Chicago Metallic makes this pan from heavy carbon steel, truly one of the best materials to provide maximum heat conductivity for even baking. Also it has a commercial grade nonstick coating for easy cleaning after use. A really useful feature is the removable bottom to each of the fluted cups. This makes removal of the baked goods very easy. After you remove the pan from the oven and cool for a bit, simply ease out the contents one by one from the bottom. Just remember to retrieve all the metal bases from the treats before serving or you'll get more than compliments for the crust.

The sky's the limit with the things you can bake up in this pan: from mini-quiches to single serving deep dish pizzas, from dessert, brownies to baby fruit pies. Chicago Metallic has been making bakeware for the commercial kitchen industry for many years. Their products tend to be of very good quality, and this pan is a good example. Just remember that carbon steel, while being an excellent choice for heat conductivity, can begin to rust quickly if it's not given careful attention after use. Always dry this pan thoroughly after cleaning, and never scrub or scratch the nonstick finish. It's protecting the steel from corroding as well as the contents from sticking.

Find this Chicago Metallic Lift & Serve Pan:

• Click here to find this Chicago Metallic Pan at Amazon.com

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Traditionally, crispy tortilla shells are made in a deep fryer, which gets them nice and crunchy, yet adds considerably to the fat content. Not so good. These pans are a neat alternative for creating your own healthy taco salads at home. They are large sized, suitable for the biggest flour tortillas and manufactured from aluminized steel for superior heat transfer and corrosion resistance. The interior is coated with a nonstick finish and these pans are completely dishwasher safe.

A baked tortilla shell is not exactly the same thing as the deep fried variety. After all, you're losing all that delicious, um, fat. That is the first thing you'll need to get used to with this method of preparation. It does however bake up plenty crispy and is wonderful filled with all your favorite ingredients. If your concern is less about the fat content and more about just avoiding the mess of a deep fryer, you have the option of brushing the tortilla shells with the oil of your choice before baking them. It adds a lovely flavor as well as crisping them up extra nicely in the oven.

You could get real creative with these pans, so why stop at taco shells? Try brushing the tortillas with butter and dust them with some cinnamon sugar before baking them. Then top them with ice cream and fresh fruit for a novel dessert. Hey treat yourself, look what a healthy dinner you had. Hee hee.

Find this Chicago Metallic Taco Shell Pan:

• Click here to find this Taco Shell Pan Set at Amazon.com

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To make these deceptively simple treats, you need a good Madeleine pan. This Chicago Metallic version is made from carbon steel, suitably heavy for even heat distribution in the oven. That's an important feature, as the delicate nature of these shell-shaped biscuits demands careful attention when baking. Also, these pans feature a heavy non-stick coating that has proven successful with users. Remember to always remove the Madeleines from the pan promptly after removing from oven to maximize the benefit of the non-stick finish, and to allow the Madeleines a chance to breath while cooling.

Personally, I always give the pan a quick wipedown with walnut oil before use and after washing, to ensure the next batch won't stick, and to protect the carbon steel finish. A pan like this should give you years of service, as long as you follow the instructions for proper care. This is advertised as dishwasher safe. My advice is to keep it away from the high temps and harsh detergents in the dishwasher, and hand wash after each use.

Making Madeleines is very easy to do. Once you start, you will find it hard to resist making a batch every weekend. Bon Appetit!

Find this Chicago Metallic Madeleine Cookie Pan:

• Click here to find this Madeleine at Amazon.com

The pan is constructed from a heavy grade aluminized steel, which is said to ensure even heating as well as a long life of use in your kitchen. It's coated with a proprietary non-stick finish with the added feature of removable bottoms to all the molds. This aids considerably in the removal of baked items from the pan, as the bottom is always the trouble spot with small cakes and brownies.

It is recommended to always remove items from this pan as soon as possible after cooking. If they are allowed to cool in the pan, the steam released will permeate the non-stick finish and make removal more difficult. Also, minimize the contact with soap and water, believe it or not, as it can shorten the useful life of this pan and the non-stick finish. The company recommends wiping thoroughly after use with a damp cloth, and never soaking the pan.

If you follow the instructions, you will have a specialty pan that gets better with age, and is ready year after year for those Valentine's Day treats, whether they be cupcakes, cheesecakes, or even tiny heart-shaped quiches or other savory items.

Find this Chicago Metallic Gourmetware Cupcake Sheet:

• Click here to find this Cake Pan at Amazon.com