Petite Casseroles & Mini Coquettes

Looking for a way to spice up your dinnerware without buying a whole new china collection?  Add some petite casseroles and mini coquettes into your cooking repertoire.  These petite baking dishes come in a rainbow of colors and multiple sizes and are perfect for any small portion dish.  Impress your family or guests by serving them delicious macaroni and cheese in their own personal dish complete with the lid.  They go straight from oven to table and even to the fridge to minimize clean up!  Above, the Marise Set or four terrines in a cute gift  box, $34.

Le Creuset also makes some gorgeous petite dishes in round and oval shapes.  Purchase as many as you like as they're sold individually as shown above, $25 each, or in a boxed set of three featuring one each in grey, black, and white, $84..Try them with the yummy recipe below or check out their book full of tips and recipes for your mini dishes.  Available directly from Le Creuset or your local book shop (shown below). 

One of my favorite recipes to make in my mini casserole dishes or even ramekins is this yummy Pear Crisp from Kraft Foods.  It also tastes delicious with apples!

Pear Crisps from Kraft Recipes

1 oz. (1/8 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1 Tbsp.  brown sugar

1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 large  fresh pear, peeled, chopped

4 Nilla Wafers, coarsely chopped

1 Tbsp.  chopped  pecans (optional) 

1 Tbsp. butter

2 Tbsp.  thawed whipped topping

 

*Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
*Mix cream cheese, sugar and cinnamon in medium bowl until blended. Stir in pears. Spoon into 2 custard cups sprayed with cooking spray.
*Mix wafer crumbs, nuts and butter; sprinkle over cream cheese mixture. Place cups on baking sheet. 
*Bake 25 min. or until hot and bubbly. Cool slightly. Top with COOL WHIP just before serving.

Bon Appetite!