Lodge Color...

I go nuts for Le Creuset cast iron cookware.  I love cooking in cast iron period. When our children were small my cookware was regular cast iron cookware, but it had wooden handles and over the years they broke off and the pots went somewhere, I don't know where.

When I ended up on my own in life (partner-wise) I went quite a few holiday seasons without much in the way of Christmas presents. Just the small things the kids got me. That sounds like kind of a downer I guess, but I really love giving gifts to other people, so I didn't really mind that all my money went into buying for others.

One Christmas, however, I decided I was going to buy something for myself; something I had wanted for many years. A Le Creuset Soup Pot...the monster one! I am a soup and stew maker. Soups and stews constitute a lot of the food I prepare for my family. This pot sold retail for about $300! Totally un-doable! I saved and saved all year, and then constantly kept track on line to find a good deal. It finally came and I bought a flame colored large soup pot for under $150. (Technically it is referred to as a "Bouillabaisse Pot" on their website and has a 7 1/2 qt. capacity) I have used this pot endlessly and will pass it on when I am gone...or can no longer lift it!

For the past few years I have wanted a smaller size, general-use dutch oven, but they are so expensive I have never taken that step. Lodge began a number of years making a line of enameled pots and I was always curious to see how they were. I got that chance this past summer when we went out to Wisconsin to visit Tim and Abbie. They have a beautiful 6 qt. red one and I was very impressed with it. And at about 1/4 the price of Le Creuset I was wanting one bad.

Every year my generous in-laws send me some money for Christmas. It is always greatly appreciated, but admittedly, it also always goes into buying gifts for others. I have seldom ever bought something for myself. This year the gifts I wanted it to go towards used about 3/4 of the total so when I discovered a good deal on a Lodge Color enameled pot I decided to snatch it up. It is a 6 qt. size, very well made, and the color is rich and beautiful (Pumpkin). I am super impressed and can't wait to get my first pot of soup going in it for tonight's supper.

There is no question, when you actually view a genuine Le Creuset pot, that there is a reason they are so pricey, but at 1/4 of the cost I think the Lodge Color are beautifully made pieces, and I would recommend them to anyone.

Other  Lodge items I would love in the future:
Lodge Logic 10 in. chef skillet
Lodge Logic 12 in. regular skillet w/lid
Lodge Logic 10 1/2 in. round griddle
Lodge Color 3 qt. covered casserole, maybe in Caribbean Blue