Dutch oven cooking?

[perletwo]

x-posted from my personal journalWent out today in search of a good Dutch oven at the discount stores. Drooled over the Le Creuset seconds, still priced in the three digits, but ended up going with a Wolfgang Puck 5 quart enameled cast iron for $35. Hope it works out OK. After all these years I've finally figured out that what really floats my boat

Comments

[stormypinkness]

I love my dutch ovens so much. That is plural because both my mom and my grandma bought me dutch ovens for Christmas a few years back. I was going to give my mom the one she got me and she was going to get me something else, but I decided to keep it so I had two.

Soups and stews, of course. It sears meat so much better than any of my other pots. It heats so evenly. Great for braising meat.

My grandma's Swiss Steak

Cheap cut of roast or stew meat cut into small pieces, like a couple of inches big and maybe 1/2-1 inch wide. I just bought a cheap roast last time and sliced it up. Mix some flour with salt and pepper and dredge meat. Brown on both sides in batches. Brown a diced onion. Cover with beef broth or water (I used a carton of beef broth last time) and 1-2 tbs. worcestershire sauce and bring to a boil. Stick in 350 degree oven for an hour or two, until meat is tender. If you want you can add a can of cream of mushroom soup at the end. Or thicken with a corn starch slurry. Or leave thin. Wonderful with mashed potatoes and a green veggie.