Here's a question from reader Ashley that aligns well with our post on the trend of mini pots and pans. If you own mini-cookware too, what do you cook in it?
I was shopping in Macy's the other day and I picked up a set of two red Martha Stewart castiron mini-casseroles. Ok, I know it was a frivolous purchase (a fellow customer told me so) but they were so cute I had to have them. Now that I have them in all of their glory, should I put in them?
Thanks!
Ashley
Ashley, we're very drawn to miniature baking dishes and cast iron mini cookware like this miniature skillet from Lodge and all the personal-sized pots and pans we saw at the 2008 Housewares show.
There are several general categories of things that we like to cook in small dishes. The first is cake. We love pudding cakes and other little baked desserts. You can just divide up a full cake recipe into ramekins or small casseroles.
We also love baked eggs in our mini dishes. We just featured the Grilled Pizza with Herbed Mascarpone, Smoked Salmon and Asparagus from Michael Chiarello's Napa Style website and while we were there we noticed this recipe (pictured above): Damn Hot Peppers and Potato Hash with Baked Eggs. Yum!
Here are a few more recipes that go well in small dishes.
• Individual Walnut Cake With Yogurt
• Pumpkin Crumb Cakes
• Smashed Lentils with Egg
Now - open to the readers - what do you make in mini-dishes? I'm sure there are very basic things we left off this list!
(Images: Macy's and Napa Style)
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Pot pie!
view renata's profile
ina garten has a recipe for herb baked eggs that is perfect. I use basil and parsley instead for a more italian version.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_30340,00.html
view kjmerklin's profile
My last trip to France, I was served boeuf bourguignon in one of these mini dutch ovens. I thought that was a great idea - pre-make a batch of boeuf bourguignon, portion it out in these, freeze them, and cook individually. Great for single people or couples who don't want to deal with leftovers.
view Kathryn Hill's profile
we had something like this when we were growing up. We used to make kasha (=buckwheat) or rice; or all-in-one potatoes and mean. Everyone would get an individual pot.
view Nudik's profile
Totally with kjmerkin on the baked eggs. Also Cottage pie or Shepherd's Pie is a nice tasty treat.
Also if you have never made mashed potatoes with a hand processor, you don't know what you are missing.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/3agwu4
view Frank_in_Virginia's profile
Mac and Cheese, Broccoli or Cauliflower gratin. Shepherd's pie definitely sounds tasty as well as eggs and the other suggestions.
view bobcatsteph3's profile
I just made Heidi's Baked Artichoke Dip from 101 Cookbooks - she used the cutest mini-casseroles to bake it in:
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/baked-artichoke-dip-recipe.html
Wish I had some!
view SisterRae's profile