I used to love cooking and kitchen gadgets and all things cooking and kitchen-related. Kitchen stores were my happy place. But somewhere along the way, I got old and tired, and today I’m all about simple recipes and kitchen products that make cooking and cleanup easy.
Enter the Our Place Always Pan. I’ve had this pan for at least a year. I ordered one when I started seeing other influencers talking about it. I was skeptical, as I usually am when it seems like everyone is sharing about something, but in this case, it was not just a bunch of hype. The Always Pan has so many purposes, and it makes cleanup a breeze.
Now everyone who comes to my house and sees me cook wants one too. Even my kids have asked for one when they start out on their own. I had to practically keep mine under lock and key to prevent C from taking it off to college with her. (Yes, she is definitely getting one for Christmas!)
But I had one complaint I had about the Always Pan. It isn’t always big enough for our family of five. I kept saying that I wished they had a bigger option available.
Well, guess what!?! Our Place just came out with a solution. Allow me to introduce the Perfect Pot!
This 5.5 quart pot combines all your pots and some kitchen utensils too. It’s surprisingly lightweight, and it comes with a straining lid, beechwood spoon that’s designed to nest on your pot, and a nonstick roasting rack that doubles as a steamer.
The Perfect Pot also has a modular lid that allows you to let off steam when you want, and lock it in when you don’t, and it also strains and pours.
Best of all, it’s compatible with all types of stoves — even my induction cooktop!
The Perfect Pot is also oven-safe up to 425°. (The Always Pan is not, FYI. Do not put the Always Pan in your oven.)
Also, neither is dishwasher safe, but don’t worry. Cleanup is a breeze, thanks to the nontoxic, nonstick ceramic coating. Just allow them to cool before washing with warm, soapy water and the sponge that comes with them.
Suffice it to say, this is now my go-to pot for pasta, soups and stews, roasting meats, and much more.
Between the Perfect Pot and the Always Pan, you really don’t need any other cookware in your kitchen. If you don’t already have the Always Pan, they sell the two as a set for a discounted price. The Home Cook Duo is $250, for a $60 savings over purchasing them both separately.
Our Place also makes these beautiful stackable dishes, which are handmade and hand-speckled. I have the Steam color, but they also come in Spice and Char.
Again, you can buy these dishes as a set for a reduced price. Set The Table is a bundle that includes the Side Bowls, Main Plates, and Side Plates for a cost savings of $15. And the Dinnerware Duo includes just the Side Bowls and Main Plates for a cost savings of $10.
The other night, I made one of our favorite family meals in my Perfect Pot and used my new bowls and plates.
This White Chicken Chili recipe came from a friend many years ago, and I still make it regularly, especially in the fall and winter. It’s also a nice one to make for a new mom or a sick friend because it keeps in the freezer and reheats well. It’s actually better the second time around.
Chicken Chili Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 to 3 lbs shredded chicken
- 3 cans Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 T olive oil
- 2 med onions, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1-1/2 tsp oregano
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 2 4-oz cans chopped mild green chiles
- 3 cups shredded jack cheese (divided)
- salsa, sour cream, and/or scallions for topping
Instructions:
- Roast chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and olive oil in a 350° oven for 40 minutes; or roast a whole chicken in the Perfect Pot. Cool the meat; shred or chop, then set aside.
- Sauté onions and garlic in olive oil. Stir in all spices. Add beans and broth, and simmer for 60 minutes or so.
- Add chicken, chilies, and 1 cup cheese; stir to combine. Use stick blender if desired.
- Top with remaining cheese, salsa, sour cream, and/or scallions.
I’m telling you, this is the pot you never knew you needed. It also makes a great gift for newlyweds, the kid moving into his first apartment, or any busy mom who is looking to make her kitchen chores a little easier.
