Pampered Chef Stoneware

My obsession with Pampered Chef Stoneware began almost twenty years ago during a cooking demonstration at my girlfriend's home. This was a party like none we had ever been to - cooking, recipes, gadgets and socializing. Forget the plastic cups and containers we had gotten used to; there was a new Sheriff in town and it was the Pampered Chef Stoneware.

This stoneware, made out of clay, started a movement in suburban kitchens all across the nation, including my own. My first purchase and to this day still my favorite, is the Large Round Pampered Chef Stoneware. I have made so many Taco Rings, another Pampered Chef exclusive, that the circle shape is emblazoned onto the stoneware. The round shape makes it my go-to pan for my famous homemade Italian pizza. And speaking of pizza, leftover slices as well as Chinese takeout, taste as fresh as the day made when reheated on the Pampered Chef Stoneware.

The next addition to my Pampered Chef Stoneware collection was the Rectangle Stone. This baking sheet is perfect for baking cookies, rolls, and french fries. The heat from the oven is distributed evenly throughout the stone so baked items come out perfectly browned.

A Baker's kitchen is not complete without a pie plate and Pampered Chef Stoneware line offers a Deep Dish Pie Plate that holds six cups of filling. Perfect for my Grandma's Deep Dish Apple Pie that is present at every holiday. This is not the pie plate that gets left behind, I can assure you.

Many a phone call has been made to track down the whereabouts of my Pampered Chef pie plate. Also included in my baker's collection of Pampered Chef Stoneware is the Mini Loaf Pan. This stoneware has four mini-loaves that hold approximately 1.5 cups of liquid each. Not many weekends go by where my daughter and I aren't in the kitchen mixing up our favorite Banana Bread recipes.

The individual sizes make it perfect to customize the breads to each of our family member’s liking. Some may have walnuts, some chocolate chips and others may have both. I believe it is one of the most versatile pieces of the Pampered Chef Stoneware collection. For a regular size banana bread, we use the Stoneware Loaf Pan which holds approximately 6 cups. Breads come out nicely browned and baked perfectly throughout. This member of the Pampered Chef Stoneware is also great for making a savory meatloaf. You should try lining the bottom of the pan with bacon and placing the meat on top of it. Delicious.

The next and last piece in my collection, and my families’ favorite, is the Small Bar Pan. This small cookie sheet fits perfectly in our toaster oven and is used almost every day. It is perfect for after school snacks such as chicken fingers and bagel bites.

As you can see, The Pampered Chef Stoneware line is a huge part of my cooking arsenal. I will be forever grateful to the woman who came into my friend's home and introduced me to the products and recipes that would forever change the way I would cook and entertain for years to come.