Showing off a bit of a change of pace from the usual weekly recipe today, friends, because look at what my partner got me for my birthday!
![](https://flourandsunflowers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/PXL_20220910_181121824-1024x768.jpg)
For years, we used a slow cooker for a lot of our larger cuts of meat, but we didn’t really like it all that much. We had one that would really easily dry out or over-cook food, and we got one later that the basin cracked on, and just generally had bad experiences with them.
Eventually we got a sous vide, and that ended up taking a good portion of the purpose of the slow cooker, but I still wanted something else. A dutch oven would be perfect. It replaces a couple of thin aluminum pots and roasting pans I didn’t care for too much.
Of course, I’ve never had a real dutch oven before. I’m not used to heavy cast iron, and I’m already being super careful with it. I’ve heard these things can last forever, but I don’t exactly want to make it last forever with a chip, right?
My partner took me shopping so I could look at a few of them in person, and I decided to go for the 7.25-quart model. It’s the Deep Teal color, too, which I like a lot. In case you can’t read the lid (or don’t recognize it), it’s a Le Creuset. Fancy!
![](https://flourandsunflowers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/PXL_20220910_181053087-1024x768.jpg)
We decided to break it in with lamb! Specifically, this Mediterranean lamb recipe from Cosette’s Kitchen.
I was concerned about this recipe on two fronts, because I’ve never made one like it. The rub seemed like it had a ton of garlic and herbs, so I expected it to be pretty overpowering. It wasn’t! I was also concerned about over-cooking the lamb or under-cooking the vegetables, but it all turned out pretty much perfect.
![](https://flourandsunflowers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/PXL_20220910_211443334-1024x768.jpg)
Maybe it’s not the most photogenic pile of deliciousness, but it was certainly pretty tasty. And, all that spatter? Came right off in a bit of hot soapy water. I have zero complaints.
![](https://flourandsunflowers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/PXL_20220910_214059830-1024x768.jpg)
Look forward to more recipes making use of this cool piece of cookware in the future!