Get those pricey items on your registry, ladies!

[Independent Gal]

One of Fi's pseudo-uncles just gave us the $400 french oven (which is basically a big pot, I gather?). Anyway, it was one of those things we didn't think anyone would buy us. Especially cause this dude and his wife will probably be dropping about $1500 to COME to the wedding.

But it was the third thing to disappear from the registry. So maybe people spend more than I thought? We have hardly anything on there in the $100 and up range. Oops.

The lesson: you just never know what people want to spend, so make sure that you have a nice big range on that registry!

FI seems excited about the French oven. I don't really even know what it is though. Oh well! I'm glad he's happy. And we got the little teapot that I wanted more than he did. So I guess it's fair.

 

[zoebartlett]

That''s great Indy! From the sound of it, I''m guessing a French oven is the same thing as a Dutch oven. I kept hearing about Dutch ovens on cooking shows and seeing them referred to in recipes. I never knew what they were and I skipped making things that called for them since I didn''t have one. One day I saw someone on a cooking show refer to the Dutch oven she was using and I was like, "but that''s just a big pot!" Duh. They look very handy for making big pots of soup and stews, etc. Maybe I should add one to our registry.

 

[musey]

Good to know! I'm not sure whether our family/friends will feel QUITE that generous, but it's so hard to gauge. We only have 4 items over $200. One of which is a dutch oven

I've been wishing I could just look at random peoples' registries to get ideas. I always feel like I've forgotten something

 

[CrownJewel]

Oh my god my FI and I were so excited about having a registry, JUST so we could put a Le Creuset dutch oven on there. I think some retailers call them French ovens, but they''re the same thing. It''s a super crazy heavy cast iron pot that you can use on the stovetop and then stick in the oven. It''s usually coated inside with porcelain so that your foods don''t react with the cast iron. The materials hold heat well and also distributes heat evenly so it''s just a dream to cook with (especially for roasts and stuff).

Phoo...I''m such a food nerdy! I can''t wait to get my dutch oven.

 

[Independent Gal]

Ahhh. That''s why. I was raised by a vegetarian. So I never learned to cook meat. Hence...

 

[Krissie]

Awesome! We''ve just started putting together our registry list. We have a few $200+ items (KitchenAid stand mixer; huge Waterford bowl; espresso machine) but Fi is really jonesing for a Dyson. We haven''t added it to the list yet because I''m sure my family would flip if they saw it (usual registry item is about $30 where I come from), but ... if it meant we actually might get one ...

 

[sumbride]

I was surprised when a friend in my age group gave us our dutch oven! It wasn''t $400, but it was just under $200. I use it all the time! and that''s good because it is too heavy to lift in and out of the cabinet all the time. The dutch oven is a big pot, but the lid has these little bumps on it so any moisture that gathers falls back in so that it helps braise what you are cooking.

And yes, people will buy LOTS of expensive things! Think big!

 

[musey]

Date: 2/20/2008 6:14:49 PM
Author: Independent Gal
Ahhh. That''s why. I was raised by a vegetarian. So I never learned to cook meat. Hence...

They''re also great for slow-cooking soups/stews of the veggie variety

And, you know, for looking pretty on the stove.

 

[musey]

IG, your thread has inspired me to add a KitchenAid Stand Mixer to our registry

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

Dutch ovens used to be used in earlier days as sort of a microwave since everything could be cooked at once and much faster.
"french" ovens is a term only Le Creuset uses for their dutch ovens. Esentially french oven just means dutch oven by Le Creuset, there really is no difference, just a marketing ploy.

 

[LegacyGirl]

I want to be rude and put insanely expenisve items on my registry in hopes that I get cash instead

But I doubt that will work. A Dyson is a good idea! I have a Kitchenaid mixer and I LOVE it

I suggest everyone who likes to bake get one.

 

[musey]

Date: 2/20/2008 6:40:38 PM
Author: brazen_irish_hussy
Dutch ovens used to be used in earlier days as sort of a microwave since everything could be cooked at once and much faster.

'french' ovens is a term only Le Creuset uses for their dutch ovens. Esentially french oven just means dutch oven by Le Creuset, there really is no difference, just a marketing ploy.

Really? The le creuset oven I'm registered for is called a "dutch oven."

Weird! Maybe Williams-Sonoma doesn't use the names the makers use.

 

[Future Mrs Polka Dot]

Yay, congrats on getting such a fun gift Indy!

