 
I love this! Quite possibly the best cookware haul in the history of Craigslist! Too bad Amy & Jamie & I share the same Craigslist because I’m sure we’ll be checking the classifieds more often now : )
.-= Meredith´s last blog ..The New Year, The First Snow =-.
Oh holy hell, I am so frigging jealous. I got a few pieces of Le Creuset older than I am when my aunt got married and I heart them. One of the pieces is an itty little skillet like you have, and I use it for browning butter, or sauteeing garlic in butter, and making quesadillas with little corn tortillas. And, of course, sometimes I just hump it.
.-= Dogfood Provider´s last blog ..Snowpocalypse! Snomergency! Snow what? =-.
To start earning dollars with your weblog, initially use Google Adsense but gradually as your traffic increases, hold adding extra and much more dollars generating programs to your web site.
Comfortabl y, the post is really the freshest on that deserving topic. I harmonise with your conclusions and definitely will thirstily look forward to your next updates. Simply saying thanks will not simply just be adequate, for the extraordinary clarity in your writing. I will directly grab your rss feed to stay informed of any updates. Gratifying work and much success in your business dealings!
I collect DESOWARE, and prefer it to Le Creuset. They were contracted to manufacture it, originally, and when D. E. Sanford, the owner of DE Sanford CO. asked them to do other colors than RED, they refused. So, he took it to Belgium and had it done there. He later had some enamel and aluminum matching pieces done in JAPAN, like Woks, and Fondues, and coffee pots. The thing about DESCOWARE is the cast iron was made 35% lighter weight than other cast iron, and therefore was easier to lift for fragile housewives. It cooks just as well, cleans up well, and doesn’t chip as badly as the thicker LC coatings. Sanford sold the company to an AMERICAN distributor, who later sold it to LC. They also bought out many other cast iron cookware companies. The took the colors, the designs, and the clientelle. They raised their prices unreasonably, and frankly I can not lift even the small LC frying pan easily. It hurt my wrist! I have the small saucepan and matching fryer that doubles as a lid. I also have the same design by DESCOWARE, but I can actually lift it and cook and clean with them easily.
I use some part of my DESCOWARE set, and have spent about $500 for about 12 pieces, individually. The bean pot seems to be the most popular piece. I have seen one go for $75, in mint condition, so if you don’t cook chili and bean, sell it on EBAY!
You have a find, not a fraud.
ENJOY THEM!
Candy Eve
Newbury Park, CA
I meant to say I use some part of my DESCOWARE SET DAILY….