Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Thanksgiving Day, Far and Away

For Thanksgiving, this year, I have left Portland and traveled south to the LA area.  It's not so much about the need for a little warmth, after the Arctic blast that tried to put Portland in a deep freeze, but the need to spend some time with extended family.

Alas, armed only with my cell phone, Corningware411 will more than likely sit fallow for the next few days, aside from potential CIA photos (Corning Ware In Action).  

I did not want to leave you all empty handed for that long, so, on the right of the page, under the "About Me" section, I have added some static "Information pages" on Corning Ware patterns.   

Yes, there are multiple pattern posts all over this blog, but this should be easier for research purposes.   All the  patterns, in one place, on one page, and with dates of manufacture (if known).

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Where is your CorningWare??
~~

Friday, November 14, 2014

More Bell Pepper Bliss in French White - Quiche de Poivron (With the Help of a P-16-B)

Corning Ware's original Pyroceram French White dishes (1978) are a boon to the baker, but as wonderful as they are to bake in, sometimes it needs a little help from some Classic Cornflower pieces.

Thus it is with this quiche.. True, you could just as easily roast the Bell Peppers in a French White F-6-B or an F-4-B, but I was trying to use as few dishes as possible.  Since the leek needs to be sauteed on the stove, I simply used my Cornflower P-16-B for both roasting the Bell Peppers under the broiler and sauteing the Leek on the stove top.  Multipurpose cookery is what Classic Corning Ware does best.

Roasted Bell Pepper Quiche
(Quiche de Poivron)



3 Bell Peppers, in multiple colors
1 Leek, sliced
2 TB Olive Oil
6 large Eggs
12 oz Creme Fraiche
Salt & Pepper
4 oz Havarti Cheese, grated
Corning Ware 11 inch Skillet (P-16-B) with lid (P-12-C)

You will also need:

1 par-baked Pate Brisee pastry crust in a 10 inch F-3-B French White Quiche dish

I am not going to cover "Pate Brisee" crust for this quiche as I have already covered my favorite tart/quiche dough a couple of times already in Quiche Lorraine and Bacon and Clam Quiche.  Feel free to use any family recipe you have that will fit the bottom of a 10 inch pie plate or quiche/tart dish.  Leave out the sugar, if your recipe contains it, and use at least 3/4 tsp salt for a savory crust.

Place the Bell Peppers (stems intact) into a P-16-B Skillet.

Place 6 inches beneath the broiler of your oven, turning every 10 minutes until the skins are blackened and blistered.

Remove the P-16-B from the oven and cover the peppers with a P-12-C lid to allow the residual heat to "steam" the skins for easier removal.

Turn off the broiler and set the oven to 325F degrees.
Peel the softened skins from the peppers, then remove the stems and the seeds.


Julienne the Peppers.

Wash the P-16-B, then place over medium flame, adding 2 TB Olive oil.
When the oil is hot, add the sliced Leek and saute for a couple minutes, just until they soften.

Remove the P-16-B from the flame and allow to cool.

Crack open the eggs and place them in a medium sized bowl

Whisk to break them up before adding the Creme Fraiche, then whisk again until well combined.

Season with Salt, Pepper and a dash of Nutmeg, then stir in 2 oz of shredded Havarti cheese.

Place sauteed Leek and julienne Bell Peppers in the bottom of the par-baked quiche crust.

Pour the Egg/Creme Fraiche/Cheese mixture over the Belle Peppers and Leeks.

Sprinkle with the remaining Havarti cheese.

Place the quiche in the oven and bake until it begins to puff slightly...  approximately 35-40 minutes. (the center should still be slightly jiggly)
Remove from the oven and allow to rest and set for 10-15 minutes before attempting to cut.

Serve while still warm, or completely cooled to room temperature.

Where is your CorningWare??
~~

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

The Passing of a Pioneer - Dr. S. Donald Stookey (1915-2014)

On November 4th, 2014, in Rochester New York, Dr. S. Donald Stookey passed away, at the age of 99.   This is a sad day for those who collect one of his greatest inventions...  Corning Ware.

Most collectors know the story of the "creation of Corning Ware", but I shall tell it again, for it is the story of a pioneer, the story of invention and innovation, the story of a legacy that would span 60 patents and result in his being inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2010.
 
Dr. Stookey was born the oldest of 4 children, on May 23, 1915 in Hay Springs, Nebraska. Stanley Stookey, his father, was a teacher and bank clerk, while is mother, Hermie Stookey, was a teacher and housewife.  When he was about 6 years old the family moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  It was here that he would eventually graduate Magna Cum Laude from Coe College.  Stookey continued his education and earned his Master’s degree from Lafayette College in 1938 and then his Doctorate in Physical Chemistry from MIT in 1940.