What size dutch oven did you guys do? We are registered for a 5.5 quart (in bright green - yes!!!) and I''m wondering if that is an ideal size...

This registry stuff is so exciting

 

[musey]

Date: 2/20/2008 8:57:50 PM
Author: Future Mrs Polka Dot

What size dutch oven did you guys do? We are registered for a 5.5 quart (in bright green - yes!!!) and I''m wondering if that is an ideal size...

6.75 oval, to fit a chicken, small turkey or roast

I go back and forth wondering if it''ll be too small, though...

I might switch to the 9.5 qt.

 

[Future Mrs Polka Dot]

yikes! maybe my 5.5 is too small! hmmm...

 

[Harleigh]

I have a small one, but FI has a huge Dutch Oven that I use over at his house ALL the time!

I make pork roasts, pot roasts, chickens, turkeys, pulled pork...you name it, and I can make something come out tasting pretty damn good in that thing if I do say so myself!

I wonder if I can convince FI we need a newer, better model???

 

[Octavia]

I wish I could be excited about registering, but fortunately/unfortunately I used to work for a division of Williams-Sonoma (= nice discount) and FI tends to buy things spontaneously, so together we have things like:

close to 2 sets of Calphalon One cookware (which is the most awesome stuff on earth, except no dishwasher allowed)
many Wusthof knives
a KitchenAid and a couple of the attachments
a juicer
a food processor
a pasta maker
a really nice vacuum
etc, etc, etc

Basically, the only things I can think of to register for are a Dutch oven, a pot rack, some quality steak knives, and nice towels. We have NO space for sets of silver and china...so even if we wanted them, which I''m not sure we do, they''d have to go languish at my parents'' house for a few years until we buy a bigger place. Honestly, it''s nice to have this stuff now so we can use it, but we just don''t have much to register for, which takes a lot of the fun out of it! I''m sort of jealous of you ladies having a good time with your registries!

 

[musey]

You know, I thought I''d be the same way (not knowing what to register for)... but I''m upgrading our cookware, getting really good knives, and once I branched out past kitchen stuff it really opened up... a new duvet cover & quilt, new sheets, set of bath towels, table/serveware (ours are old or nonexistant)... you''ll be surprised, I think, once you start looking at your options!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Fi bought me a Le Cruset dutch oven for Christmas. I don''t know if it''s the 5.5 or the 6.75, but I love it!!! I''ve made roasts, risotto, soup, fondue, etc in it and it''s been fabulous! I highly recommend one.

I don''t knwo what we''re going to do about registering. We already have a set of china and silver as well as a Dyson and a KitchenAid. I think we might go for some high-end bed linens and maybe a full block set of Whustof knives, but that''s really all I can think of...We could really use cash instead.

 

[Cleopatra]

Date: 2/20/2008 8:57:50 PM
Author: Future Mrs Polka Dot
Yay, congrats on getting such a fun gift Indy!


What size dutch oven did you guys do? We are registered for a 5.5 quart (in bright green - yes!!!) and I''m wondering if that is an ideal size...


This registry stuff is so exciting

Hey FMPD! I actually have the Kiwi Le Creuset 5.5 qt. And I LOVE it! I cook everything in it. But, as time goes by, I sort of have big-pot-envy. I mean, it''s big, but not quite big enough - I think the 6 3/4 qt would be my ideal size. But I''m one to LOVE cooking huge meals, so if it just you and your FI, it will be plenty big enough!

 

[Stephanie]

This is off topic, kinda, but can someone explain to me what the difference is between using a crock pot and a French/Dutch oven? I need to know which to register for. Here in my area, crock pots are used more often for stewing, roasts, etc.

 

[Cleopatra]

It''s a convenience factor basically.

A crockpot can be used while you''re not home. Set it, go to work, come home to a home cooked meal.

Personally, I don''t find my dishes to have as much flavor when cooked in the crockpot. However, I still use it for the convenience factor.

I would personally register for both if you don''t already have either. I use my dutch ovens all the time when cooking - stews and soups come out better in dutch ovens (IMO). But I still use the crockpot for the days when I know I won''t have time to cook supper. Nearly everything that you can cook in a crockpot can be cooked in a dutch oven.

 

[musey]

Date: 2/21/2008 9:20:05 AM
Author: Cleopatra

Date: 2/20/2008 8:57:50 PM
Author: Future Mrs Polka Dot

What size dutch oven did you guys do? We are registered for a 5.5 quart (in bright green - yes!!!) and I''m wondering if that is an ideal size...