Shipping and returns are free at Our Place, and you can save 10% off your order with code JOLYNNESHANE10. FYI, this code does not work on gift cards or the Bundles.
photos: Alison Cornell
17 Responses
I took one look at this pot and said “Wow, that looks cool!” I love my Le Crueset Dutch oven and Staub short-sidded Dutch oven but they are so heavy– especially when they are full of water. I loved the idea this pot is lighter weight. AND it can be used on an induction cooktop! We are doing a huge renovation on my great-grandparents’ home I inherited and are putting in a 36-inch induction cooktop. I may have to pull the trigger on this today. How do you like your induction cooktop, Jo-Lynne? It’s sort of a novelty in our motorhome so I wonder how the switch from gas to induction will be. We cook a lot, often for friends and family. And the recipe looks great. We’re going to try it the first cool day we get. It hit 91 in central Delaware yesterday.
Yeah, the lightweight part is key. Paul was also really surprised by how lightweight they are.
I love cooking on induction and the ease of cleanup, but my particular model is a bit of a lemon. We have had to have it fixed twice, and waited months both times for parts to come in. I am very disgrunted with BlueStar and would not recommend it. I do, however, read great things about the Bosch. If this one breaks again, I’m going to get the Bosch induction cooktop.
Thank you for sharing these pans. I have seen several influencers recommend the always pan. I wish it were 12 inches instead of 10 inches but since our daughters are college age, a lot of times it is just me and my husband for dinners. Also thank you for sharing the recipe. I will be making it soon!
I am hoping they come out with a 12″ Always Pan as well! Let me know how you like the recipe.
Recipe looks delicious. I am going to have to try this. My husband cannot eat spicy foods, so I may have to leave out the green chiles.
They are very mild – I get the “mild green chiles” and they just add flavor, no heat. 🙂
Since Larry and I have stopped giving each other big gifts for the various holidays and occasions, this pot may be a great idea as our joint Christmas gift this year. I will definitely be making the Chicken Chili with a few modifications. I’m continuing to pray for Paul! Take care of yourself!
Thanks, Ginger. Let me know how you like the chili.
Neat…..I think Cyndi has the Always Pan and posted one year on it. Its seems like the pot is the same as a dutch oven, but maybe easier to clean? I hate cleaning cast iron, but with the problem of trusting what is toxic and not, I’ve gone to doing a lot of cooking in cast iron these days. When my 3 grown kids and their families come, I’d need about 3 of these new pots. LOL I love the new dishes you bought for soup night. I’m going to try your recipe. I love chili’s and soups. Thanks for this post. We are beautiful weather still in Oregon, but sounds like our rain is coming in Friday and we soooo need it. Its been such a dry season for us and we need to still get the fires under control in Oregon.
Yes, I also have some cast iron and love how well it cooks but heavy and such a pain to clean. I also could use more than one, I often make meals that require 3 pots or pans… I might get another color of the pot. I use it more than the pan, already.
PS How is Caroline doing?
She is doing pretty well, making friends and adjusting to being away from Savannah. Academics are the challenge, after spending the last 5 years working at her own pace in a cyber charter school, but she’s holding her own.
I bet it is an adjustment. She’s brave. 🙂
I’ve been looking for small glasses like these for years, they look so much like the Tupperware smoke glasses I’ve had for years and years(down to only two, some grew legs I think). They’re not plastic like, don’t like plastic glasses but are more crystal looking like these. Planning on ordering a set plus the cereal bowls, been needing some more for awhile and these look great. Will have to try this chilie recipe, use your homemade taco meat recipe often. Thanks a bunch!
Let me know how you like the glasses! I don’t have those yet.
This pot looks great, as do the bowls. We are a family of 5, including two teenage boys, and the pan was too small to interest me! I just made white chicken chili for dinner last night. My recipe is super similar to yours except I use sauteed green onions, poach the chicken breasts in the broth with the spices then shred, and only put the cheese on top. Its a family favorite!
Decided to make this to freeze for our daughter and son-in-law. After the baby is born, they will need some prepared meals. I thought this would be a good one.
Thank you for the recipe.