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Our dish is about seven or eight inches long, and in the photos, it's filled with a butternut squash dip that's about to go in the oven. But we will also use it to roast a few vegetables or a couple of chicken breasts or even make an oversized crème brûlée. If you live alone or cook for two, this is one of the most versatile dishes to own, in our opinion.

Another reason we're in love with this new purchase: It inspires us to cook without a recipe. This isn't a standard 9x13 pan. It's not a pie plate. It's not a ramekin or a square baking dish. It's a dish that invites you to experiment with a handful of asparagus and some cheese or a couple of pears cut up with a topping. No measuring, just using enough to fill up this shallow little vessel.

This dish is very similar to our vintage one:
Emile Henry Fig Oval Gratin, $18 at Sur La Table

Related: Little Blue Cocotte

(Images: Elizabeth Passarella)