As I sat down to write this hub, I've tried to recall how long ago it was that I went to my first Pampered Chef party.

I have gone to two parties hosted by friends, one probably ten to twelve years ago, and the other about seven years ago. I remember being quite impressed with most of the products, but due to finances at the time, I only purchased a pizza stone and one other small item. The pizza stone seemed to be the most logical choice at the time for trying out their stoneware. The piece was also versatile enough to double as a cookie sheet. I have to admit, I fell in love with it. I still use it regularly. In fact, I used it just last night to make a box pizza.

I was also impressed with the simple recipes each rep demonstrated at these parties and felt that the company did a great job of introducing time-saving recipes to use with their time-saving kitchen aids. I was sold on them and vowed to slowly add to my collection.

In the years that followed, I began to watch eBay for Pampered Chef products. One thing you need to consider when looking at the pricing on eBay for Pampered Chef items is the shipping. Most of the stones are heavy and the shipping will kill you. You also have to remember that without a receipt for buying their products from a rep you will lose your warranty. The way I determined if it was worth it or not to me is if I could get the item for at least $10 less than I could get from a rep (shipping included) then I was willing to take a chance on it. That's how I added so many nice pieces to my collection over the years. I have only had one stone that cracked that I didn't have a warranty on. Not bad in my opinion.

This is a list of the Pampered Chef products that I own and regularly use. I use one or more of these every time I cook.

• Food Chopper - great for chopping up nuts, onions, bell peppers, Oreos for Dirt Cake
• Ultimate Slice & Grate (be warned, if not used properly it will slice your fingers! been there, done that) This item works almost too well. You have to really be careful using it. It comes with a guard but I find the guard awkward to use.
• Quikut Paring Knives - very inexpensive paring knife that is a great size for peeling potatoes or carrots.
• Mini-Serving Spatula - this is a great item for removing cookies from your stoneware.
• Ice Cream Dipper - I have never found a better ice cream dipper. It cuts right through hard ice cream.
• Square Baker - very useful size for a small family.
• Oval Baker - I love this stone. It just looks fancier than the square stones.
• Rectangular Baker & Lid/Bowl - I have made many casseroles in the baker and many roasts and roasted chicken in the baker with the lid. The lid really helps to seal in the juice of the meat.
• Small Oval Baker - this a great size for warming up single servings
• Deep Dish Baker - a great size for making casseroles and brownies
• Nylon Pan Scrapers (many uses) You will get one of these with each stoneware purchase. They are designed to clean the stones with them. I use them to scrape off anything off of just about anything. I keep one in my car for scraping ice off the windshield.
• Small Bar Pan - this pan happens to fit nicely in my toaster oven. We use it for all sorts of things like heating up leftovers or making cookies.
• Stoneware Bar Pan - this is basically a stoneware cookie sheet. I use this for almost anything and everything. It is a very handy piece to have. It will also hold many of the smaller box pizzas if you don't have the pizza stone.
• Stoneware Muffin Pan - this is a large piece of stoneware that takes up a lot of room in my opinion, but it is handy. You can make muffin-sized meatloaves in it, cupcakes and of course, muffins. It holds one dozen at a time. This has probably been the most difficult stone to season for me.
• Classic Round Stone - this is your basic pizza pan. As stated earlier this is the piece I've owned the longest and it is well seasoned and cleans super easy even when cheese melts on it.
• Large Rack - this rack is a must for the round stones. The round pizza stones can be rather heavy and this rack makes taking them in and out of the oven a breeze.
• Stoneware Loaf Pan - I've made many meatloaves and nut breads in this pan. They have a smaller one that make four at a time that I've had my eye on.
• Cookie press - this is something Grandma used with my kids when they were smaller more than I did.
• Medium & Large scoops - these are great for scooping out cookie dough.
• Baker's Roller - This is a handy size for rolling out dough. I use it more than I do my big rolling pin.
• Stackable cooling rack - I use this all the time. This is a great rack that folds up for easy storage.
• Flour/Sugar Shaker - this is a handy shaker than I keep powdered sugar in for sprinkling over French toast or funnelcakes.
• Stainless Steel Whisk - everyone needs a small whisk for whipping scrambled eggs or gravies.
• Easy Opener - this is handy gadget that I won at one of the parties. It opens the pull tabs on cans, screw tops on 2 liter-bottles and is also a bottle opener. It has a magnet on the back so that you can store on it your refrigerator. I store mine on the side of the refrigerator so that it's always handy.
• All Purpose Spreader & Large Spreader - these are great for spreading icing on cookies or cakes.
• Mix 'n Scraper - this is such a handy item. It's a rubbery scraper, but also spoonlike. The flexible material allows you to really get everything out of a jar or bowl.
• Pastry Brush - this is probably the least used Pampered Chef item I own.
• Garlic Press - we love cooking with fresh garlic and this is a great product.
• Small Batter Bowl and Lid & Classic Batter Bowl with Lid: I use these two bowls for mixing everything. They are like big measuring cups and batter pours easily from them. The lids are nice when you need to store leftover batter.

I have been asked on several occassions about becoming a Pampered Chef representative, but I've always opted not to pursue that. I am very passionate about their products and I think that is one key ingredient in being good at this type of opportunity, but it's not something I've been inspired to do. Maybe someday.

I know in past years there has been an email circulating around that shows the following pictures along with an invitation to a Pampered Chef party. Not a bad ploy, huh? Enjoy ladies. I would definitely feel pampered if these hunks showed up cooking in my kitchen!