hey you pot lovers

[NMDemDist2]

speak to me of Guardian Service Ware Aluminum cookware

I know they are from the 40's-50's and were the original "waterless" cookware.

I have two of them from Grammy and have never used them. I would appreciate any info, experiences, cautions you can give me. I am seriously thinking of throwing them up on eBay just cuz I have no idea of the properties of them.

thanks in advance all, here's what they look like (stolen from eBay)

this is the larger deep pan



and I have the "chicken fryer" also, both with lids

[eleny]

1. I love these even if they're aluminum

I don't have the Guardian like yours. I have some "Silver Seal" made by Guardian. Pretty much the same thing but mine don't have the glass lids. I absolutely love to fry onions in them. They fry up really nice without oil. I use my Silver Seal for all sorts of things. Just use them like anything else. Except I don't ever make tomato sauce in aluminum pots.

You're very lucky to have some handed down from your gram.

Here's a Silver Seal made by Guardian - also snitched from ebay. Mine is a different pot but you get the idea.

[NMDemDist2]

2. so no oil at all? not even cooking spray?

what about for chicken etc?

I'm really clueless LOL

[eleny]

3. About chicken...

I don't fry chicken in mine since I don't have the fry pan. Looks like you have some roasters or casseroles. I'd bake a whole chicken in them for sure. And other roasts, too.

My mom used to make chicken in the smaller pots by first browning chicken as you do in a cast iron fry pan with some oil - then stack up the chicken pieces in the Silver Seal and finish cooking them with no additional oil. Use a very low flame and the waterless cooking will happen. The final texture of the chicken skin is more like KFC original recipe.

My aunt would slice and brown some onions in the Silver Seal while browning the chicken. Then she'd layer up the chicken pieces with the onions and finish cooking the chicken that way. A sort of smothered fried chicken. The flavor is so good! In fact I got some chicken the other day when there was the new fried chicken thread. I think I'm going to brine and buttermilk my chicken and coat it according to some recipes posted here. I'll brown them up the way you do and finish them up in the Silver Seal. So thanks for the reminder!

Btw, here's a trio of Guardian pots to look for at the thrift shop. You can nest the three pots on top of the stove and use one burner. Other companies have them, too. I think I have two different kinds and like them. I keep mashed potatoes warm in one and cook a veggie in another - then use them to serve at the table (when we eat at the table!). They're great for reheating stuff for two people.


I guess I like this cookware!

[NMDemDist2]

4. dang, there was a set of those at the thrift store the other day that I

didn't pick up :banghead:

[eleny]

5. They could still be there

Who buys triangular pots?! Besides, you'll see them again. I guarantee it.

Btw, is everything going okay with the house? I read the inspector thread and have been keeping my fingers crossed.

[NMDemDist2]

6. thanks for asking! and yes everything is moving right along

the kids were very reasonable in their requests (just the caulking and the roof mastic) they believed us about the OLD termite tuber so we only have to do what we were planning on doing anyway :bounce:

the NM house got inspected and came through with flying colors (I figured it would, even though the house wasn't "show ready" you could tell the owners took good care of it) we have a contractor giving us estimates for

1) new hardwood laminate in most of the house (the 2nd bedroom, hall and 2nd bath are already done)
2) a deck off the 3rd bedroom (the den) for DH's telescoping and changing out the window for a french door
3) giving the master bath a makeover

we have a certain budget, we'll see how much we can get done in our price

we're heading up to Spokane Thursday for DH's reunion(s) and when we come back it's PACK CITY baby :evilgrin:

here's a post i put up today in DIY with the floorplan

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=287&topic_id=3149&mesg_id=3149

[eleny]

7. Congrats on the inspections working out

And good luck with getting the new stuff for the Carlsbad place. I like the trees out front. It really cozies it up!

Btw, did you hear that W was in Artesia, NM the other day? Made me feel so smart that I new exactly where it is. You can learn a few things in these forums.

[NMDemDist2]

8. yes I did see that (I get the local paper mailed to me)

:puke:

I hope the stink will be gone by the time we get there :evilgrin:

and yes, it's amazing what you can learn in the DIY forum :rofl:

[NMDemDist2]

9. pitiful self kick

:rofl: