Hello my Foodie Friends!
Burrrr…the winter months are truly in force. When the temperature drops, it’s time to head to the kitchen to make a hearty, warming meal. Winter comfort food is all about hearty casseroles, chili, and warming stews. We love anything that gets slow-cooked, roasted or baked for maximum coziness.
This time of year brings back memories of growing up in an Italian/ Irish household (passionate mix). My fondest childhood memories were of all of my Aunts and Uncles coming over with my cousins. The house was full of activity, laughter, and of course, tons of food. The women in our family would conjure up traditional family recipes for all of us to devour while the men in the family chatted about politics, sports, and general life issues. One of my mom’s precious cooking tools was the cast iron Dutch oven. I can recall the smells of sauce, stews, and soups being made in this versatile vessel. They were in every one of my friends’ kitchens also. It was one of my favorites as head dishwasher in the family because it was the easiest pot to clean since there was no soap used and just hot water and a stiff brush and you were done. When mom said to get the Dutch oven out of the cabinet and put it on the stove we knew we were in for a great meal.
I have had many customers stop in and talk about how they love their Dutch ovens and how they use it for just about everything. A Dutch oven is the most versatile pot in your kitchen: a soup pot, a deep fryer, a braiser, a roaster, an enclosed bread oven, and the perfect vessel for one-dish meals. A good Dutch oven is a kitchen essential, heavy and thick enough to conduct and retain heat and deep enough to handle large cuts of meat and quarts of cooking liquid. So many customers have discussed how they bake bread, make stews, or their favorite sauces or soups in their LeCreuset, Staub, or Lodge Dutch oven. Dutch ovens are tall, heavy pots with tight-fitting lids. They are used primarily for slow-cooking methods such as braising and stewing. “Dutch oven” is the generic term for these pots. The often rustic all-iron Dutch ovens can be used both on stove tops and in ovens, and some can be used over and under coals. The more stylish Dutch ovens specifically are known for their ability to go from the stove top--for quick starting techniques such as browning--straight into the oven for the longer cooking process.
At Compliments to the Chef, we carry LeCreuset, Staub, and Lodge Dutch ovens.
What a weekend ahead!! This weekend is Chowderfest in Saratoga Springs on Saturday and the Super Bowl on Sunday. This is a perfect time to make your favorite hearty culinary delight. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery Store located at 33 Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs to help you prepare for this weekend’s festivities. Become a Chowderhead!! Get ready for the weekend with this delicious Chili recipe. Remember my Foodie Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”
Take Care,
John & Paula
