Gettin' Sauced with Corning Ware - Cornflower Saucemaker Trio

It's been awhile since I have talked about the SauceMakers. 

Those really strange shaped pieces made by Corning Glass Works' Consumer Products Division starting in 1963 and discontinued at the end of 1974.  SauceMakers, according to the catalogs, were available in 1 quart (P-55/P-64) & 2 quart (P-65) sizes.  Be aware that not all SauceMakers are actually stamped with their model number (none of mine are - neither my Cornflower nor the 2 Wheat ones currently in my collection)   

The only SauceMaker to last through the entire 11 year production period was the 1 quart Saucemaker, which appeared in several patterns other than Cornflower; such as Wheat, American Oil & Floral Bouquet as well as All White.  The 1 quart started life in 1963 as the P-55 (no lid). By 1964, a lid was added to the piece and it was packaged as the P-64.  Both models were available until 1968, at which point, the P-55 was dropped all together and only the P-64 remained.

The 2 quart Saucemaker had a much shorter life span from 1964-1970.  This particular piece was always packaged with a lid as the P-65. While it's life span was shorter, it did manage to come in several patterns; Cornflower, Wheat and All White. 

Before I continue, it should be noted that the White Cookmates versions of the 1 quart (SM-1) & 2 quart (SM-2) SauceMaker were produced until about 1976 before being discontinued.


The small 1 pint SauceMaker is still a bit of a mystery.  It appears to have never been released to the market, though at least 8 have been accounted for at this point.  CMOG (Corning Museum of Glass) has one labeled as a Prototype P-5.

(Photo courtesy of Rakow Library - CMOG)

But what bothers me is that it has a lid.  Now the 1 quart P-55 was released first, without a lid. So wouldn't that mean that this one was produced later?  And if it was produced later, then why is it a P-5 instead of a P-63; following suit with the P-64 and P-65?  And just WHAT is under that sticker?  Is it really only a "-B" or is it some other number? Maybe P-54?

Needless to say, mine has nothing printed on it to give any clue as to what the model number is or whether it actually a prototype or not.  It has a lid and, because the lug is the same as a petite pan, uses a P-41-HG for a handle... (P-5? on Left)

The P-55/P-64 (right) & P-65 have standard P-series lugs and use the standard P-10-HG handle.

 (P-55/P-64 in back - P-5? in front)

(P-55/P-64 top - P-5? bottom)

None of the lids have the model numbers on them... Being P-64-C (1 quart), P-65-C (2 quart) and potentially P-5-C or P-63-C or even P-54-C (for the 1 pint) 

Thus are the mysteries of Corning Ware.  


Where is your Corning Ware??
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Uber Sucky Weather + Corningware = Decadently Fudgy Brownies

I will admit, I wrote a ENORMOUSLY long post complaining about 20 Degree Weather, 45mph winds, -13 wind chill, snow drifts, freezing rain, solid sheets of ice 1/2 inch thick... But I deleted it, cause in the end, it sounded like the ramblings of a spoiled child.

Thus it comes down to this...

I am annoyed because I am trapped in my house and the weather uber-sucks.  Chocolate makes everything better, so I am makin' brownies.   Theobromine shall lead me to my happy place.

Much better...   Short and sweet, and directly to the point.

Decadently Fudgy Brownies

7 oz 70% bittersweet Chocolate, chopped
6 oz unsalted Butter (12 TB)
3 large Eggs
3/4 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 tsp Salt
3/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
1 cup White Chocolate Chips

Corningware 8x8 inch Brownie Pan (P-322)
Corningware 1 3/4 quart Saucepan (P-1 3/4-B)
Corningware Detachable Handle (P-10-HG)

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees.
Spray your 8x8 inch Brownie Pan (P-322) with Olive oil or other releasing agent of your choice (like Pam)

Lay a small piece of parchment in the bottom of the pan (it doesn't even have to cover the whole bottom of the pan) and set the pan aside.

Place your 1 3/4 quart Saucepan (P-1 3/4-B) on the stove over medium flame and attache the handle (P-10-HG).

Place the butter in the P-1 3/4-B Saucepan and allow it to melt.

Add the chopped Chocolate and stir until it is about half way melted, then remove from the flame ans set aside.

In a medium sized bowl (2 1/2 quart) combine the Eggs, Sugar, Brown Sugar, Vanilla and Salt.

Beat with a whisk until well combined.

By now, your Chocolate should have finished melting with the Butter and everything should be completely smooth.

Slowly pour the Chocolate/Butter mixture into the Egg/Sugar mixture while whisking constantly.

Continue beating until everything is nice and smooth, with a few bubbles.

Add the Flour and whisk until well combined.

Add the White Chocolate chips (or any other chip you prefer) and fold them into the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared 8x8 inch Brownie Pan (P-322).

Smooth the batter with a spatula, making sure to push the batter into the corners.

Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, turning at 15 minutes, or until the top is shiny and mottled looking.

Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 20 minutes before sliding a spatula around the edges of the pan.

Place a rack over the top and flip the pan over and peel off the parchment.

Lay another rack over the bottom of the brownies.....

And flip them back over so the shiny mottled side is facing up, again.

Allow to cool for an additional 20 minutes before attempting to cut...

These are really fudgy and if you cut them to early it will be REALLY messy.