Hey FMPD! I actually have the Kiwi Le Creuset 5.5 qt. And I LOVE it! I cook everything in it. But, as time goes by, I sort of have big-pot-envy. I mean, it''s big, but not quite big enough - I think the 6 3/4 qt would be my ideal size. But I''m one to LOVE cooking huge meals, so if it just you and your FI, it will be plenty big enough!

I''m trying to think long-term on our registry... and we want kids so, I wonder if "bigger is better"?

Hmm... must consider my options...

 

[Gypsy]

Congrats on the awesome gift Indy.

We have a few of those. A Dyson Animal, An All Clad Cookware Set, Ken Onion by Shun knives, Dutch Oven, and a wine chiller and a stand mixer (both for John). Everything else is very reasonable, but those are the 'just in case someone wants to spurge" items.

 

[anchor31]

Yeah, we were told to do that too. We have a few items at 200$+...

- 1 45-pieces dinnerware set (we have yet to go back and find dinnerware with individuals place sets)
- 1 KitchenAid stand mixer
- 1 10-pieces Lagostina cookware set (our priciest item)
- 1 8.1L Lagostina boiling pot
- 1 26cm Lagostina sauté pan with cover
- 1 16-pieces Kitchen Aid knife block set
- (to be added) 1 pressure cooker

At first I was really uncomfortable with adding those items, but we figured that people will buy whatever they feel comfortable buying, and if some people want to buy us the expensive ones, good for us!

 

[karasue91]

I''m getting so excited to register now!! A little off-topic, but did any of you register without your FI? He is really uninterested and doesn''t see the point in registering because he would prefer money. So he figures if we don''t register people will just give us money. I say "No, honey, people will just buy us crap we don''t want."

I''m thinking about just going and starting one up this weekend...plus he''s not going to be here for another 6 weeks and I''ve already had a couple people ask where we have registered....

 

[musey]

Date: 2/21/2008 1:52:53 PM
Author: anchor31

At first I was really uncomfortable with adding those items, but we figured that people will buy whatever they feel comfortable buying, and if some people want to buy us the expensive ones, good for us!

Exactly!

I figure as long as most of the items lie within a $25-70 range, with some outliers below and above there, you''re set. And people can always give cash or gift cards (or pick their own gift!) if the range they want to spend is unavailable.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 2/21/2008 2:19:21 PM
Author: karasue91
I''m getting so excited to register now!! A little off-topic, but did any of you register without your FI? He is really uninterested and doesn''t see the point in registering because he would prefer money. So he figures if we don''t register people will just give us money. I say ''No, honey, people will just buy us crap we don''t want.''

I''m thinking about just going and starting one up this weekend...plus he''s not going to be here for another 6 weeks and I''ve already had a couple people ask where we have registered....

I went with John the first time. We picked out China and stemware and some stuff he really wanted (wine chiller, kitchen aid, this ridiculous toaster we can''t work properly-- we already received that as an engagement present--and so forth).

But I only dragged him to look at stuff that was a) going to last a lifetime (china, etc) or b) he was interested in. Otherwise I shopped in spurts instead of all at once (too overwelming otherwise) and picked stuff I liked with little input from him. He''s fine with it. If it was something I was undecided on... like which of two patterns to pick, I''d ask him to pick one.

For example he couldn''t care less about sheets or towels, just that the sheets are deep enough for our really deep mattress and soft, and that the towels are nice and large. So I registered for what I wanted there keeping that in mind.

 

[musey]

Karasue, I registered entirely online and without FI. Then I took him to the stores to show him what I picked out and had him suggest additions/changes (mostly meant changes in color options) where he wanted. That way he was fully involved in final selections, but didn't have to participate in the initial shopping.

I love to pick stuff out and he likes to do "quality control"

so it worked out nicely!

 

[anchor31]

Date: 2/21/2008 2:19:21 PM
Author: karasue91
I''m getting so excited to register now!! A little off-topic, but did any of you register without your FI? He is really uninterested and doesn''t see the point in registering because he would prefer money. So he figures if we don''t register people will just give us money. I say ''No, honey, people will just buy us crap we don''t want.''

I''m thinking about just going and starting one up this weekend...plus he''s not going to be here for another 6 weeks and I''ve already had a couple people ask where we have registered....

We registered together, and he want actually more excited than I was! But since your FI is away, I don''t see why you shouldn''t register by yourself.