I'm Dreaming of a White...Dutch Oven?

What do chemists call a benzene ring with iron atoms replacing the carbon atoms?

A ferrous wheel!

Now that the embarrassment of my background in science is behind us, let's get to the topic of the day. I have had enameled cast iron on the brain for over a week now.

• It's the dead of winter which always makes me crave homemade soups, stews, and casseroles.
• I've been seeing enameled cast-iron Dutch Ovens in my dreams...
• And to top it off, my friend Hillary over at The Gleam of Rose Tea, is doing a cast iron teapot giveaway this week!

But first, I wanted to learn what makes enameled cast-iron such great cookware! According to Real Simple, "Cast iron retains a relatively even temperature over a long period, so it's perfect for making soups and stews." Another benefit is the no-fuss stove-to-oven transition that most cookware does not allow. However, it is important to be sure that your lid does not have a plastic handle - the plastic cannot withstand high oven temperatures.

After drooling over Le Creuset 'French' Ovens in vain, (due to my full-time student status/lack of a real income) my mission was to find myself a Dutch oven of comparable size and quality.

I looked for white enameled cast-iron Dutch ovens, because I have this unavoidable obsession with making sure things match. I have black (round) and white (square) dishes, and on the off chance that one day, in the near future or in the far future, I have open shelving in my kitchen, I don't want to run the risk of having a mismatched, cluttered look.

I know, I have a problem.

SEARCH & COMPARISON RESULTS:

Le Creuset Round French Oven

3.5 qt

$184.99

Mario Batali Dutch Oven

4 qt

$89.95

Breakdown:

Le Creuset: price per quart - $52.84

Mario Batali: price per quart - $22.49

That's a $30.35 difference per quart!

Now, I'm no mathematician, but considering my budget (or lack thereof...), I am going to have to go with the Batali. And, considering that they look damn near the same, I am fully satisfied with (and super excited about!!!) what I've found!

Keeping in mind that a piece like this is an investment, I'll just have to get over myself and buy it so that I stop thinking/dreaming about and obsessing over Dutch ovens. And I'm sure the good ole boyfriend will be thrilled to stop hearing me talk about it, too!

What about you? What are your experiences with enameled cast-iron? Do you have a favorite Dutch oven recipe? I'd love to hear about them!