The pot post.

No.  This isn't a post about marijuana, despite the fact that I have watched 5 seasons of the show Weeds in one month.

This is a post about a pot.  A pot that I registered for for my wedding, but did not receive.  Mostly because it was super-expensive.  It's a dutch oven.  That's just the way they are.  Expensive.

But thanks to some elusive Crate and Barrel gift cards, my dream of a dutch oven came through.  I caved and I bought it when I was visiting my sister in Chicago (by the way--Monday is the best day ever to shop at Crate and Barrel.  I felt like I was on Supermarket Sweep).

I bought the Mario Batali dutch oven in Polenta.  That is a shade of yellow for all you non-Food Network watching people.
Here it is:

I included a picture of me sauteing some leeks, carrots, and onions for a veggie risotto.  Yum!  Risottos have become my new favorite food.  I could eat any kind.  Cheese, rice, butter, and various other delicious flavors?  Count me in!

The reason I love this pot so much is because the last pot I had that was this size was from a place called Blue Valley Community Action.  If you have never been there, I'm sorry.  Many of my pre-wedding dishes were from Blue Valley.  I appreciate that.  I loved them dearly.  But some of them had one life to live.  And they were trying to come back from the dead.

Such was the case with my old pan.  I once started a fire in that pan with hot oil.  I burnt things that aren't normally able to burn.  Chili.  Water.

When I got this pan, I was in a state of euphoria.  No burnt butter the minute it hit the pan.  No stuck on rice.  It cooks so evenly and nicely I could kiss it.

It can also go in the oven, which I haven't tried yet.  But I will.  Any recipe suggestions??