"Getting rid of everything that doesn’t matter allows you to remember who you are. Simplicity doesn’t change who you are, it brings you back to who you are."

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Pot Luck

Last night I took a walk with Deb and Jean, my neighbors.  As we did our laps we gabbed about all sorts of things.  I hadn't walked with Jean all summer so there was a lot of catching up to do.

One day this past month, Jean tells me she came home from work to find that Don had bought her all new kitchen appliances and surprised her with it.

I was astonished.  "Had you guys been shopping for new stuff?"

"No.  That's what made it a total surprise."  She replied.

"Do you do all the cooking?"  I asked.

"Yep."

"Wow.  I think I'd kill SM if he went out and did that without asking me about what I liked.  I mean we're pretty much on the same page anyway but that's a pretty gutsy thing for him to do.  What do you think?  Do you like it?"  I asked.

"Yeah.  It's fine."  Jean said with a shrug.  "He did good.  It's done now and really...It turned out fine.  You guys wanna come in and see?"

So in we went to check out her new kitchen.  Stainless steel flat top stove with a convection oven,  side by side fridge and dishwasher. 

We then got to talking about cooking with convection ovens.  Deb has one but Jean and I have never used one.  Deb is "Eh" about it.  "It doesn't really save all that much time."  She tells us.

"You know what I've discovered?"  I chimed in.  "Dutch Ovens.  You guys ever cook with one?"  Heads were shaking "No".

"I tell you, I wish I'd have know about them when I was younger.  I'm a convert."  I went on to tell them how amazing and tender food is cooked in that big iron pot.

"That's what I use my crock pot for."  Deb said.

"True. But if you're looking for the same result in less time, try it with a Dutch Oven.  In fact, let me know the next time you want to cook a piece of meat and I'll let you use it."  I offered.



Any Dutch Oven converts out there?  Just this past week I've cooked a big pot Chili and also Italian sausage with onions and peppers. 

 

Oh YUM!  It's SO amazingly good! 







3 comments:

  1. I keep mine "stored" on my cooktop. I use it so often, there's no reason to hide it away in a cupboard! I still use my crockpot a lot during hot summer months, so as not to heat up the kitchen as much, but the Dutch oven is in constant use once the weather begins to cool. In the past week, it has held chili, pot roast, spaghetti sauce and chicken and noodles, as well as a batch of tomato juice.

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  2. I just used mine yesterday - I've got a big, ole cast iron one without the fancy enamel coating. Weighs a ton! I made a wonderful African chicken/sweet potato stew. I love my Dutch oven!

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  3. I burned the bottom of my biggest kettle (also ruined a mess of green beans) last summer - I can still use it to boil water and make pasta, but I don't want to chance anything thicker than water - I want a big Dutch oven like that in the worst way - guess I'd better talk to Santa...

    Sorry your vaca was ruined by the shutdown but it sounds like you made the best of it. T.

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