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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Filed under: camp pots, camp side cooking, campfire cooking, camping, campside cooking, cast iron, cast iron cookware, cast iron pots, cookware, dutch oven, skillet, skillets, Uncategorized | Tags: camp side cooking, campfire cooking, camping, cast iron, cast iron camp pot, cast iron cookware, cast iron dutch oven, cast iron seasoning, cast iron skillet, outdoor cooking, seasoned cast iron cookware
Well, it is definitely that time of year again. The leaves are starting to fall, football season is in full swing and everybody is itching to break out their tents and sleeping bags for a relaxing weekend under the stars.
If your like me – and I’m sure many of you are – the greatest part about a weekend camping trip is the cooking. When you’ve spent all day hiking, throwing horse shoes and playing hide and seek with the kids, there is nothing better than the taste of a hearty stew or some steak and eggs cooked to perfection in your favorite piece of cast iron cookware.
As you know, cast iron cookware is available in a variety of styles, each with their own, unique place when it comes to campfire cooking. Depending on the length of your camping trip and how much cooking you are planning on doing – in my case, a lot – you will need to decide what types of cast iron cookware you will want to bring along.
- Cast Iron Skillets – When camping, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who didn’t absolutely love their cast iron skillet. Whether you are preparing pancakes for breakfast or a some loose meat sandwiches for the evening meal, the cast iron skillet is a favorite of campers everywhere.
- Cast Iron Camp Pots – Cast Iron camp pots are the ultimate in outdoor cookware. For anyone who loves outdoor cooking, the camp pot is probably the most important cooking vessel in your cast iron arsenal. And they don’t call them ovens for the heck of it – Most quality cast iron camp pots will have feet on the bottom for sitting over hot coals or wood and a flat lid which will allow the camp side chef to put hot coals on the lid, allowing the food to cook more evenly from the top and bottom – very similar to your conventional oven at home.
- Cast Iron Dutch Ovens – Very similar to the cast iron cam pot, the cast iron dutch oven allows you to cook large meals for the whole family. Quality dutch ovens will usually have a reversible lid which will allow the cook to turn it over to place coals for oven-style cooking and a sturdy handle for hanging the dutch oven over the fire for slow roasting.
- Cast Iron Jambalaya Pots – Down here in Cajun country, we love our jambalaya. Jambalaya pots and stands are the perfect way to prepare a huge pot of jambalaya or gumbo – allowing it to slowly simmer over the course of a few hours.
The most important thing to remember when cap side cooking is to plan ahead. Make sure you have enough food for the meals you plan so you don’t have to make any special runs to the nearest store, which will probably be overpriced and prepare an area to place th hot cast iron once you are done cooking – the last thing you want to do is end up being the poster child for preventing forest fires.
Safety is key when cooking with cast iron – both around the campfire and in your home. It is important to remember that cast iron cookware gets HOT – take precautions and keep small children away from the fire and the skillet once the eggs are ready. Some of the things you should consider when cooking by campfire include:
- Season your cookware – Before heading out to the campsite, make sure your cast iron cookware is properly seasoned. If you regularly cook with your trusty cast iron dutch oven, there is no reason it shouldn’t be, but if you notice any rusty areas or are just a little unsure, follow the steps in my previous blog, Cast Iron Seasoning.
- Don’t rush cooking – Wait for the fire to burn into a bed of coals before cooking. Not only will the coals be hotter, but you will have less of a chance of getting singed by the flame.
- Wear the right clothes – Avoid loose clothing that could fall into the heat and catch fire while you are cooking or could catch on the handle of a skillet or pan.
- Put out the heat – Once your food is prepared, make sure to put out the coals and ensure that everyone is aware of the danger so they do not step on a stray hot area.
- Be prepared – Have some water, a shovel and an ash container in case of an emergency where you will need to extinguish the flame.
When done properly, camping and outdoor cooking is one of the greatest experiences in the world. Not only will cooking with cast iron over a campfire allow you to make one of the most delicious meals your family has ever tasted, but it will get them away from the television where you can spend some true quality time. So, grab the tent, the sweatshirts and that trusty seasoned cast iron cookware and get your family in touch with nature!
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Filed under: cast iron, cast iron cookware, cast iron pots, cookware | Tags: Add new tag, cast iron, cast iron cookware, cast iron pans, cast iron seasoning, cast iron skillet, seasoned cast iron
Let’s face it – cast iron cookware is just plain different. How many people do you know that have a stainless steel or aluminum pan from the 1800’s. Cast iron cookware is made to last forever when properly cared for and because it cooks so evenly and allows the home chef to cook more healthily due to the lack of need for butter and oils, it’s easy to see why cast iron is proudly passed from one generation to the next.
Unlike most other types of kitchen cookware, cast iron skillets and dutch ovens also require a little bit of care before you start making your world-famous chili or frying bacon. Whether you just purchased a brand new cast iron camp pot or your great grandmother’s cast iron skillet has seen better days, you’re going to need to season it before you cook.
Contrary to some peoples’ feelings, seasoning cast iron is not only easy, it can also be fun. When seasoning cast iron, you should not think of it as a time consuming pain, but an investment in your kitchen cookware’s longevity and your health.
Seasoning cast iron only requires a few, simple steps:
- Ready your cast iron. Even if grandma’s cast iron has taken on the red hue of rust, it is still salvageable. This is because cast iron cookware will last FOREVER. Heat your cast iron cookware to a temperature that is still safe to touch and then use steel wool and hot water to thuroughly clean it – removing any traces of food and rust. After washing the cast iron cookware, dry it thuroughly to avoid any further rust buildup before the seasoning begins.
- Preheat your oven. For the seasoning process to take, your oven will need to be preheated to between 250 and 300 degrees.
- Coat your cast iron. Use either lard or bacon grease to completely coat your cast iron pan. Avoid using any liquid oils as they will leave your cast iron’s surface feeling sticky and may not season properly.
- Bake for 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes, remove the cast iron from the oven and pour out any grease that has built up and pooled in the bottom of the cookware. Make sure to use an oven mitt to remove the cast iron as it will be very hot.
- Let it SeasonAllow the cast iron cookware to bake for at least 2 hours. This will allow the grease to fill the holes and pores and become completely baked in.
To ensure that the seasoning process takes completely, you may want to repeat the process several times. The beauty of cast iron is that if the cookware begins to rust or your food begins to stick at any time, all you have to do is repeat the seasoning process – saving you not only the money of having to buy new kitchen cookware, but also the time of running to the store and choosing a high priced skillet or casserole dish.
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