Wednesday, February 11, 2009

In the kitchen

I made dinner again tonight in my pink-countertopped kitchen using the stovetop that dates from 1968. Yes, you heard me. They don't make stovetops like this anymore and at first, I disliked this stove immensely. It just didn't work for me. Or anyone, for that matter.

It's The Counter That Cooks by Corning. It was state-of-the-art equipment at the time the kitchen was remodeled in 1968 and it still works, too!

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When we first moved here last fall, we could not figure out this stovetop. It would start out hot, then lose heat shortly afterward. It took over 20 minutes just to make a grilled cheese sandwich! It did seem to work with our Calphalon, however, and it wasn't until the owner told me that I needed to use the white cookware that goes with it that we finally began to get the hang of this stove.

You need the Cookmates in order for this stove to operate properly. You've seen these; they're the white Corning Ware Pyroceram cookware with the glass lids. They must be in this house somewhere, but I can't find them. All I've managed to locate are two pieces with no lids, but combined with our Calphalon, we're doing fine for meals around here.

Tonight I made Dutch Macaroni, a recipe that incorporates several different vegetables, from Kayotic Kitchen's website. I would have never thought to season my ground beef with a little nutmeg and it was a nice, subtle compliment. This is a good comfort food meal that I served tonight with a toasted slice of crusty bread.

And now that the dishes are done and the leftovers are packaged and put into the freezer, I'm gonna put my feet up in my sheep slippers and relax.

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Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

Oh yeah, I nearly forgot to mention . . .

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George says hi.

35 comments:

Amber said...

That George is so stinkin cute! I have never heard of a stove like that, one that you have to use specific cookware with it! Does it stay warm then when you use it?? I left you something on my blog.

Anonymous said...

Where did you get your sheep slippers? So cute

Barb said...

Cute slippers,and I have also never heard of a stove like that....Barb

Country Girl said...

This is so weird. I just hit post and was (slowly, I guess) coming in here to tell where I'd gotten the slippers and Donna has already asked about them!

Garnet Hill
http://www.garnethill.com/jump.jsp?itemID=12658&itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&keyword=13177

~ C.G.

Egghead said...

There they are!!!! The sheep slippers. Oh those are wonderful. Thanks Kate. See how easy I am pleased. So that is the first time I have ever heard of a stove that you had to have special cookware to make it work. Very interesting. I posted about my hot orange counters in my mud room today. GAKK! Kisses for George.

A Scattering said...

Hi back George and Kate and, of course, hubby. Love the slippers!

Susan English Mason said...

I have queen bee slippers and they are almost as cute as your sheep slippers; not nearly as cute as George.

Mental P Mama said...

I have been wondering about those sheep slippers. They are so cute. But nothing like my George;)

Deedee said...

My goodness, If my dog didn't already own the title of cutest dog ever, I'd nominate George. He is too adorable!

Shelley said...

Those sheep slippers would go perfect w/ my sheep pajamas that I have! Love em! And everytime I see George - it makes me rethink whether I should get the Bernese Mountain Dog....or....!!!

Char said...

hi George...

I have 60's appliances here too and I'm glad to be leaving them behind. Your dinner looks so yummy.

Anonymous said...

Hi back to George.

So I say to my dh, "hey, Kate used nutmeg as a spice on her ground beef. Doesn't that sound interesting." He says, "yes, that's good." ::roll eyes::

I'd never heard of anything like it. That's why my dh is the cook...

Treasia Stepp said...

I've never heard of that type of stove before. Also never would have thought of using nutmeg in ground beef. New concept for me there.

Love the picture of George as usual and tell him Hi right back.

e.o.w. said...

My sweet Lily-dog says hi back!
http://mindwhisperingsphotography.blogspot.com/2008/09/embodiment-of-joy-itself.html

My name is Christine said...

Dory says Hi back to George, I showed her some of his pictures and she thinks he's hot!!
I love the slippers=) Too much fun!

abb said...

challenges...they make us stronger, yes???

Love those slippers!

Hello George!

Deb said...

Your slippers look very warm. I'm afraid I tossed mine to the back of the closet for now...it's been nice and warm and my feet have been free to roam.
Hi George!

cottage farm villa said...

Whenever you mentioned your sheep slippers, I thought you meant "sheepskin"...not sheep, like a picture of a sheep!! How funny.

Never heard of a stove like that either. And I am old enough to hear of most anything! lol

This is for George... xxxxxooooo

Krystina said...

Tika says HI GEORGE! in her hyper happy puppy voice. As I always say, lovely dog! And congrats on figuring out your stove top! It all sounds so foreign to me... I'm used to my gas stove...

Debra (a/k/a Doris, Mimi) said...

Kady the Wonder Dog sends her love to Georgie. Cooking? No one in our house cooks much. When Doughboy asks "What are you making for dinner?" I say "Reservations". My daughter is a great cook - we eat at her house often.

CUTE slippers!!!

High Desert Diva said...

*waves back to George*

Weird stove is right. Glad you finally figured it out. We have an oldie, too. Probably late 50's. Only two of the burners work...but I love it.

some really crappy pictures of it here:
http://etsyhighdesertdiva.blogspot.com/2008/01/remodel-kitchen-and-story-behind-design.html

love the slippers!

Deb said...

Hi George! :-)
Like everyone else I love the slippers too!

Tess Kincaid said...

Ahh, your woolly slippers! You know how much I love mine!!!! :D

dlyn said...

I remember that friends of my folks' had a stove like that - it was like just the coolest thing ever and all the women were very jealous of it. Glad you got it figured out - and you should share that recipe with us!

Daryl said...

I think I have a few old Corning white dishes w/covers .. if so they are your's since we dont use them and they take up space .. collect dust ....

Those slippers are just toooweet (as my younger step daughter used to say)

Anonymous said...

Love the slippers!

CJ xx

Laura ~Peach~ said...

never seen a stove like that... facinating... and HI George you are so beautiful!

dlyn said...

Gah - thanks for the note pointing out the link to the recipe is in the post Kate. How did I miss that?

Anonymous said...

Hi George!

I told my girls about your cherry chapstick use and they pointed out that there is the perfect song for you. The original song of which I hate can be changed around and they inserted your name into it.

"I kissed George and I liked it, he tastes like cherry chapstick"

Anyway I thought it was funny! :)

shara said...

Wow- I love old pink kitchen stuff- I mean vintage kitchen appliances and kitchenware.

And love to George!

Ellen said...

I still love the pink counter tops. How unique.

And George - well he's just the handsomest! I think MPM wants George for Dora's playmate. But my Maxie and George just wouldn't work - she so alpha and she herds my friend's Sheltie.

Anonymous said...

The slippers are almost as cute as George... and yes, our dog Handsome sleeps with that ball in his mouth. Sometimes he sleeps with a toy mallard duck in his mouth... insecurity from being abandoned perhaps? Not sure, but he generally has something in his mouth whether indoors or outside. He's a goofy guy.

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

Anonymous said...

I also have a corning top stove that was installed in 1978. It also cooks best with corning ware . I have a ton of corning ware. All my other pots and pans have to have a really flat bottom that will not warp or it doesn't do so well.Iron skillets that have a raised rim on the bottom will not work.But I still love it and after all these many years it still works well. My daughter had one too and has had to replace it with a new one. I wish you luck with it. Doris

Woman in a Window said...

HA! They're literally sheep slippers! I always imagined they were sheepskin slippers. Ah, there's the Canadian fine crafted salesperson in me showing through. They're cute!

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