Smitten: Dansk Dutch Ovens

In aims of finding the perfect Christmas gift for her daughter, I spent the afternoon with my boss trying to name the most useful piece of cookware. After much debate, we concluded that a dutch oven is tops. It works well on the stovetop and in the oven, pasta boils perfectly in it, it's good for soups, and "one pot" dinners are a snap in them.

Though most commonly enameled, dutch ovens come in cast iron and non-stick varieties too. Many love the Le Creuset, but my heart lies with Dansk dutch ovens. Their lightweight enamel construction reminds me of the mugs that often graced my grandmother's table when we were kids. Their sleek mid-century design is endlessly pleasing and their amazing array of colors is to die for. I'm definitely smitten. Pick one up here.