I should have taken a picture of the pot when I got home. I walked in the door at 5:30, hoping to inhale the scent of perfect osso buco. Thinking I was being so clever and organized that morning, I had prepared my saffron risotto, readied the broccolini, put the osso buco in to braise, and set my oven timer to go off at 1:30 so I could spend the day with my childhood friend, Suzanne, who had come to visit. We had a lovely lovely day! But upon entering the house that afternoon, instead of the scent of simmering stew, we were greeted by the smell of something that was definitely, uh, not right! Apparently, the oven had not turned itself off as it always had in the past… and after 4 extra hours of cooking, my poor osso buco was a charred mess, unsalvageable and totally stuck to the bottom of my previously gorgeous Le Creuset Dutch oven. (A white one, which is not easy to find! Not sure which I was more upset about.. the burnt dinner or the ruined pot.)
Bottom line: dinner out. Via Vai to the rescue.
But the next day I attacked my Le Creuset pot with a magic brew and it worked so well I had to tell you about it….here’s what to do before tossing out a burned out pot or pan: Pour a generous amount of vinegar and baking soda in the injured pot and let it boil for about 10 minutes. I’m telling you… magic! I’m afraid you’ll have to imagine the “before” because I was too shocked to get out my camera, but take a look at my “after” photo. Good as new!
Osso buco recipe, sans char? Stay tuned.
* For those Broadway babies who are reading this — recognize this line from a classic old show? (arguably the best musical ever!) I’m taking answers here if you think you know.
Guys and dolls. Of course!! Xo
Very impressive!! You win the prize for being the first one! Now…. do you remember who said it?
The main suave guy! And the follow-the-fold lady. before dulce de leches?
Lol…very good. Sky Masterson! I knew you’d know.
Years ago, I almost ruined my Magnalite pot:
I was boiling some eggs and went outside for a few minutes to play ball with my sons. Of course, I forgot all about the eggs… the smell was PUTRID, the water was all gone, and the pot was smoking and so hot, I could barely carry it outside.
I proceeded to plop the pot on the welcome mat, which was actually an old remnant of nylon carpet… Well, let’s just say the pot and the carpet bonded immediately! LOL!
The story doesn’t end there, thank goodness – I put the pot in the oven, turned on the self-cleaning element, and VOILA! The pot was as good as new!
What a great idea! You are so clever!!