Filed under: bakeware, camping, cast iron, cast iron cookware, cast iron pots, cast iron seasoning, cookware, seasoned, skillet, skillets | Tags: bakeware, cast iron, cast iron care, cast iron cookware, cast iron skillet, dutch oven, seasoning, skillet
I was thinking about this old cast iron skillet that I have sitting on the back burner of my stove top. Out of all of the cookware I have in my home, this is by far the most used piece I own. In fact, if something were to happen to this trusty old skillet, I may honestly get a bit teary-eyed.
You may even go as far as to say that I like this piece of cast iron cookware more than I do some people.
You see, unlike people or even most animals, you can expect cast iron to stick around for the long haul. My trusty old skillet has been camping with me, helped me prepare a wide variety of meals when I entertain, which are always a hit, and even been loaned out to family and friends when they are in need of a piece of cookware that will add that extra something to a meal. And my trusty old skillet always returns, and usually in better shape than when it left.
This is why I am so upset that I have done wrong by my friend, the skillet.
You see, last night we had some vicious thunderstorms move through the area, and I thought that I would enjoy listening to them as I lay in my bed last night.
And so, I left some windows open.
What I woke to was a scene that, if skillets were human and cast iron wasn’t so resilient, would have been dubbed involuntary manslaughter.
The humidity had caused said skillet to form a light layer of rust, which would mean the end to any other piece of kitchen cookware.
But not my friend, the skillet.
Today when I return home I will simply wash my cast iron skillet with soap water and some steel wool and then repeat the seasoning process. And then my friend will be good as new, having survived an assault that would have meant the (gulps) landfill for a lesser kitchen accessory.
So, dear readers, raise your trusty cast iron skillets, dutch ovens or bakeware high and give them the respect they deserve.
Our trusty allies in the battle for decent meals…Cast Iron Cookware.
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Filed under: bakeware, casserole pots, cast iron, cast iron cookware, cast iron pots, dutch oven, holiday cooking, skillet, skillets | Tags: caaserole pots, cast iron cookware, cast iron dutch ovens, cast iron skillets, cats iron casserole dish, christmas dinner, dutch ovens, family dinner, holiday, holiday dinner, pizza casserole
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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Filed under: bakeware, cast iron, cast iron cookware, cast iron pots, cookware, dutch oven, enamel lodge skillet, skillet, skillets | Tags: cast iron bakeware, cast iron casserole dish, cast iron cookware, cast iron cornbread pan, cast iron cornbread pans, cast iron dutch ovens, cast iron skillets, christmas shopping, holiday cooking, holiday shopping
With Thanksgiving only a couple of days away, most of us are dreadfully looking about 16 hours past the end of the dinner towards the official start of…
The Christmas Shopping Season.
If you’re like me, and I have a feeling that many of you are, while the masses rush the glass doors of their favorite local retailer – knocking over shopping carts, displays and small children as they sprint towards the half-price Hannah Montana play set – you will be snuggled up under the covers waiting for the afternoon news so you can hear about yet another riot over a small, stuffed creature.
Take a deep breath, sit back and relax.
Holiday shopping has gotten easier. Whether you are looking for toys for the children, a new gas grill for dad or an HDTV for the whole family, you can find everything you are looking for online.
If you have a chef in the family, one of the best gifts to consider is the highly durable and versatile cast iron cookware. Cast iron dutch ovens, skillets and bakware have been a favorite in kitchens around the world for hundreds of years and its popularity continues to grow.
But why wait until Christmas?
If you’re planning a large Holiday dinner for the family or even an intimate meal for the two of you, cast iron cookware is the perfect choice for your Holiday meal preparation. But if you’re planning on cooking with quality cast iron, you may want to get started early…
While cooking some delicious cobbler or some juicy steaks on a new cast iron casserole pot or griddle is sure to taste better than any other type of cookware, there is truly nothing better than a well-seasoned and well-used piece of cast iron cookware for your food’s flavor. And if you’re looking for the perfect compliment to your holiday meal, no dinner is complete without some mouth-watering cornbread prepared in fun, cornbread-shaped cornbread pans.
Whatever your holiday plans may be, save yourself the hassle of bumper to bumper traffic and adrenaline-filled holiday shoppers this shopping season and purchase all of your holiday gifts online. With no wait shopping, easy checkouts and front-door delivery, online shopping is the perfect way to buy cast iron cookware and any other gift ideas for your family and friends.
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Filed under: bakeware, cast iron, cast iron cookware, cast iron pots, cookware, dutch oven, holiday cooking, skillet, skillets, thanksgiving, thanksgiving cooking | Tags: cast iron bakeware, cast iron baking, cast iron casserole dish, cast iron casserole pots, cast iron cooking, cast iron cookware, cast iron cornbread pan, cast iron cornbread pans, cast iron dutch oven, cast iron sillets, cast iron skillet, cooking with cast iorn, cooking with cast iron cookware, cornbread, cornbread pans, dutch oven, thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day
In our second installment of creating the perfect Thanksgiving dinner with your cast iron cookware we are going to move past the desert table and focus on one of the most overlooked (and delicious) aspects of any Thanksgiving meal.
The cornbread.
Sweet, delectable cornbread. Cooked to perfection in a cast iron cornbread pan or even your trusty cast iron skillet.
Whether your Thanksgiving is centered around a turkey, ham or pizza, cornbread is the ideal side for your Thanksgiving feast. (Well, maybe not pizza, but who has pizza for Thanksgiving dinner?)
