I've been wanting some since using my friend's set (she is a chef) but the price - yikes! Well, dh has been complaining about our lack of pots and Simone broke the handle off one of mine last week. So, I told him I was going to purchase 1 Le Creuset french overn and I would pay for it by selling things. Well, I raised enough to buy this tonight:
http://www.cutleryandmore.com/details.asp?SKU=574

Woohoo! I am so excited :D

Good for you! I have a 5.75 qt. oval French oven, a 2.75 qt. oval French oven, 2 12" skillets, a 9" skillet, and the big reversible grill/griddle. I smile every time I see the French ovens on my refrigerator.

You are going to love it. I want the rectangular baker you got!

Peace,

Kimberly

We have Calphalon (sp?), but it is non-stick -- ick.

I didn't want to reinvest w/out trying ONE piece first, so I was on the lookout at Marshalls for a pan or sauce pot.

WELL, I found this:

http://www.cutleryandmore.com/large/2633.jpg

at Goodwill, of all places, for $1.99.

Mine has a wooden handle, however, and a cream interior. It's so cute.

I have ignored all the talk about Le Crueset because I didn't think it was cast iron. This cookware looks great! Thanks for posting this Allison.

Amazon has some Le Creuset at good prices too. I picked up an 8 qt stock pot for 25.99 shipped. It's up to 39.99 now but thats still half price. I'm slowly going to all LC products.

When I compared that site I posted and amazon, the above site was cheaper on everything I wanted, plus free shipping (everything I wanted was over $100) - even with amazon's $25 off. I can't wait for it to get here.

My Dad got me a skillet and I have only used it once. I need to get it out and actually use it. Thing is, it's so danged heavy! lol

Originally posted by Mamax4
Oooo, that's nice! Those pieces pretty much cover it, huh?

I. Must. Not. Shop.

Yes! I was planning on buying the dutch oven now, and then the saucepan with omelette pan cover next, so I was excited to see this one. It only cost me $20 more and I got the other two pans also. Now I just want a tea kettle :)

Tell me why I want a Le Cruset griddle pan versus a regular ole "Lodge" brand cast iron one? We need to replace our non-stick Calphalon one.

Also, can anyone tell me if I'm slowly killing my family using the hard anodized aluminum Calphalon? I like them, but I'm easily convinced of needing new pots.

~amey

It is porcelain enameled, so it is cast iron with a slippery surface.

There is a little calaphon info in the thread titled "what kind of pots do you use" started by Jodi on the market board. It has a whole slew of opinions.

Originally posted by arasmama
It is porcelain enameled, so it is cast iron with a slippery surface.

There is a little calaphon info in the thread titled "what kind of pots do you use" started by Jodi on the market board. It has a whole slew of opinions.

Here is that Cookware Thread (http://www.amitymama.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=214811&highlight=creuset)

I'm sooo envious. I want to at least try it out!

Tax return... here I come. Heheheee... I have been wanting a skillet, a dutch oven and a cassarole dish forever. That 9 peice set is just $50 more and it has two more pots! So pretty!!

Love Val

Yes, I looked at the bigger, but it has the smaller french overn (I had my heart set on the 5.5 qt) and smaller saucepan. Plus, I have a nice stock pot and theirs is just enamaled steel, not cast iron. Although, I don't know if you could lift it if it were cast iron!! Those things are HEAVY. My poor UPS man.

The reason I was looking at the larger set is that I have my heart set on the frying pan, the dutch oven and the cassarole. Those over at Capital Mall were $400 something for those three peices (even with the "going out of Buisness sale").

I will have to check the sizes again and make sure that I can use what I am getting. I should always do that, but often I don't. :p

Love Val

See this is what I want... but together. Can I ask... Why did you want the larger Dutch Oven? I am sure I would use it, but I am just curious. :)

Set (http://www.cutleryandmore.com/details.asp?SKU=2695)

Cassarole dish (http://www.cutleryandmore.com/details.asp?SKU=1619)

Although I don't care a lick about the "anniversery pan" and the trivet. So I should find a way not to pay for them huh?

Love Val

I need some sort of deep dish frying pan/casserole dish too. I think a panini pan is what I need, but I don't know that they sell that.

Anyway, we already had a 4 qt pot and a big ole stock pot, I needed something in between. I find my soups need about 5 qts, plus it was still an okay size for doing casseroles and baked beans in the oven. I also have a 1.25 qt that rarely gets used. The only thing I do in it is melt cheese or butter. I hate having too many pots, so I was trying to simplifying how many we have by getting multi-use sizes.

I completely understand.... two tax returns ago I purchased a set from Costco that was all stainless steel. I have loved them, but some of the pans I never use. What would you use a 6 inch frying pan for? It is a one egg pan. lol... as is the 7 inch sauce pot... I use that one more, but still not enough to get another one... which is why when you posted about the little tiny sauce pot on the set I was thinking of getting I decided to go back and look again... because you are so right. They hang until the others are dirty, but even then they are sort of a waste to have. I want another big one, because they are so nice and I use them DAILY.

The next time I spend big bucks on pans for the kitchen I want to buy only what I will use and not anything else. I don't want to use something or store something that I will not use.

Love Val

Val, if it is cheaper to get the set even though it has pieces you might not use, then why not eBay the pieces you don't want?

The trivets are a joke. I bought a knock-off trivet at Target and the heavy French oven slides all over when I use it. The bottom of the pans are just too smooth and slippery. A nice cork trivet is much safer (and cheaper!).

I also suggest looking to see if there is an outlet near you. By not being picky about color I bought a 12" skillet for $58 at the outlet. Amazon sells it for $99, JCPenney sells it for $80.

I have the 9" skillet (on sale for $32 at www.JCPenney.com) and it is a 2 egg pan. The 12" skillet handles 3-4 fried eggs. For everyday use I recommend the 12" skillet as the 10" will be too small for skillet meals.

Peace,

Kimberly