This is a great little recipe for flank steak cooked in a SchlemmerTopf glazed clay roaster. Preparation time is less than an hour after the meat has been thawed.

INGREDIENTS:

1 flank steak
Salt, pepper, flour
4 cups bread cubes
3/4 cup chopped celery
2 small onions, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons sage

Before starting the preparation soak the lid of the glazed SchlemmerTopf clay roaster for about 15 minutes. Lightly score the flank steak crosswise to increase the heat received by the flank steak. Sprinkle the steak with salt, pepper and dredge with flour and then proceed to pound with a mallet or potato masher.

Combine the bread cubes, onions, celery and sage in a separate container. Moisten this mixture with water and use salt and pepper to season to taste; garlic may also be added to suit the cook’s taste. Spread this mixture over the flank steak as a stuffing, roll the steak and use string or toothpicks to hold the roll together.

Place the flank steak into the SchlemmerTopf clay roaster and cover. Put the entree into a cold oven and then set temperature to 425 degrees F. Bake for 2 hours.

Serve the flank steak with fresh steamed vegetables and a Chardonnay for a complete meal.

For clay bakers at affordable prices go to Your Smart Kitchen!

Green Kitchen Products: Clay Bakers

1. Clay bakers are completely Earth friendly and require no chemicals to be used in their manufacturing processes.

2. Clay bakers seal in nutrients without the use of additional oils and fats for cooking.

3. Clay bakers can be used in the microwave and oven increasing the ease of use of the product.

4. Cleaning is simple and easy and requires only warm water and a little baking soda to clean up.

5. Clay bakers are the original slow cookers and produce juicy, delectable food time after time.

6. A variety of sizes and shapes allow for cooking any meal in a clay baker from turkey dinners to delightful desserts.

7. The clay baker operates by steaming the food and has always been a healthy choice in cookware.

8. In addition to their ease of use they are extremely affordable.

9. Entire meals can be prepared in a single pot and then set on a timer for busy families to have freshly cooked meals at home.

10. Because they are earthen ware they are completely biodegradable and safe for use anywhere.

Here is a great article on clay bakers on Hubpages.

When searching for a rondeaux pot there are features to look for to ensure you receive the best possible tool for your desired goal. Rondeaux pots are traditionally used for braising or poaching as well as slow cooking. These pots are sometimes confused with casserole dishes as they have two side handles; a rondeaux pan is a medium height piece of cookware slightly taller than a low casserole pan.

Before buying a new pot I always think of what I will be using it for as it is usually for a specific purpose. Then I try to imagine what else I could use it for and decide to buy. Size is always a concern for larger entrees and dishes. If you intend on using the rondeaux for slow cooking or roasting a larger size may be in order. The size will also dictate the weight of the pan. If the pan is too large it may be too heavy to place into the oven while preparing a meal. Keep your own strength in mind when deciding on size as well or you may find yourself calling a neighbor for help.

Construction material is also a great concern for rondeaux pan shoppers. The material should be highly durable and long lasting. I recommend the Mauviel 2 quart Rondeaux pot in copper. The copper is only 2 mm thick providing superb heat conductivity and extreme light weight. This pot is a dream to work with and can be used to prepare anything from stews to roasts and form braising meats to poaching fish. The handles, my personal favorite, are bronze which allows for the passing form stove top to oven a snap. should you need a different size rondeaux pot, you may select the 1 quart or the 3 1/4 quart.

The interior of the Mauviel rondeaux pot is lined with stainless steel which reduces cleaning times and creates a beautiful aesthetic effect against the copper exterior. Mauviel has hundreds of years of tradition behind their products which is why they are respected by professionals all over the world. The stainless steel also prevents acidic foods from harming the copper; copper is highly susceptible to acids and will tarnish much like the green roofs of copper topped buildings. Copper is 10 times more efficient at heat conductivity than stainless steel and is far more durable than aluminum making it my recommended cookware material.

For the serious or about to be serious chef a splayed saucepan is an indispensible piece of cookware. Splayed saucepans have a small bottom which allows for extremely quick heating making is a perfect addition for those on the move. Mauviel has a copper splayed pan that adds to the heat conductivity as copper is the best conductor of heat in any kitchen; at least until a new material is created.

The splayed pan is ideal for reductions, in fact that is what their intended use is. The large opening allows for faster evaporation. The more air that is allowed in, the faster the evaporation process. Coupled with the small base and copper construction, the Mauviel copper splayed sauce pan is the perfect addition to any kitchen, professional or amateur. The pan is made from a copper thickness of 2.5mm is super thin and further adds to the heat conductivity making sauces preparation a breeze. The splayed pan not only works great for sauces but side dishes as well.

Vegetables cook a bit faster with the small bottom but will need a lid to help seal in the heat. The wide top, while great for reductions will allow valuable heat to escape and render longer cooking times. Purchasing a copper cookware item will be more expensive up front. Copper is a widely used and widely respected cookware material. It does cost extra, but with the proper care and use will last several lifetimes. This versatility and longevity reduce the price of a piece of copper cookware to be competitive with other materials like non-stick and stainless steel.

Copper cookware adds to the aesthetics of a kitchen bringing color and atmosphere to your most visited room in the house. Mauviel has been manufacturing copper cookware since 1830 and has a tradition of more than 800 years. The company is one of the most highly respected copper cookware companies in the world held in high esteem by professional chefs and home cooks alike. To add to the hearty construction, Mauviel has added a riveted cast iron handle to the splayed copper saucepan. The handle is curved for ease of use and comfort making it suitable for use in the oven or on the stove.

Available sizes are 6 1/2 inch diameter 1 quart Mauviel Splayed Copper Saucepan, 7 7/8 inch diameter and 1 3/4 quart, and 9 1/2 inch diameter and 3 quart capacities.