Friday 13 September 2013

For the Love of a Pan

It's happened. The inevitable. I'm a grown woman with a career. I have raised two wonderful daughters and instilled in them the importance of kindness, respect and checking your clothes are the right way around. I should know better. And yet when I came across this little beauty on my Friday afternoon trawl my heart melted. It took me right back to playing kitchens when I was a gal with my little blue plastic tea set and a table full of hungry teddies (strangely the highlight of playing kitchens in those days was washing up with a miniature dish mop and a pudding basin - this enthusiasm has dwindled in latter years!) 

Let us proceed one step at a time.


Firstly this.


 A fine handle if ever there was one, and fortunately matched by another on the opposite side.

Next up is the lid. Oh what a lid.


Enamelled flowers on a sky blue base.

Inside?


Clean as a whistle (assuming you are a fastidiously clean whistle keeper).

Ready for the whole thing? Complete kit and caboodle?


Aaaaaah. Just - aaaaah.

I must admit when I first saw the pan of delight I thought it might be an ornament - perhaps something to be found on top of an old barge or, failing that, Snow White's kitchen. However I had a clue to it's origin. On the reverse side of the pan was a sticker with the manufacturers name.


'Twas a Kockums!

A quick trawl on the internet told me it was an old hand painted crock from Sweden (either that or the name of a rather large military shipyard but I prefer to stick with the former).

I have become slightly overprotective. Want to heat up some beans - not in this pan. Boil up some potatoes - I don't think so. Scrambled eggs - how dare you! This pan is only to be used for delicate and beautiful cuisine so if any of you out there can direct me as to what sort of food this might be I would be extremely grateful. Until then, if you happen to be in the area, just beware that if Mr K is making lunch you may here this echoing across the vicinity

'Get yer 'ands off me kockums!'


Jane

x

P.S. £4!

45 comments :

  1. You're so funny! I love your posts. That is a very pretty pot and I would be similarly passionate about it if I had one. :)

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  2. This is a lovely pan. Be a pleasure to cook with that!

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  3. Ahhh, she's a real beauty! Only the finest consommé should ever simmer in that pot...you always make me smile, lovely Jane! Chrissie x

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  4. Yes! Yes! And Yes! A whole post about a pan! Jane, you're as mad as me (and that's saying something....). It's a real beaut. I loves it I do (sorry, don't know where the west country accent came from...). xx

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  5. Oh I love it! I've never seen a more pretty pan ... xxx

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  6. What a delightful Kockums, I'd have grabbed it too especially at that price. Don't use it, just get it down from the shelf every once in a while and stroke it.

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  7. You very lucky lady! I love it so Jane, I really understand your new motherly protective instinct over your brand new baby :o) xox Penny

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  8. Why not find a flattish vase and just use it for flowers x

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  9. I agree with Fiona. You mustn't use it. It might get dirty.
    Treasure indeed! xx

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  10. What a fabulous pan Jane I am so envious, would love to see that sitting in my kitchen just waiting for some delicious food to cook inside it. You have a real eye Jane for some fabulous things. A great post as always, thanks so much
    Lots of love
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  11. A cracking post Jane and thanks for lifting my spirits after a somewhat tough day! A beauty of a pan, I completely see the attraction and the need to guard it at all times. xo

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  12. Excellent...made me giggle just a bit too much and I scared the cat!
    xxx

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  13. Ha, ha, ha. This is why I enjoy blogging, you really made me laugh.
    Hope you have a good weekend.
    S xx

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  14. I would have wrestled you to the floor to get to that first! It is fantastic. Jo x

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  15. I can see why you are in love with it. How could anyone thing of making beans or something nasty in it? I think it is made for flowers or at least something sweet.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  16. What a treasure, it must have been waiting for you..happy cooking
    Thea xx

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  17. What a sweet pan you found! If I were you, I wouldn't use it! ; )

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  18. It's utterly gorgeous and of course it's not for just any old cooking! And not for anyone else to cook in either or that would be the case here anyway! Would be lovely for reheating homemade soup in or perhaps a compote of autumn fruits? If Snow White didn't have this in her kitchen she ought to have done! What a lucky find! Enjoy! E x

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  19. Hahahaha! Oh Jane this made me chuckle, and is quite in line with my last post remarking on Thomas Chaffaknacker the weather man!! And yes, you keep that little beauty for something delicate and special - I have absolutely no idea what that might be.....but certainly NOT scrambled eggs! Lx

