Holiday Meal Planning With " Luh Croo-zay"
Christmas week is soon upon us, which means it’s time to wrap up menu planning and make some decisions already — grocery shopping awaits! Even though it’s just Lin and I this year, I still want to make our Christmas meals very special. I also want to prepare some extra dishes for some of my neighbors going through a tough time too. I have been toying with sticking to tradition or switching things up this year! And have just decided today that I want to totally switch things up-it’s 2020 afterall. So a wonderful French dinner it shall be.
I am especially excited to use my new pieces from Le Creuset that they sent over! Since 1925, Le Creuset has been renowned as the colorful French companion in kitchens across the globe. Defined by three essential truths, Les Trois Vérités, they’re more than just cookware. These are the three pieces I now own.
Le Creuset Rectangular Dish with Platter Lid- Marinate meat or vegetables in this versatile dish, and then use the accompanying platter lid to serve after grilling or cooking.Le Creuset stoneware casseroles offer superior, highly functional performance in the oven and at the table. These durable stoneware dishes include tight-fitting lids and easy-to-grip grooved side handles, and are designed for a multitude of kitchen tasks, whether baking desserts, oven-roasting meats, broiling fish or simply marinating before cooking.
Le Creuset Signature Roaster-- The excellent heat distribution of this versatile enameled cast iron Roaster makes it ideal for roasting meats and vegetables, baking casseroles and desserts or making pan gravy on the stove. The elegant low-profile design is optimized for oven roasting, while the wide loop handles make it easy to transport from stove to oven to table.
Le Creuset Signature Saucepan- The enameled cast iron Signature Saucepan is a kitchen staple perfect for making sauces, but also for side dishes, preparing grains, poaching, simmering and reheating. The smoothly curved interior and rounded base are ideal for stirring and reducing sauces, while an extended helper handle and a contoured main handle provide added control for maneuvering from the kitchen to the table.
Le Creuset (pronounced luh croo-zay) was born in response to a culinary revolution led by renowned chef Auguste Escoffier that hit the country during the 1920s. With boeuf bourguignon and coq au vin top of mind, casting expert Armand Desaegher and Octave Aubecq, a Belgian enameling specialist, teamed up in 1925 to produce what would be Le Creuset’s first enameled cocotte—set in the brand’s now-iconic fiery orange-colored glaze: Flame. While the intense hue (which also goes by the name Volcanique) is still the company’s most popular color option, Le Creuset has since expanded its palette and product offerings. I am so obsessed with this color. I am pretty sure you have noticed pops of fiery rich reds and oranges on my Instagram feed, yes?! The blue is so stunning too.
All Le Creuset cast-iron cookware is crafted and thoroughly examined at the company’s original location in Fresnoy-le-Grand, France. There, each item is cast in individual black sand molds that are then destroyed and recycled after use (no two items are alike). The cast pieces are then smoothed and refined by in-house artisans before they enter the enameling line, where a number of colorful enamel layers are applied. Did you know at least 15 pairs of hands touch and inspect every single piece of Le Creuset cookware before it hits the shelves?! IMPRESSED!
Unlike most brand-name pots and pans that can scratch or deteriorate over time, Le Creuset products are generally more forgiving. Thanks to the enamel glaze exterior, its strong vessels retain (and distribute) heat extremely well—and are pretty much guaranteed to last a lifetime. And they look so darn sexy on the stovetop! Lin, of course was like why did we not get white?? Lin-BORING. And don’t get me wrong- I love white but I wanted color in these pieces. It just feels so very French to me.
Le Creuset is available directly through lecreuset.com, as well as Le Creuset signature stores and a range of premium retailers such as Williams Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, and Bloomingdale’s. Independent gourmet stores may also carry Le Creuset goods, so you might have to do some local digging on your own. For those on a budget, consider heading to a Le Creuset outlet—the brand has a number of locations across the country.
I would love to know what your favorite Le Creuset piece is and why?! Tell me in the comments below! Trying to decide what I should get next! I am thinking I need the Dutch Oven in this gorgeous color…what do you think?!
Happy menu planning for Christmas everyone!
I cannot wait to see all the beautiful photos of your spreads. I will certainly be sharing my gorgeous French meal made in my three new pieces of beautiful cookware!!! I will just treasure them forever.
And if you need some recipe inspo…be sure to check out these amazing recipes here.