That same year, Stookey joined the R&D staff at Corning Glass Works in Corning, New York.  Glass Chemistry was a fairly "new" science at the time, but it wasn't long before his first innovation in glass - FotoForm (which is still used in computer manufacturing and communications technologies)  It was in 1953, while working with this particular glass that can be photochemically etched into precise and detailed structures that his next invention took place....

Stookey placed a piece of FotoForm glass in the furnace with the intent of heating it to 600C, then walked away.  When he returned, he realized the gauge was stuck at 900C.  Worried that he may have damaged the furnace, he immediately attempted to remove the, now milky white, piece of glass.  It slipped from the tongs.  Instead of shattering into millions of shards, it bounced and sounded like the ringing of steel when it hit the floor.

This new form of crystalline (ceramic) glass was originally dubbed as FotoCeram...  It was amazingly strong and durable, had a low thermal expansion and was invisible to radar.  All this led to its use in guided missiles. However, FotoCeram was destined for even bigger and better things...    Renamed "Pyroceram" by 1957, this wonder glass made it's way into kitchens across the United States as out beloved Corning Ware. 

While collectors of this cookware phenomenon, like myself, applaud his invention every single time we head to the stove to cook a meal, Stookey's innovations didn't stop there.

He is also responsible for the eye-glass lenses that I currently wear.  For Stookey, working with William Armistead, pioneered FotoChromic glass.  Every time I walk outside in the sun and the lenses in my glasses darken, I thank Dr. Stookey (and Armistead).   It's a twist on this sun darkening glass that is responsible for the glass panes of the United Nations Secretariat Building.  They were made of a special Opal Photo-Sensitive formulation so that during the day, the windows match the marble facade of the building... 

Day


Night

He was also responsible for transparent ceramic glass, patented in 1966, which would surface as Visions Cookware in the 1980s. Did you know that Ceramic Glass nuts and bolts were even used by NASA on the Space Shuttle?  All of Stooky's research has led Corning Glass Works to other products such as the Gorilla Glass that is currently used in iPhones and LCD screens. 

Stookey eventually retired from Corning Glass Works in 1987, but would often visit the R & D department. 

In 2010, Stookey was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. 

Stookey was a true pioneer in the science of glass chemistry and has been one of the biggest contributors to the technological world we live in today... His innovations have been far reaching and we will continue to benefit from his advances in glass for decades to come.

Thanks you Dr. Stookey.  May you rest in peace, knowing you made the world a better place.

Where is your CorningWare, iPhone/Smart Phone, LCD TV, Visions Cookware, Computer, Prescription eye Glasses, Radiant Cooktop, Headphones, Ink Jet Printer, Dental Implants, Bone Replacements, Fire Place Screen. etc.??
~~

Friday, October 24, 2014

Harvest Time - Corning Ware P-series "Harvest" Pattern

Originally available in early 1970 as part of the Floral Bouquet Limited Edition Gift Line, the 1 3/4 quart Party Buffet set (P-516) in solid Butterscotch (with matching butterscotch ceramic knob) appeared to have been a hit.  Or at least enough of a hit for Corning to expand the color into a line.

That line was called "Harvest".  (not to be confused with "Garden Harvest", a 90s A-series pattern)


Though expanded beyond it's original 1 piece offering, the "Harvest" pattern was only available in 3 sizes; the 1 quart (P-1-B), 1 1/2 quart (P-1 1/2-B) and the 1 3/4 quart (P-1 3/4-B) all came with Pyrex clear P-7-C sized lid. (The ceramic knob had disappeared)

Production continued until 1972 with the release of the A-series model Corning Ware.

Where is your Corning Ware??
~~

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Flower Power! - The Floral Bouquet (1st Edition) Limited Gift Line

Though the Floral Bouquet pattern is covered in "the books".  I think these dates refer only to the 2nd and 3rd editions of the pattern (1970-1975) at which point a larger selection of pieces were in production.  1st Edition Floral Bouquet, however, was originally released in the fall of 1969 as a Limited Edition Gift line, just like Platinum Filigree (1966), Renaissance (1970) & Nature's Bounty (1971).   Unlike the other 3 gift lines, however, Floral Bouquet evolved over time, even before breaking out into a full fledged line.

At the end of 1969 Corning released just 3 pieces.  Similar to the Platinum Filigree Gift Line, the Party Buffet (1 3/4 quart) and the Royal Buffet (2 1/2 quart) were chosen.  However, unlike Platinum Filligree, the percolator released was a P-119 Stove Top model instead of an Electromatic (P-80-EP or P-6-EP).  It should be noted here that some of the P-119 percolators are marked as P-219, which means they were originally intended to be sold as "Just/All White" percolators, but apparently the popularity of the pattern forced Corning to dip into their "Just/All White" back stock to produce more Floral Bouquet percolators

These 1st Edition Floral Bouquet saucepans featured a wrap around pattern of white flowers in "negative" due pale avocado outlining and gold linen textured background print.  The matching percolator did not have a wrap around pattern, merely a portion of the design was set front and center.

