Since Christmas often ends up being the time of year we acquire the most "crap", we've tried to be really careful to ask our families only for things that we really want or need. Things that we truly find beautiful or are so useful that we'll use them forever, or at least till they fall apart. Two big things made that cut this year.
Kaite's Gift -- Cuisinart 5 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
I've been wanting an enameled cast iron dutch oven for quite a while now. My in-laws have a few sizes and styles and they cook almost everything better than traditional pots and pans. The cast iron holds and distributes heat really evenly so meat is tender and evenly cooked, sauces don't burn, soups simmer perfectly, etc. They also go from stove top to oven so you can sear your meat on the stove top and then put the whole pot, including the lid, straight into the oven. The enamel coating is non-stick and makes clean up a breeze. And did I mention that are gorgeous to look at?
As you have probably guessed, these things aren't incredibly cheap. In fact, we didn't register for one when we got married because we figured they were so expensive it was highly unlikely we would receive one. Oh yeah, and having never used one, I figured it was one of those pretty but mostly useless items often found on wedding registry guides. Well, I was wrong.
From what I can tell there are three tiers of quality (or at least cost).
Isaac's Gift -- Kenneth Cole Reaction Leather Bag
Isaac has been carrying around the same backpack since high school. It barely made it through four years of college and, because we didn't have a better alternative, has suffered through Isaac's first quarter of grad school as well. The thing is literally being held together by shreds of fabric and a few nylon straps. Isaac has been wanting a nice, well made leather bag that he'll be able to use after grad school as well, so we've been holding out on buying a new bag until we found something that was really worth purchasing.
This is what we finally decided on:
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| Kenneth Cole Reaction |
The bag just arrived yesterday and is even better in person. The quality of the leather is excellent and the color is very rich. I can't wait for Isaac to get home from Texas so he can see it! This is the largest bag of this style that I could find which means it will hold Isaac's laptop (in a well padded compartment) along with all the books he carries around on a daily basis. It also has well placed pockets and smaller compartments that are perfect for chargers, small electronics, and other supplies. We'll see how it holds up to daily use but the reviews were excellent in that category so I have high hopes.
