Iron Pots Depot

For many people, the holidays are a time of tradition. Whether it’s the opening of gifts around a beautifully lit tree, an evening at your local church or a festive party celebrating the Winter Solstice, every culture has their own traditions during this time of year. What many people don’t realize is that the traditions they engage in during this time of year are often borrowed from other cultures.

One of the most borrowed elements of the holiday season is the culinary fare that people enjoy as they sit around the dinner table and talk of the joys of their past and their hopes for the year to come. As you enjoy your holiday dinner this year, take a moment and you will probably be surprised by the cookware used to prepare some of your favorite holiday dishes. Cast iron cookware, including skillets, dutch ovens and bakeware has been a staple in kitchens around the world for hundreds of years, being passed down from mothers to daughters and fathers to sons. In fact, you may even have a piece of cast iron in your kitchen that once belonged to a great grandmother or uncle.

Cast iron is perfect for preparing delicious holiday fare. In fact, this year would be a great opportunity to start a new tradition and get away from the holiday standards. Following is a great recipes that will give you a chance to show off the versatility of your cast iron cookware and have your family’s mouths watering.

Pizza Casserole

This is a great recipe that can be prepared in a cast iron casserole dish, dutch oven or even your favorite cast iron skillet and will give your holiday dinner an Italian twist.

• Favorite Pasta (3 Cups Uncooked)
• Ground Italian Sausage (2 Pounds)
• Pepperoni (1 Package, Sliced)
• Tomato Paste (6 Ounce Can)
• Pizza Sauce (Two 14 Ounce Jars)
• Minced Chopped Onion (1 Medium)
• Garlic Clove (1 Small)
• Fresh Mushrooms (1 Pound)
• Oregano (1/2 Tablespoon)
• Mozzarella Cheese (3 Cups, Shredded)
• Parmesan Cheese (3/4 Cup, Grated)

Preheat oven to 350°. Begin by cooking the pasta until the pasta is tender while browning the Italian sausage with the onion and garlic over medium heat in your cast iron casserole pot. Once the Italian sausage is browned, drain and then add in the mushrooms, pizza sauce, tomato paste, oregano and let it simmer. Add the pasta to the sauce and stir it into the meat sauce. Remove the casserole pot from the heat, using oven mitts and place on a cast iron trivet to avoid burning your counter-top. Cover pasta completely with mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheeses and then place the pepperoni slices on top of the cheese.

Place the cast iron casserole dish or dutch oven in the oven and allow to bake for 25-30 minutes. Remove the pizza casserole from oven and allow to cool. This Italian dish will serve 12-14, making it perfect for a holiday dinner side dish or even the main course. And stay tuned for more great dishes from your cast iron cookware experts at Iron Pots Depot.

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