All I have to say is that Calgon ain't got nothin' on a good Brownie.

Where is your Corningware??
~~

Getting a Handle on Handles - Corningware Detachable Handles

Three little handles sitting in a row.

But to which series do the handles go?

One for the P Series,

One for the A

And one for the servers at your Buffet.

It's true... There are 3 handles designed by Corning for their cookware.  OK, technically there are 4.

I mean, who could forget the cute little handle that fits on the Petite pans?

But lets focus on the cookware of at least 1 quart in size.

Most people are familiar with the P-Series handle (P-10-HG) released with the original Corningware that hit the market in 1958. (The lids may have changed from Fin style to Knob style in 1962, but the handle remained unchanged) 

They are extremely prolific in just about every thrift store on the planet.  My theory?  During the time of the P series Corningware, more people were actually using them on the stove top. Even though Corning changed the shape of Corningware in 1972, requiring a different handle, Corning still had P series pieces in production.  The P-4-B is an excellent example.  It was still being produced well into the late 70's, which is why it's available in Spice O' Life, Country Festival, Wild Flower, Floral Bouquet.  Heck, there is even a Christmas commemorative piece from 1978. Thus, the P Series handle was still in production well into the 70's, possibly the early 80's.  That's A LOT of handles.

Then in 1972 Corning changed the shape of Corningware.  It was more square, flatter on the bottom (though not actually "flat ground" like the Electromatic skillets and Cookmates) and had tighter fitting lids with larger knobs on the top.  But most importantly, as far as handles are concerned, they changed the width of the "lug" that the handle attaches to.  Thus, a new style of handle was needed..... The A-10-HG.

This handle is actually narrower where it attaches to the base piece than it's predecessor had been.  Thus, the handle was designed for the lug to extend beyond the end of the clamping mechanism, instead of it being completely covered as it had been in the P series pieces.

I can testify to the larger lug making it easier to handle Corningware when removing it from the oven.  But I cannot say as to whether the detachable handle design is a good one.  To me, it seems like there is more stress being put on a smaller area.  However, as you can see, there is more bracing from the side of the piece, than there was with the original handle.

I only own 1 piece of A series Corningware, and it's an Electromatic skillet A-22.  Thus I am not in the habit of moving my piece via the detachable handle.

Another thing that should be noted, is that not ALL of the A-Series "casseroles" are able to take a handle.  You can attach one, but it is not stable.  This has to do with a change made to the lugs.  I am not sure when this change was made, but I have a feeling that it happened with the conversion from quarts to liters as a unit of measurement.

This is the back side of the original A-series lug.

This is the post-metric conversion lug.  Note that there is no recessed area on the underside of the handle to keep the locking mechanism from slipping back and forth.

Now, let's discuss the lesser known handle.  The P-201-HG.  This handle should probably have been designated a B-10-HG, because it was available for the round Buffet Servers, Centura Cook n' Serve and Merry Mushroom Pieces, all of which are B series pieces (this also includes the Spice O' Life round as well).

While, the Buffet/Centura/Corning Round line had the same sized lugs as the P series, the side of the pans are curved.  Slight alterations were made to the connection mechanism and the supports.  Thus, even though this detachable handle has the "P" designation, and will fit on P series pans, it's a slightly tight fit because it is better suited to the round pans.  In fact, this handle works excellent on the round Saucemakers. (P-55, P-64 & P-65)

You can tell, when seen side by side, that the P-201-HG had the basic design from which they took the design for the A Series Handle (A-10-HG).

While the A Series (A-10-HG) is a little more tapered and has "cut-outs" for the lug to pass through and more bracing against the side of the saucepan, the P-201-HG is really designed much like the P-10-HG at the connection point.

The only real difference between the P-201-HG and the P-10-HG, aside from the clamping mechanism being enclosed instead of open, is the style of the actual bakelite handle.  The P-201-HG has a smooth upscale feel that befit the Buffet Servers that it was designed to accompany.

There is one other thing about this P-201-HG that you should know.  When it was originally released (1964), you could get it in any color you chose.... As long as it was black.  :-)  But when the Centura round Cook n' Serve saucepans hit the market in 1966, Corning released the P-201-HG in White.

The White P-201-HG was designed to accompany most round versions of "round" Corningware, even after the "Buffet Servers" were replaced by Centura Cook n' Serve line and "Corningware Round" was released in Spice O' Life and Merry Mushroom through the 70s.

NOW, all that being said.......

I had heard rumors for years that the original P-10-HG and the A-10-HG came in white, but I had NEVER seen one in person, nor had I even seen a picture of one.  That is until now.  Below is the 601-H handle designed for the original Centura Saucepans designed by Jerry Wright to accompany the release of Centura Dinnerware.

It looks almost like the P-10-HG, but the supports are longer.

There is also a curve to the top of the connector...

This has to do with the design of the original Centura Saucepans (the pan is made of the same material as Corning Ware, but the lids are made of Centura)

Note that the handle lugs are tipped up, curved on the top side and rounded on the bottom side.  This is a departure from the flat topped lug used on Corning Ware.

This is more than likely where the rumor of a white P-10-HG started.

However, this handle will not fit the P-series, B-Series, A-Series nor any of the Centura "Cook n' Serve" line (which are really just Buffet Servers (B-series) with fancy lids)

Where is your Corningware Detachable Handle??
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