It"s easy to prepare recipes ahead of time in this long, deep, oval baking dish: take it right out of the freezer, put it in a cold oven, then heat as high as 500 degrees F. Or use the dish under the broiler or in the microwave--you can almost hear the cheese and cream bubbling in the potatoes au gratin. You can even serve directly from this colorful, pleasing cookware, making a statement with both food and style. The easy-to-clean enameled stoneware resists chipping and staining, and will not absorb odors or flavors. Its generous, sure-grip handles make it easy to carry a hot dish from oven to table. --Schuyler Ingle