cookware maiden voyages

today, i went to the post office and picked up my 12 quart cuisinart stock pot with lid, pasta insert, and steamer basket.
(that's why i am late on the blog posting)
i have been working out the cookware all week
this is what i have done
with the berndes i made a ham casserole with a cheddar cheese sauce.
no curdling, even though i ignored it for a bit
easy clean up oh my goodness!
i used the cuisinart 2 quart sauce pan with lip and drain lid for broccoli....... like a charm!
and i used the sam's club enamel on cast iron dutch oven for beef burgundy
which almost made bernie CRY it was so good
i have yet to use the saute pan but that's coming
and of course the 12 quart stock pot is waiting it's turn
i also have an 8 quart stockpot/double boiler on it's way
that is the ONLY way i think i will be able to make the gallon and a half of yogurt and the gallon of icecream i make
(i was so sick of fishing teflon out of the milk)
next up (this weekend i believe) the rival 18 quart roaster, with buffet insert, will be trotted out and put through it's paces
i still need a larger saute pan with deep sides i think i am going to look for a 'chicken fryer'
and i still need a chef's pan.... a BIG one
now if i get used to the enameled cast iron........ i will save my money and get on the outlet sales list for le crueset....... and get a few of them

i would dearly love to have a saucier with as good a construction as my copper core limited edition revere ware from the late 70's
so i am able to make larger batches of sauces (cause sometimes you just have to)

i am hoping to find a few more stock pots to round out that end of the cookware
but i can manage with the 20 quart, the 12 quart and the 8 quart that is coming
i would like to replace the 20 quart with something that has an encapsulated bottom though
and is induction ready just in case

the other thing that came in the mail today was a package from moonrise (sandy terp)
two fantastic lace books that were out of print but are now back in print
barbara abby's
and the lewis book
both of which are called 'knitting lace'
if you are a lace knitter or would like to be a lace knitter, these are something i believe you should have on your shelf

now onto cook books
while i rarely follow recipes (italians mostly have methods and lists of ingredients.....that is what passes for a recipe)
i am thinking of getting 'one pot meals' for the enameled cast iron dutch oven
just to learn how it works
i am playing with trial and error but a few tips would help

the other thing i recommend to you folks if you haven't gotten it (besides that pantry book that i have the link over there on the right for , which should be on everyone's shelf that puts food by, i don't have any stake in this book but i do love it and think you folks will too) is a book called 'good cheap food' it is out of print but there are copies floating around.
i have the '72 edition in paperback
i highly recommend this to anyone starting out..... or struggling with costs, food, cooking..... and kitchens.... and i highly recommend this to anyone interested in food at all
this will help you figure cookware out (without the hype) will help you figure healthy low cost foods out
and is generally a good read.
now if i only knew where thaddeaus disappeared my copy to (it's old, stained, dog earred, yellowed, and a bit ripped up and i love it, and i would like a copy of the newer edition to compare)

so that is about it for today's post.. we are having leftovers from last night for today
i am about to go inside and put some fruit salad up in pints
i do have some pictures to upload when i get around to it of the new cookware
so bare with me