Cook It in Your Dutch Oven

Book excerpt: 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. Don't relegate your prized pot to the back of the cabinet. Learn how to put your Dutch oven to work every day in so many different ways. Turn out practical yet fun meals made entirely in one pot, such as Weeknight Pasta Bolognese; Chicken Pot Pie with Spring Vegetables; and Lamb Meatballs with Orzo, Tomatoes, and Feta. Impressive braises and roasts, such as Braised Short Ribs with Wild Mushroom Farrotto and Roasted Pork Loin with Barley, Butternut Squash, and Swiss Chard, go seamlessly from the stovetop (the enameled surface makes it easy to create fond without burning) to the oven (cast iron maintains steady heat to ensure food cooks perfectly). We even walk you through deep frying and artisanal bread baking at home (try the Korean Fried Chicken Wings or the Braided Chocolate Babka). And a range of appealing desserts, from Pear-Ginger Crisp (the pot holds a generous 5 pounds of pears) to Bourbon-Pecan Bread Pudding, benefit from the Dutch oven's high sides and even heating.