Bitter Sweet Wheat - W-57 Deluxe Tea Kettle

This was another one of the "difficult to verify" pieces.   Unlike the W-23-EP percolator, however, I actually knew this one existed.  I guess that would make it more of a "difficult to get my grubby hands on" piece.   Posession of this piece has taunted me for years.  I had been SO close; and yet so far.  I had no idea how many were floating around out there.   I discovered the existence of this piece on eBay in May of 2014.  It was located in Wisconsin, but I went ahead and purchased it (shipping was a little cheaper back then)  Sadly, the trip to Oregon did not go well....

at...

all...

 (sigh)

Even though the seller issued a full refund, I was very depressed about it.  I would much rather have had the piece.

After much searching (almost 3 years of searching), another one finally appeared... This one only had to travel from Lacey, Washington and arrived completely intact.  WHEW!

This piece is more often found in Blue Cornflower but, surprisingly enough, appears to be the most common in the Cookmates version (TK-2) with the flat ground bottom.  Don't ask me why.

Where is your Corning Ware??
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Tea Time! - My P-series Cornflower Collection (Part 5)

I am not really that much of a tea drinker.  Oh, on occasion I enjoy a cup of fresh Ginger Tea or a antioxidant rich Green Tea. When it comes to black tea I love Earl Grey (such a classic) and first flush Darjeeling.   But I really don't brew tea very often.  But that does not mean that teapots gather dust.  Oh no.  They are usually employed to warm stock when I am making Risotto, or in heating milk for Hot Chocolate... Even warming Apple Cider.  Yes, they get a severe workout regardless.

Back Left: P-105 (8 cup)  Back Right:  P-104 (6 cup) with tea strainer   Front: P-103 (3 cup)

I also ran across the P-106-N a few weeks back (which is also a 6 cup) though this is technically a coffee pot.  The P-106-N originally came with a plastic cone that fit in the top for making "pour over" drip coffee.  Alas, bereft of the drip cone, it does duty as a teapot as well.

This is the Deluxe Tea Kettle (P-57).

Which, incidentally, has the same lid as the original Buffet Servers (B-1 & B-1 3/4), though the knob on top is different.

Magic Bananas!!!!  See?

The P-57 Deluxe Teakettle isn't really designed for brewing tea per se. It is a Kettle after all.  By definition (and design) a Kettle's sole purpose is to heat the water; water which is then taken to the teapot for brewing the tea. 

Though the tea strainer came with my P-104 Cornflower teapot, when I actually brew tea, I prefer to use my English Pyroflam teapot.

I think it's much more fitting.

Where is your CorningWare??
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"My Collection" Monday - A Bevy of Beverage Makers

I am very excited.  I asked a couple weeks ago for all y'all to send me pictures of your Corning Ware collections and Max, in Arizona, has the honor of being the first "My Collection" Monday post.

He sent me a picture of all his Beverage Makers.  An awesome collection of Cornflower pieces....

From left to right...  3 cup Teapot (P-103), P-57 Deluxe 2 quart Tea Kettle, 6 cup Teapot (P-104), in the back looks like a P-119 Range Top Percolator (9 cup) and in front of that, a P-116 Range Top Percolator (6 cup) then a beautiful 8 cup Teapot (P-105) with the Drip Coffee Globe (P-118-U) which when originally sold with the accompanying teapot, it was re-numbered as P-118-B instead of P-105. (a little information tidbit).  On the end is the 6 cup Range Top percolator (P-166). 

Last, but certainly not least, 2 awesome Cornflower Blue Coffee Mugs made of Suprema Ceramic Glass. Suprema, while still a ceramic glass, is made of a slightly different formulation than the original Corning Ware formula or the Centura formula. These were released as part of the 35th anniversary celebration of the Cornflower in 1993 along with the "Cornflower" Corelle pattern (made of Vitrelle laminated glass).

An AMAZING Collection, I must say.

Thank you for sharing, Max.

So hey everybody, where is YOUR Corning Ware??
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