The Snack-it Does Breakfast - Egg'spertly Baked Eggs with Lemony Asparagus

This recipe did not originate with me; I saw it at Kaylin's Kitchen, linked by a Facebook post.  Be that as it may, it sounded SO delicious, I had to talk about it here.  What drew me to it originally, however, was that she had used Corning Ware Snack-it plates (P-185), which have not been produced since 2000...  But those of us "in the know" about Corning Ware probably have several of these stashed around the house somewhere.

I did several experiments with the original recipe ('Cause, you know....  I'm me).  And have found that I enjoy the addition of a little lemon and that extra black pepper suits me JUST fine.   Something else of note; while this is possible in a petite dish (P-41) is really does work better on the Snack -It plate.  There is more surface area for the egg white to spread out, so that it cooks thoroughly and quickly enough to prevent the yolk from over cooking.  BUT, failing a P-185 Snack-It plate, the P-83-B Menuette skillet works like a charm; and has a significantly larger handle for removing from the oven. 

Egg'spert Baked Eggs with Asparagus & Lemon

For each serving you will need:

P-185 Snack-It plate or P-83 Menuette skillet or P-41 Petite dish
4 spears of Asparagus (possibly more if you have really thin spears)
Olive Oil
Salt
Black Pepper
Lemon Juice
2 large Eggs (Preferably at room temperature - Out of the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes)
Parmigiano-Reggiano
more Black Pepper

Collect all your ingredients and implements.  Cause this actually goes pretty quick after the initial Asparagus roasting.

 Preheat your Oven to 400F degrees.

Cut your Asparagus into little 1 inch pieces (I usually just snap it) and arrange the pieces on your Snack-It Plate.

Drizzle with Olive Oil and season with Salt and Black Pepper.

Place the Snack-It plate in the oven for 10 minute, then remove from the oven and sprinkle with Lemon Juice.

Crack the Eggs over the cooked Asparagus and return to the oven for 5-6 minutes.

(or until the white just begins to set)

Remove from the oven and sprinkle with Parmigiano-Reggiano.

and more Black Pepper (or Lemon Pepper mix)

Return to the oven for 3-4 minutes to melt the cheese and finish cooking the white, then serve, piping hot, with toast points.

Because, this....

and this.......

and, of course, THIS....

Where is your Corning Ware??
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Wordless Wednesday - Bustin' out Lunch with Grab-it and Snack-it

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Life is Sweet with Corning Heat n' Eat

I figured that it was about time that I do a post specifically on the Heat n' Eat line.  They are the saviors of left-overs and a boon to the lunch eaters.  So here are all the lunch time companions.

First, and probably the best known of all the Heat n' Eat line... The 15 oz Grab-it bowl (P-150-B) with it's  Glass lid (P-150-C) released in 1977. (these also had several styles of plastic lids available) At first, these were offered as a porringer to accompany Centura dinnerware, it wasn't long before they hit the Microwave Heat n' Eat line as the ever popular "Grab-It" bowl...  These are the Chili bowls that I grew up with as a child.

The Sidekicks (P-140-B) weren't released until the next year in 1978.  They measure 6 1/2 x 4 1/2, which is just the right size for a couple sticks of Cornbread. (After all, you can't eat chili without a couple of corn sticks on the side now can you?)  Though not really available to the public until '78, these little devils had been "flyin' the friendly skies" for years as airline plates with a model number of PL003.

The Casser-ette (P-14-B) with a glass lid (P-14-C) entered the area in 1979.  It holds 14 oz of your favorite ready made meal.  I personally love these when I make things like Chicken or Turkey Tetrazzini.  I'll make up several and store them in the freezer.  The only downfall of the P-14 is that no plastic covers were made; or at least none that I have ever seen, so once you have placed the lid on top, you have to wrap the whole thing in plastic wrap if it will be in the freezer for any length of time.

Suddenly there was a disturbing trend sweeping across the United States... People were eating Tomato soup out of their Grab-It bowls, instead of chili. It was utter chaos and pandemonium for the poor Sidekick just wasn't large enough to support a Toasted Cheese sandwich.  Luckily, Corningware Research and Development were on the job and by 1981, the Snack-It plate (P-185-B) appeared.  This 6 inches square and just the right size shoulder the cheese laden burden and peace and harmony were restored to the Western world.

Then the super-size craze began.  Thus in 1982, Corning released the 24 oz Grab-a-Meal bowl (P-240-B), for those who wanted a REALLY big bowl o' chili.  These were only available with glass lids (P-240-C).

