Flower Power!! Take 2 - Floral Bouquet (2nd Edition) Begins to Go Mainstream

In 1969, Corning released the Floral Bouquet Limited Edition Gift line.

Due to it's popularity, Corning decided to continue producing the pattern in 1970, though in a slightly modified form.  This, to us collectors, has become known as 2nd edition Floral Bouquet...  Though at the time, it was still called "Floral Bouquet", just like the Limited Gift line had been.

The modifications were fairly simple... First, the special ceramic knob lids used on the Gift line were replaced with the standard clear glass Pyrex lids.  Secondly, the pattern was altered by using a solid yellow background instead of a linen looking texture and the flowers were accented with blue and avocado colors to make them stand out more. Thirdly, the line was expanded slightly by the addition of a 10 inch skillet and a 1 quart saucepan.

This version of Floral Bouquet would remain in production until mid 1971, when the 3rd edition of Floral Bouquet would be released.

P-12-ES and P-22-B Electromatic Skillet set with P-12-C lid

Note the flat ground bottom....

P-10-B skillet with P-10-C lid

P-2 1/2-B Saucepan with P-9-C lid

P-1 3/4-B Saucepan with P-7-C lid

P-1 1/2-B Saucepan with P-7-C lid

P-1-B Saucepan with P-7-C lid.

Though there is a percolator to match this set, it wasn't released until 1971.  The percolators for Floral Bouquet (2nd & 3rd editions) are exactly the same.  All 9/10 cup percolators have a significant amount of yellow in the background of the front medallion (for the pattern does not wrap around like Renaissance does).  These include the P-149 stove top and the P-80-EP & E-1210 Electromatics.

P-149

 P-80-EP

All the 6 cup percolators, however, have a small single patch of yellow between 2 of the flowers.  As far as I can tell, there were only two 6 cup models produced.  The P-146 Stove Top and the P-6-EP electromatic.

P-146

P-6-EP

No matter when the percolator was produced (1971-1974) it is the size, not the edition, that determined the pattern.  For this reason, I usually leave them out of the "Editions" list... Aside from the Original Gift line P-119, they all look the same.

Where is your Corning Ware??
~~

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??
~~

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??
~~

I'm Stuffed - Broiled Stuffed Portobellos Are On The Menuette

So you may ask yourself, "What are the Menuettes good for except heating up soup?"  Well, they can come in handy for other things.  I use mine for Browning Butter, warming Milk for Sauce Bechamel or Chicken Stock for Sauce Veloute.  I sometimes even heat the Wine for my Risottos, but tonight, I used my 1 1/2 pint (P-82) for the filling to my stuffed Portobello mushrooms.

Granted, I only made 2 of them; if you were making more you would have to graduate to a larger sized saucepan like the 1 quart (P-1-B) or 1 1/2 quart (P-1 1/2-B).  But for only 2 Mushroom caps worth of filling, it worked perfectly.

Gruyere cheese not your thing...?  Well, there is Havarti, Fontina, Emmental, Bergkase, and Gouda.  I do not recommend Cheddar or Brie.  Brie is hard to work with, as is Taleggio & Camembert, due to their softness. As for Cheddar?  If this was a Portobello "Burger" with Lettuce, Tomato, Bacon and such I would say, "Go for it!".  But it's not, so I won't.  The flavor of Cheddar is just too "in your face"....  No buns about it.

Gruyere Stuffed Portobello Caps

2 Portobello Mushroom Caps
Olive Oil
approx. 1/2 a Leek, chopped
1 clove Garlic, minced
Splash of White Wine, (I like Sauvignon Blanc)
3/4 cup Panko
1 oz Gruyere, finely grated
~optional~ 2 TB finely chopped Italian Flat-Leaf Parsley
Salt and Pepper

Corningware Small 12x7.5 inch Roaster (P-332) - For larger amounts a Broil & Bake Tray (P-35)
Corningware 1 1/2 pint Menuette (P-82-B) - for larger amounts a 1 1/2 quart saucepan (P-1 1/2-B)

Pop the stems off the Portobellos, then trim the very bottom off the stem off and chop the remaining stems.

Grab a Leek and trim the root, then chop enough Leek to equal about 1/2 the amount of chopped stems you have. (Yeah, this is a little more "fly by the seat of your pants")

Begin heating the oil in a 1 1/2 pint saucepan (P-82-B) set over medium flame.

Add the Leek and saute for a couple minutes.

Add the chopped Portobello stems and the Garlic, then saute 2 minutes longer.

Give it a good Splash of Wine.

Continue simmering the mixture until the wine has almost evaporated.

Remove from the flame and set aside to cool.

Start your broiler, grab your P-332 12x7 Roasting pan and place the caps in the pan, gill side down.

Brush them with Olive Oil.

Place them under the broiler for 5 minutes.

Remove from the oven and flip them over so the gills are facing up.

Your filling should be cool enough now, so add the Panko and stir it up.

Now add the shredded Gruyere, and stir again.

If you are using the Parsley, add it now as well. (It just adds some color to the filling)

Season with Salt and Pepper then divide the filling between the caps.

Press lightly, so it holds together, then place back under the broiler for an additional 5 minutes.

 (or until the filling begins to turn a nice russet brown color)

Gratuitous picture of deliciousness about to be consumed.

Move the cap to a plate, and dig in!

Where is your Corningware??
~~