Cornbread in the united States is older than the first settlers, which may be why it has become a staple on so many Thanksgiving Day tables. Native Americans knew early how to dry and grind the corn, which as anyone who has driven across our country knows is very abundant, into corn meal. By adding eggs and flour, the basic cornbread could be made.
Fast forward to modern times.
Cornbread is still a very popular because of its versatility to go with almost any meal. It has become a staple at most major American holidays, including Thanksgiving. There are several recipes to make cornbread but we are going to focus on one that is truly simple and delicious.
Depending on how fancy you want your Thanksgiving feast to look, you may want to invest in some cast iron bakeware. You can even find cast iron cornbread pans that allow you to cook your cornbread in fun, corn ear shapes. However, you can bake your cornbread in basically any piece of cast iron cookware you own, such as a dutch oven, skillet or even a casserole dish.
No matter what piece of cast iron you use to cook the cornbread, it is sure to be one of the hits of your Thanksgiving Day table.
Cornbread Ingredients:
- Eggs – 2 (Beaten)
- Cornmeal – 1 1/2 Cups
- Milk – 1 1/4 Cup
- Flour – 1 Cup
- Vegetable oil – 1/2 Cu
- Salt – 1 1/4 Tsp
- Baking powder – 1 Tbsp
- Granulated Sugar – 2 Tsp
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Mix the milk and corn meal together an let sit for at least ten minutes. Combine the baking powder, salt flour and the sugar into one bowl and set it aside. Add the eggs, corn meal mix and oil into a large cast iron skillet and mix together on low heat. Pour the flour, salt and sugar mixture into the wet corn meal mixture and mix thoroughly until there is no trace of white powder. Finally pour the mixture into your cast iron cornbread pan (or leave it in the skillet if you are using that for baking) and place it in your preheated oven. Allow to bake for 25-30 minutes or until your cornbread is golden and has no trace of wet mixture when poked with a fork.
For best results, use plenty of butter and don’t worry about the calories.
It is Thanksgiving Day after all.
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Filed under: bakeware, cast iron, cast iron cookware, cast iron pots, cookware, dutch oven, skillet, skillets | Tags: cast iron, cast iron bakeware, cast iron cooking, cast iron cookware, cast iron dutch ovens, cast iron skillet, cast iron skillets, thanksgiving, thanksgiving dessert
Definition:
Thanksgiving – A day to spend with your family and give thanks for all that you have been blesses with throughout the year and your life in general. A day to reflect on everything that is good in your life and give thanks for your freedom and maybe even remember those that have passed on.
Definition:
Turkey Day – A day to sit in front of the television and gorge yourself on a variety of delicious foods that you would normally chastise others for even attempting to stick in their mouths. A day to give thanks for modern inventions, such as the television remote because you ate way too much to even consider moving.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner many of you may already be thinking about what kinds of delicacies you will be preparing for your family and friends. While the true meaning of thanksgiving is to be thankful for all that you have, we all know that you have ulterior motives – to show up the competition with your fantastic cooking prowess.
Give Thanks for Cast Iron
Cast Iron cookware has been a favorite in kitchens throughout the world for centuries and for good reason. Cast iron dutch ovens, casserole dishes and bakeware is much more durable than other types of cookware and can be passed down through the generations – offering a conversation piece at the dinner table as well as delicious meals.
If you’re looking for a mouth-watering dessert that will have your guests coming back for seconds and begging for thirds than grab your cast iron skillet and take note:
The Cobbler
Cobblers have been a dessert favorite in America since the first settlers arrived on its shores. Looking to create their favorite recipes, many settlers could not find the proper ingredients. Being the innovative culinary connoisseurs that they were, they began to use whatever seasonal fruits were available. Without the luxury of a brick oven where they could make traditional pies, the settlers would cooks would make their fruit dishes in cast iron pots (which was usually all they had) over an open fire and then place a thin layer of dough over the top – and the cobbler – or slump or grunt, as it was known – was born.
And cast iron is still the best type of cookware for cobblers today.
Thanksgiving Skillet Cobbler
A well-seasoned cast iron skillet will allow you to cook your Thanksgiving cobbler or any other meal without the need for additional butters or oils to keep your cobbler from sticking- making your favorite desserts healthier and more natural tasting. Cobblers can be made with any variety of fruit fillings – from the ever popular cherry and apple – to the should be a fruit: rhubarb. With the following easy recipe for your cast iron skillet you can use any type of filling you want, but I’m going with my all-time favorite. The blueberry.
Ingredients:
- Blueberry Filling – 1 Can
- Real Butter – 1 Stick (4 ounces)
- Milk – 1/2 Cup
- Sugar – 1 1/2 Cups
- Baking Powder – 2 TBSP
- Flour – 1 Cup
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a 12 inch cast iron skillet, melt the butter and add 1/2 cup of sugar along with the can of blueberry pie filling. Combine the remaining ingredients in a separate dish and mix them thoroughly. Pour the ingredients over the pie filling and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until the topping has browned. Turn off your oven and leave the cobbler in the hot oven until the topping has turned crusty.
Thanksgiving skillet cobbler is best when served hot with a side of your favorite ice cream. The beauty of your cast iron skillet is that it will cook your cobbler more evenly and lessen your chances of burning what is truly a mouth-watering dessert. Remember that cast iron retains heat better than all other types of cookware so use caution when grabbing the handle even after it has been removed from the oven.
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