As you can see, the Grab-A-Meal bowl is significantly bigger than the original Grab-It.

There were a couple of other pieces that were available here and there.  The Platter/Main Plate (P-811) which was original considered a platter for the Centura Dinnerware line, was also available as of 1977, but I am not sure how long.

There was also the larger Casserole.. as opposed to the Casser-ette.  This 1 1/4 quart round dish (P-270-B) with a glass lid (P-270-C, which also fits the M-225-B) showed up on the scene sometime in the mid 80s, but I have no idea how long it was available either.  This is an excellent Crisp/Crumble pan, if I do say so myself.  It is also an excellent "Casserole for two" dish. (I do not know if this dish has it's "own" plastic lid but the M-225-PC plastic lid fits the P-270-B casserole)

Where is your Corningware??
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Up For Grabs! - First Ever Vintage Corningware Giveaway

I have finally decided to take the plunge and do a give-away.... I have resisted doing this for years on Culinary Alchemy for multiple reasons that would take up this whole entire post to explain.  The short version is that give-aways usually promote products, and while I DO have some favorite products, I am not comfortable with promoting a brand, ingredients, yet, Brand names, no.  Brands change their products without warning.

Nutella is a perfect example.  For years, I have had a love affair with Nutella.  To the point of making Nutella stuffed cookies (AKA: Barry White Cookies).  Recently, however, I tried to make them for my niece's birthday and found that they have done something weird to the product.  It doesn't taste the same and the texture is weird.... It no longer holds it's shape after being chilled long enough to really DO anything with it and becomes a pile of goo almost immediately upon removing it from the refrigerator.  I am very VERY disappointed in Ferrero Rocher.   (Maybe this has something to do with the 2012 lawsuit)  For reasons like this, I never wanted to do any "branding" on my Blog.

Most importantly though, is that the original purpose my blogging served was as a vent for creativity, a way to converse and share with other bakers and (as fellow bloggers can attest to) it's a labor of love.

BUT, there is one product with which I have absolutely no problem in "Branding" myself, not to mention singing the praises of, and promoting mercilessly.  Vintage Corningware.

After all, that is the whole reason for this blog..... (OK, and the labor of love part)  It's also why Corningware411 is completely separate from Culinary Alchemy  (aside from a few plugs here and there)

I would like to give this a try and see how it goes.  Heck, I don't even know if anyone cares about a Vintage Corningware Give-away to begin with, but nothing ventured, nothing gained... right?

It is sort of an experiment in technology for me as well.  I found PunchTab, and will be using it to administer the give-away so that I do not have to search all over the internet for tweets, likes, pins, comments and such, then count everything up, throw a bunch of stuff in a hat and draw a winner.   Yes, PunchTab is going to do it all for me.  Which leaves me more time for cooking with the object of my affections....  LOL

I rescue Vintage Corningware ALL the time, so I am sharing.  :)  I enjoy bringing these pieces back to their former glory and knowing they are going to be cared for and used.  Think of this as Corningware Rescue and the winner is adopting a restored piece (or in this case, two pieces).  LOL

So, up for grabs, is a pair (2) of Snack-It Plates from the Grab-It line (or Little Dishes line)...  P-185 to be exact. Released in the early '80s, these individual snack plates are the perfect compliment to the Grab-It bowls (P-150), the Grab-a-Meal bowls (P-240) or the Casser-ette (P-14)

They are marked as 15cm square, not counting the handle, which is about 6 inches.  This is an inside measurement.  They are about 6 5/8 inches from outside edge to outside edge (~16.75 cm).

They make an excellent side plates for a toasted cheese sandwich with tomato soup or cornbread with chili.  Heck, you can even make a mini-frittata in them cause they can be used on the stove-top and under the broiler. (as long as you use the smallest burner and wear an oven mitt)


The contest will run for 2 weeks, from Aug 14th to the 28th.  There are multiple ways to enter, but you can only enter once per day with each option, so keep coming back every day and enter again, and again and again...  (At least that was the way I understood it.  Remember, this is new to me and kind of an experiment)

PunchTab will keep track of it all for me and will chose the winner at random on the 28th of August.

I will contact the winner for mailing information and will ship them promptly.  I promise to pack them VERY well.  :-) 

Where is your Corningware??
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Update 8/29/2013:

Congratulations to Denise K.!!!!  You have been selected at random by PunchTab to receive 2 Snack-it Plates.