When I began the quest of becoming more “non toxic” in our household, I assumed it mainly entailed beauty +  cleaning products as well as food items. I had no clue that 95% of all non-stick cooking pans released harmful toxins when you cook with them… and when I found that out I went on a mission to clean up my cookware as well, starting with everyday cookware. I took to instagram and surveyed people, asking what their favorite cookware lines were and Our Place was suggested more than several times. After a bit more research I discovered that their The Always Pan doesn’t have any teflon and has a non toxic, non stick ceramic coating.  We’ve been using the always pan from Our Place for the past month and have been so incredibly happy with it (I also love the color… but they have several other color options as well). 

Essentially, its 1 in 8 feature makes it incredibly functional + practical for our family, with one pan being designed to replace 8 other cookware pieces. The always pan replaces a fry pan, sauté pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan, non-stick pan, spatula, and spoon rest and you can braise, sear, steam, strain, sauté, fry, boil, serve, + store.  I make everything in it… eggs, grilled cheese sandwiches for the girls, pasta, rice… and the steamer basket makes it easy to steam our veggies as well. And maybe one of my favorite features of the always pan is that it’s absolutely perfect for one pot meals. After whipping up a delicious meal for the family, the last thing we all need are multiple pots and pans to wash… having one pan at the end of the meal makes the clean up process so much easier. We’ve made several one pot meals using the always pan (it’s nice and deep so it can hold a lot…) and our most recent favorite was this Spanish Paella recipe.

It’s a recipe that reminds me and TJ of our trips to Barcelona (pre-kiddos) and every time we have it we’re able to reminisce about the good times and how much paella we stuffed our faces with! I appreciate that Our Place believes in the power of home cooking to bring people together and we can see that playing out whenever we sit down to a meal as a family. We also own their beautiful bowls + plates, which are microwave, oven, and dishwasher safe. They are also sustainably made from recycled + virgin porcelain ceramic. They’re beautifully made, and the bowls are nice and deep for side salads, hearty fall soups, and everything in between… 

So as we head into the cooler months, with soups, one pot meals, and in home cooking on the menu, I know that I’ll continue to reach for the always pan night after night…. 

Spanish Seafood Paella 

INGREDIENTS
1/2 lb shrimp (peeled)
1/2 lb scallops
2 cups Arborio Rice
4 cups of chicken broth
1 cup of peas
14 oz. can diced tomatoes
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
1 tspPaprika
2 large pinches of Saffron
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
Sea Salt (to taste)
¼ cup Parsley (for garnishing)

DIRECTIONS 
1. In a deep pan (like the always pan), heat 3 tbsp avocado oil. Turn the heat to medium-high and add the chopped onions. Sauté the onions for 2 minutes then add the rice, and cook for 3 more minutes, stirring regularly. Next add the minced garlic and 3 cups of chicken broth. Stir in the saffron (including the chicken broth it was soaking in), paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and peas. Bring to a boil and let the liquid slightly reduce, then cover with the lid and cook on low heat for 20 minutes. Stir frequently during this time to monitor how much of the liquid is absorbing.

2. Once the liquid is 75% absorbed, add in the shrimp + scallops to cook. Once stirred together, cover and cook for another 5-10 minutes, stir frequently, and add extra chicken broth if necessary (the shrimp turns pink and will curl inward when done). All the liquid will be absorbed + the rice will be tender when finished.

3. Garnish with parsley + serve in bowls with a side of french bread and some vino!

Thank you to Our Place for sponsoring this post.