Ok, cooks - advice please!

Ok, cooks and chef-type people, I need your help.

I need a new pot. Something for cooking pasta, making homemade soups, etc. Around 4-5 quarts ought to suffice.

The problem is, of course, I don't have the money to splash out on something really fabulous, like a Le Creuset (which I have been coveting for years). I don't think I want to spend over $30, and I need a good quality pot.

Lance pretty much destroyed the one we have now. Total accident. He left it sitting empty on a hot burner, and now it doesn't conduct heat properly. That pot came as part of a set anyway, and it wasn't a really great set either (I still have 2 saucepans from that set that serve adequately).

So...suggestions? Is IKEA's cookware any good? Because I was looking at something like this -
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40129459 - only the lid has drainage, which is great for pasta...not so great when simmering soups that require to be covered. Target is the closest store to me, but I looked at their website and don't see anything I like in the right price range. But I suppose their in-store stock is different.

I'm just rambling now. Suggestions are greatly appreciated.

A Hankering for Pancakes

A Day in Thorn, the Netherlands
To many, the appeal of this tiny Limburg town is its well-known pancake (Dutch: pannekoeken) restaurant: De Pannekoekenbakker. But the town itself - a medieval convent - is full of wonder and beauty.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/2111889/a_day_in_thorn_the_netherlands.html

taking care of business

Every morning, it feels like fall has settled in for good. I'm always surprised when it warms up by mid-afternoon. But this morning was pretty chilly. I had on a thick sweatshirt, yoga pants, slipper socks, AND I was wrapped up in a blanket. I had mugs of steaming, hot tea and some oatmeal for breakfast. It was 67 in the house - cold enough to turn on the furnace, but I'm trying to avoid doing that for as long as possible.

So...I handwashed some of my wool sweaters today. Alas, it might be awhile still before I wear them. It got up to the mid '70s today. But at least the sweaters are clean and ready to go when it does get cooler. Now I need to wash my pashminas/scarves.

I also washed 2 loads of linens.

I'm bringing baked beans to Lance's work barbecue tomorrow, so I just got those ready to pop into the oven. I really hope there isn't a lot left over. I always seem to make too much food and end up throwing out a lot of it. If it happens again, I don't think I'll volunteer to bring food to anything anymore. I got 2 big cans of beans...it fills up a 2 quart dish - 14 servings. And to my knowledge, there are supposed to be more than 14 people there tomorrow.

I'm posting entirely too much today, considering that my carpal tunnel is flaring up. I don't think I'm doing any more work writing today. I need to take Reece for a walk and then run to Target to pick up prescriptions. While I'm there, I might check out their cookware and see if they have any good pots. Won't be long now before I'll want to start making soup. I've got 2 cans of butternut squash waiting in the pantry.