My First Real Cookware - Good Products Make a Difference in the Kitchen
Twenty-Five Years of Good Cooking with Le Creuset

When I first moved  away from home, I had a hodgepodge of pots and pans donated from the drawers and cabinets of family members. Nothing matched, and most of those much appreciated cooking items were not the best of quality. That’s OK. That’s how it goes when you’re starting out, and you really know the value of the nice cooking stuff when you’re able to get it later.

Glory Be! – A Real Cookware Set

To be honest, it never even crossed my mind to covet cookware sets. I just “made do” (not to be confused with making “dew”) as we say in the South.  I just puttered around in the kitchen with my various dented and dinged pots and pans and flatware of various patterns and colors.

Then, Granny got me a Le Creuset set by mail order. She was always big on mail order and had all the catalogs, which I loved to check out, since this is a small town, and we don’t even have a store with pots and pans. Well, they do have the throwaway aluminum pans at the IGA grocery, but everyone knows those don’t count (but are cooking for grilling out and pot luck dinners).

I loved the Le Cresuset set which is cast iron coated with enamel. And, mine were in hunter green (which I don’t see out now but wish they’d bring back). The set included 1 large pot, 2 pans, 2 skillets, lids, a grease cover catcher (which I lost), and a trivet.

Quite snazzy I must say. I was definitely styling with my hunter green pots.

Could I Tell a Difference with Good Pots and Pans?

My nice set cooked so much better – much to my surprise. I’d like to say that it was just me (and my hard work), but the pans did make a difference. The cast iron absorbs and holds the heat for even cooking once the pan warms up. And, the pans are heavy enough to sit flat and not slide around like some I had in the drawer.

Another bonus was that the coated enamel is virtually stick proof, which was good as I began my cooking life by burning a lot of food. My brothers still pick on me about that, although I’m a fine cook now. Let’s just say I was one of those late bloomers, and maybe my crummy pots were party to blame (but doubtful).

In any case, cooking was more fun with pans and skillets that were easy to use and easy to clean. So, I learned to cook all kinds of dishes with my fancy pants pot set from my Granny. And, I wish she was still around to see what all I can whip up now. About the only dish she knew me to be able to make well was spaghetti.

Flash Forward and Good Pots are Still Like New But Full of Memories

This is over 25 years later, and I’m still using the very same Le Creuset pan set. And, the pots still look great and cook great, and they have had tons of mileage.  I don’t know what Granny paid for the Le Creuset set, but that’s one gift that was worth every cent, and they are looking like they will last forever.

When I buy new kitchen gear, I go for quality. I like items that are high quality and do the job and well. I get used to and attached to my cookware and like to invest in ones that will last a lifetime. I wouldn’t trade my Le Creuset for a brand new set of cookware . . . but, if I can find room in the cabinets, I always enjoy adding to my collection. There are a lot excellent pots, pans, casseroles, can openers, and other fun kitchen toys out there now.  Perhaps I can pass along a few of mine to a college kid and free up room to try some more new cookware products. Or, I could buy a bigger house (just kidding).