How to Clean Dirty Copper Pots & Pans

Got this french vintage copper pan along with a couple of pots + lollipop-style lids about a month ago. Started cleaning the two pots and lids immediately using Bar Keeper's Friend paste + powder & scourer pad - I prefer powder to the paste, seems more effective to me.

This pan however, was just not getting clean. The burn marks seem embedded onto the surface, three rounds of scrubbing was just not working. Our go-to degreaser solution for cleaning stainless steel stoves didn't work either, all I ended up with was a pair of peeling palm that were 'catching' on to my fleece blankets & a pan still covered in burn marks all over! I was almost ready to part with it, someone already offered to buy the pan from me 'as-is', for the price I paid for the set.

Lucky Zz saw a video of someone cleaning a very stained stainless steel pot using just baking soda and water. As we are big fans of baking soda in this household - we always have at least a couple of kilo on standby, I knew I must try this!

I placed an 18" aluminum 'kuih' tray on the stove, then filled it with some water, place the copper pan into it, then turned on the heat and topped with more water so the the pan is completely submerged. 

Added a generous amount of baking soda into the water. Let the water come to boil, be aware that the baking soda will bubble up & may boil over, just prepare a thick towel to soak up any liquid spilled.

Let it boil for about 5 minutes, then lower the heat & continue to simmer for another 15 minutes. You will notice at this point that some of the burnt bits would start to come off & be seen floating in the water. The rest will come off easily with just a gentle rub with the scourer.

Once the pan cools down, the remaining stains and tarnish can be effortlessly be cleaned with a bit of BKF powder applied to the pan with a moist scourer pad.

It's amazing seeing how effortlessly the gunky pan transforms into the thing of beauty in these photos! 

I have a huge cauldron ready to boil the two pots & lids plus all the other abused cookware in the kitchen next weekend!

#vintagecopperpan #frenchcopperpan #coppercookware #bakingsodacleanser #barkeepersfriend #cleaningtips

Nosey Miss Latte

Our little Miss had a little misadventure yesterday. 

We thought the glue traps we set up for the shrew were all very well hidden in the darkest corner under the lowest  cabinet, away from prying whiskers and nosey paws. 

Well apparently we didn't do a very good job, because within minutes of being let out of her 'apartment' Bibik M could hear a commotion out in the living hall. Latte has somehow managed to get one of the trap boards out from the cabinet and have it stuck on her right foot! 

She was struggling to get it off and won't let Bibik M help her, eventually ending up outside my bedroom crying for help while I was in the shower. She finally surrendered to Bibik M who proceed to remove the board from her leg and rub loads of cooking oil to help remove the glue. 

Poor baby was whimpering when Bibik M took her upstairs to me. I applied more oil, let glue 'soak' for another 30 minutes and gave Latte's foot a proper rub with dish washing liquid and gave her a warm bath which she really enjoys and helped her calm down. 

And Bibik M who spoils her worse than I do, waited by her side as she sun bath to dry off fur. 

She appears alright now, just some part of her fur still has some oil residue, hence it looks like she's ungroomed. 

Happy to report that she's back to chewing on our arms and fingers, chasing after her balls as usual, and there's absolutely no problem with her appetite either! 

#sirkitlatte #catsofarariver #shestoosmartforherowngood

Drinks for your guests

There's an old Arab verse that my late grandfather used to say which goes,

"When guest comes over for a visit, serve them 'sherbet' (cool drink) if you want your guest to leave quickly. They will drink and leave immediately. However, if you want your guest to stay, serve them tea, they drink and chat, and friends will become family."

I grew up practising the Irish or rather the Arab way, then went on the the American way in my younger days when guest are just dropping by or on rushing off to another place.

Now as I get older and guests and friends are more relaxed, they visit and sit down for chats, there's always hot tea or coffee, with copious amount of water for them. On hot days, there's extra cold drinks too. And I always ask their preference, hot or cold drink or water at least. Plus if they are lucky, the next meal will be at my place too 😉

Gosh, I am turning into my grandfather!

In Ireland, you go to someone's house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you're really just fine. She asks if you're sure. You say of course you're sure, really, you don't need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don't need a ting. Well, she says then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble. Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn't mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it's no trouble and I can give you a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting.

In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no, and then you don't get any damned tea.

I liked the Irish way better.
~CE Murphy, Urban Shaman

“Tea” Mixed Media Drawing on Antique Dictinary Page" by Kristy Patterson Flying Shoes Art Studio (etsy.com/shop/flyingshoes)