Chinese Earthenware Casserole

This is made of sand and clay and is known as the sandy-pot. It is creamy white outside, with a dark brown glaze inside and over the cover. It is inexpensive, simmers like a dream, and looks wonderful on the table. It comes either with a long handle on the side or two squared-off ones on the rim. The two-handled one is better for purely aesthetic reasons—it looks as warm as its customary contents. A 2-quart casserole is a good one to buy for general use. You will come to love the sandy-pot as I do. It prevents dissipation of precious liquid during the cooking and it retains heat when on the table.