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  20. Oh sweet and beauteous pot! But one question - how BIG is it? I cannot work it out from the photos. Is is a one portion soup - or two person's stewed fruit - or a family casserole size??

    great post- autumn blessings xx

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    1. Aha good point! I would say it is a medium size ie: four poached eggs x

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  21. 'tis a thing of beauty! Thanks for making me smile today:)

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  22. OOoo nice pan... I do like a pretty pan... Cx

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  23. ha ha! love the punch line but i love your beautiful pan more!!!! what a beauty x

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  24. Oh yes, don't let them have it ... make them keep their mitts off ;) ... it is a beauty ... Bee xx

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  25. What a lovely looking pot, maybe it's for boiling water as not to spoil it.

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  26. A great pan and one not to be used... especially by Mr K! I'd use it to serve to the table, a nice hearty stew on these colder evenings, but cook it in a different pot and transfer to this gorgeous one. That way you don't get the brown gravy stains down the sides! £4? Bargain!! xx

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  27. You are right! I do like your pan!!! Dead cute! I would love to cook my potatoes in that one. AND it is Swedish. Ha ha ha! What a fabulous find. Lucky girl you are. Happy cooking tonight!!!
    Annette
    My Rose Valley

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  28. It's beautiful! and I'm envious. I say a nice delicate soup would be the only dish worthy of this little beauty. Now I'm off to Ebay, I've got to find me a kockums.

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  29. Lovely shape, and the pattern is very pretty. What a bargain too!

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  30. What a great bargain, Jane. Yes, definitely hands off! :oD

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  31. I love it! What a find. I shall be on the lookout for a nice Kockums when I'm trawling round in future. What a pretty pretty thing to have on show in your kitchen! xCathy

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  32. I covet your Kockums, in fact you are clearly the cause of an epidemic of Kockums coveting!

    It is very clean ... maybe it was only ever used for boil in the bag dinners ... Vesta Curry a la Kockums perhaps.

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  33. Ha-ha! I always get a good chuckle when I venture your way. Such a lovely little pot. You could use it for storage. A potato pot perhaps, but no cooking allowed. :) Have a great evening. Tammy

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  34. Lol !
    It is a totally beautiful pot...just imagine how good baked beans would taste if they were cooked in it, I think you should use it...only you though :-)
    Emma x

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  35. Ahhhh....I am a thinking it belonged in a painted gypsy caravan! And it was most certainly treasured! ~ Ever so pleased you found it and will treasure it also....LOVELY when you fall upon these things, isn't it just! Happy New week, Mrs....Hugs Maria x

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  36. Oh Jane - I never thought I would every say this phrase but I love you kockums!! Is that ok to say in public? I am not too sure. You know that I WILL SPEND THE REMAINDER OF MY DAYS searching for a kockums of my own.....I am going to ask Dom for a kockums for Christmas (I will watch his face very carefully when I make this request mind). If Dom should EVER DARE TO TOUCH MY KOCKUMS I too would threaten all sorts of chopping off of body parts. You do make me laugh Jane and I fondly think that if we should ever meet we would be laughing like drains (or a PAIR OF KOCKUMS - IMAGINE !!!)

    Happy not cooking with your kockums

    best wishes
    jenny
    PS Trying to think of a clever song where I could get kockums in somewhere but failed...

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  37. Oh Jane - I never thought I would every say this phrase but I love you kockums!! Is that ok to say in public? I am not too sure. You know that I WILL SPEND THE REMAINDER OF MY DAYS searching for a kockums of my own.....I am going to ask Dom for a kockums for Christmas (I will watch his face very carefully when I make this request mind). If Dom should EVER DARE TO TOUCH MY KOCKUMS I too would threaten all sorts of chopping off of body parts. You do make me laugh Jane and I fondly think that if we should ever meet we would be laughing like drains (or a PAIR OF KOCKUMS - IMAGINE !!!)

    Happy not cooking with your kockums

    best wishes
    jenny
    PS Trying to think of a clever song where I could get kockums in somewhere but failed...

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  38. Hi Jane, yes, pita chips are made by brushing pita with olive oil then sprinkling with some sort of seasoning -- I use a New Orleans spice blend, then broil in the oven. Delicious and so yummy with soup or hummus or salad. :) Hope all is well with you. Tammy

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