VINTAGE CorningWare Blue Cornflower Petite Pans P-41. Set of 4.

This set of 4 petite pans has so many uses, you’ll wonder how you got along without them. Their 12 ounce size makes them perfect for single servings of so many things, from soups and cereals to leftovers. If you need to heat it on the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave, this is the perfect little container. These were probably sold with plastic lids back in the day, but they probably got gross with age as plastic does. Corning made some with glass lids, but they were as common.

True story: the first set of these that I got had mismatched backstamps, so I didn’t want to sell them as a set. I stuck them in my kitchen cabinet, thinking I might find more later that I could match them up with. Then one rare cold night in Texas, I decided to make French onion soup. When it came time to serve it, I realized I didn’t have any bowls that could handle the broiler, and French onion soup with that cheesy, melty crust on top is just not the same. Then I remembered these little pans, which made perfect bowls! Because they somewhat shallow, they made more surface for cheese and croutons. A win for sure. Later in the month, I had a hankering for creme brûlée. The pans again proved their mettle, as they not only could take the direct heat of the broiler, they increased the surface for the crunchy, crackly brûlée. Another triumph! I now find myself using them for all sorts of things, as the little lug handles are so much easier to get in and out of the over or microwave than a round soup bowl. BTW- as you can see in the photo- these have perfectly matched, pre-microwave backstamps. They are in excellent vintage condition with no signs of distress.