Thrift Store Finds

One of the things I've run into this year -- and some of you have probably also experienced -- is that after all these years some of my kitchen bowls and dishes are either biting the dust or ready to be retired.  One of the upsides to cooking at home is that you use things….the downside is that nothing lasts forever.  In this case, some of my bowls that were older than my children have just outlived their safe usefulness.  After clearing out a lot of things that I didn't use and then clearing out all the items that had reached their "expiration" date, I found myself with very minimal pieces.  Fewer than I was comfortable with.

My last trip to the thrift store didn't yield anything, but today I had to drop off some items from my continued downsizing. Seems odd to talk about downsizing and buying at the same time -- but it all ties back to my theme of purposeful for this year.  The downsized pieces did not serve a purpose for us, and I know someone else can use them.  My finds for today will serve me for years with a little care just like the pieces I had to retire.

For $17 -- less than half of just the cost of the casserole dish new -- I found just enough pieces to replace a small portion of what I cleared out.  I knew I didn't want as many pieces and definitely wanted multi use options from whatever I found.

A Rachel Ray 4.5 quart casserole dish, which was the most expensive piece at $4.99.  I'll use this for casseroles for family dinners and as a serving tray for finger foods.  It also heavy enough to make a great tea and biscuits try.  In my local stores these are ranging anywhere from $40 to $60.  Not a bad savings at all.

A pasta bowl from Italy.  I'll use this for serving almost anything.  They're beautiful not only heaped with pasta, but with a pretty salad or any veggies and fruit.

3 nesting Corelle bowls in a print I love.  These don't even appear to have been used. I'm guessing someone just stuck them in their cabinets.  (I scrubbed the sticker residue off of them kind of thing.)  They're oven and microwave safe so they'll do triple duty.  I can use them for mixing, for baking, and for serving. These are a 1, 2, and 3 quart sized.  (This pattern is discontinued, but online it varies in price.  Amazon has a set listed for $60.)  I may see if I can find more of this set because I really like the pattern.