As with all of Corning's Limited Edition Gift Lines these Floral Bouquet pieces were sold in specially designed boxes featuring a unique numbering system.  Thus, though the piece itself may be marked as a P-1 3/4-B, the box, containing the dish, lid and candle warmer cradle, was labeled as P-520.


Now this is where it gets fun.   Apparently, the gift line was a huge success, so Corning scrambled to add more pieces to the line.. Thus, in early 1970, more pieces were added, though not ALL had the floral pattern.  A couple of coordinating solids were added to break up the busy-ness of the design, when it went to the table.  After all, serve ware should compliment your table, not perpetrate a chaotic assault on your visual cortex.


Added to the original 3 pieces were the P-1 1/2-B with plastic trivet (box P-510), along with a new option for the P-1 3/4; being the plastic trivet (box P-515) instead of Family Buffet candle warmer (box P-520).  The solid complimentary colors were an Avocado P-2 1/2 with Candle Warmer (box P-517) and a Butterscotch P-1 3/4, also with Candle Warmer (box P-516).

1st Edition Floral Bouquet (and coordinates) kicked off what would become a tradition for Corning's "Limited Edition Gift Lines"; the "special" lids.  While Renaissance and Nature's Bounty both had pebble textured lids, the 1st Edition Floral Bouquet & Complimentary Colors had a ceramic knob that literally screwed down onto a threaded stump on the top of the lid. 


These knobs matched the dish.  

Floral Bouquet print pieces had white knobs (to match the negative space flowers) the Butterscotch Party Buffet had a butterscotch knob and the Avocado Royal Buffet had an Avocado knob.

The lid sizes are equivalent to the standard sizes, but followed by an extra C in their model number.  Thus, the P-1 1/2-B and P-1 3/4-B both have a P-7-CC sized lid and the P-2 1/2-B has a P-9-CC sized lid regardless of the knob color.

Though Floral Bouquet changed to the solid yellow background in late 1970 (2nd edition) it appears that a few other pieces were produced in the 1st edition pattern before the change to the design was made   The P-22-B Electromatic Skillet would be one of these pieces.

I also tracked down a P-80-EP Electromatic percolator... Alas, it was smashed during shipping because the seller did not properly pad the heating element inside..

To date, I have found no catalog information giving a date for the addition of these 2 pieces to the Gift Line.

Where is your Corning Ware??
~~

Monday, October 13, 2014

"My Collection" Monday - Prepare to be Amazed!

I received some incredible Corning Ware collection photos from Bonnie in San Jose.   I am in awe!

1 Liter/Quart Saucepans (Spice O' Life, Cornflower, Forever Yours, My Garden "Traditional", Shadow Iris, Sunsations, Fruit Basket, Shadow Iris, Rosemarie, Blue Dusk, Silk & Roses, Provincial Blue, Blue Velvet)

1.5 Liter/Quart Saucepans (Fruit Basket, Lyrics, Spice O' Life, Symphony, Summerhill "Centura", Cornflower, 3rd edition Floral Bouquet, Autumn Meadow "Imoco")

2 Liter/Quart Saucepans (Spice O' Life, Forever Yours, 3rd Edition Floral Bouquet., Oceanview, Fruit Basket, Orchard Rose, Shadow Iris, Country Festival, Wildflower, Pastel Bouquet, Provincial Blue, Abundance)

 3 Liter/ 2 1/2 Quart Saucepans (Trefoil, Forever Yours, Country Cornflower, Pastel Bouquet, Duck)

5 Liter/Quart Sauce pot (Pastel Floral, Garden Harvest)

Baking Dishes (Wheat, Cornflower, Cornflower roaster, Wildflower, Country Festival)

Menu-ette Saucepans and Saucemakers (Spice O' Life Menu-ette, M-68-B Microwave Saucepot, Shell Oil's Green Macrame - 9 inch skillet and the Menu-ettes)

Petite Pans (Lots of Cornflower, American Oil Star pattern, Fresh Cut, Spice O' Life, Peach Floral, Country Cornflower, Fruit Basket)

Sidekicks & Baking Trays (Conventional and Microwave browning)

Merry Mushroom (Corning Ware Round)

Centura & Buffet Servers (Centura White Server and Butterscotch Round)

Casual Elegance (White Flora)

My Garden (on French White), Classic Black & Designer Casserole (April)

Christmas pieces


Grab-Its and French White

Even the "Copy Cats"  Anchor Hocking Cookware (pulled from the market in 1969), Mikasa Fire & Ice (by Narumi) and Arcoflam Nouveau from France (made For Princess House) with Pyrex Fireside tinted lid.

WOW!  Is all I have to say.

Where is your Corning Ware?? 
~~