I bought a cast iron casserole dish. What can I cook in it?

[JennyPiccolo]

I've never really done casseroles before. I made beef stew last week, which was alright, and a Delia recipe for chicken, chorizo and butterbean stew which was de-licious!

Anything else I should know about?

You can cook bolognese / chilli in them, long slow cooking makes them taste sooooo much nicer. Lamb curry is good too. Love mine, have an unnecessary selection - had to get bigger one when ds1&2 born, then got oval casserole so could casserole whole chicken then shallow one which is great as you can fry everything in it then just stick lid on. to be honest, must eBay oval one as is a bit excessive .

I do soup, bolognese, stews/casseroles, whole chickens etc.

Don't be blind-sided by the casserole thing. You can do whatever the hell you like in it. It's just a good, quality pot that goes in or on the oven.

Someone bought me one as a wedding present. It was fecking heavy I couldnt lift it out of the oven.... It is now a garden ornament

I LOVE mine! I cook curry, chilli, soups, stews, casseroles, pot roasts...it's great! I found it fab for things like roast beef, where I can have the pot on the hob to brown off the joint/onions, etc, add whatever stock, etc I need and bring to the boil, then put it in the oven to cook. If you need a tighter seal you can add a layer of tinfoil, and trap it under the lid.

My favourite is beef curry, you can just leave it to simmer away on the top of the hob, become nice and tender

Rice pudding is great too (ambrosia style, no skin). You can put it in a low heat in oven so it doesn't burn.

Ooooh rice pudding! That puts me in the mood for Autumn

Best thing for risotto on the hob, high sides stay hot and somehow makes it cook much better.

I've done a moroccan chicken thing in mine with either drummers or a whole chicken, can of toms, stock, spices, chick peas etc.

That blade steak you can get to casserole comes out really nice too.

Remember to seal it first.

Paint the inside and outside with vegetable oil and bake the dish in a cool oven for a couple of hours then switch the oven off but leave the dish in until it is cold.