Lodge Enameled Cast-Iron 3-Quart Dutch Oven Island Spice Red

Lodge Enameled Cast-Iron 3-Quart Dutch Oven Island Spice Red
this is just about the cutest thing i have in my kitchen! it's a beautiful color (i also have the larger 6qt dutch oven in blue, and as beautiful as that is, the island spice is even prettier!), and it's much smaller than your ordinary gonzo dutch oven. 

i've used it for small batches of pasta sauce, and making risotto (PERFECT for risotto, where you want really even heat control--since we're cooking on electric, risotto really needs enamel cast iron!). would also be really good for smaller braises, e.g. cutting recipes in half! 

and, seriously, the price cannot be beat. i cannot BELIEVE that they are offering enamel cast iron at this price. it works amazingly well, and frankly how many of us can afford le creuset? i am lucky to have DRU enamel pieces handed down from my grandmother, but the collection is not complete, and i needed to add my own dutch ovens. also, i plan to buy a casserole from lodge, but having already spent $80 on these two pieces i must wait responsibly for a while. (But, $80 for two enamel CI pieces is just incredible!!)