Cast iron, the cookware of gods and cowboys!

I have a lot of cast iron cookware and use it all the time. Unfortunately not everyone cooks with cast iron because they don't know how to use it right or they are creeped out by the fact you can't wash it with soap. I love cast iron because it cooks evenly and you can get a cast iron pan way hotter than a normal on so you can get a great sear on meat! Also, and bacteria that may be on it from your last dish you cooked in it will die as soon as you eat u the skillet. It's also a budget friendly set of cookware, you can find deals on them all the time. Even the name brand Lodge ones are inexpensive, my biggest skillet cost me a little over $35 and since I take care of it, i will be able to pass it down to my children and they can pass it to theirs (if they take care of it). Some people have cast iron skillets that are pushing 80+ years old because they have been taken care of and passed down from generation to generation.

So I thought I would give a few tips on how to season and care for your cast iron so it will last.

First things first NEVER wash your cast iron with soap! Soap will do nothing but wash away the flavor and seasoning in the pan. Second even if you buy one that says "pre- seasoned", season it yourself! Third you can never have too many cast iron pans, I currently have 5:
12" skillet
6" skillet
8" chicken fryer skillet
10" square gill pan
6" segmented corn bread skillet

I use all but the last 2 (they are new) all the time!

So there is one way to season a cast iron pan but there are a few things to season it with. I personally use shortening but some people use bacon grease, lard, or vegetable oil (i don't recommend veg. oil because it smokes). No matter what you use seasoning is still done the same way.

First pre-heat your oven to 400.

Then you wipe shortening (or your grease of choice) all over the pan inside and out.

Then you pop them into the oven for 60 or so minutes. That's all there s too it!

As for cleaning your cast iron, I normally do it right after we have finished eating. Just drain everything out of the skillet weather it be oil from frying or just meat drippings. Then I put it under VERY hot water and take a stiff brush and gently scrub and chunks left from cooking then I rinse it really well with hot water. Make sure you dry it IMMEDIATELY because if not it will rust! Then before you put it away you want to coat it with a thin layer of shortening again inside and out. Make sure if you store them nested to put paper towels or something between them. I personally have mine hung on the wall in my dining room the make for great useful decor in a country themed kitchen or dining room.

So it's been a while...

Well let me start off by saying Happy New Year! I haven't blogged in so long partly because of the Holidays and part because I have been lazy lol. So I'm baaaack! Not much has changed I do have a new obsession though it's a little thing called Pintrest! I was a little late to the party with that one but I have sure made up for it! I have been pinning my little heart away new recipes, crafts, garden ideas, kids stuff for the kids I don't have, and boy oh boy is my husband in trouble with my "Dream Home" pin board! If we ever build a house I know what my dream kitchen, pantry, craft room, bathroom and laundry room look like, as far as I'm concerned those are the only rooms you need in a house anyway! As for Pintrest though it inspired me to make a monthly menu for our dinners as a family. Boy did I underestimate how frustrating that would be, trying not to make chicken 2 nights in a row and trying to find 30 different meals that I could carry over ingredients with so I'm not wasting as much as we normally do. Ugh. Me and my ideas! Well it only took like a week and I have a rough draft written up for February (with a few days missing) my only rules going into this project were:

1. I will not be cooking dinner for 30 days in a row. My brain and cookware need breaks!
2. The 2nd Monday of each month will be a Traditions night. (MMMM all you care to eat fried chicken, it's the best chicken in the whole world!)
3. Every other Wednesday will be a meatless meal. (Considering I'm not a veggie person this one wasn't thought through long enough)
4. Every other Thursday is a meal we can get from a Drive-thru. (I need French Fries to live.)
5. Every other Friday will be a fish dish.
6. Try not to repeat dishes.

I thought that would be simple! HA! I was soooo wrong. So far my "meatless" meals consist of carbs and cheese. We would be better off with meat! lol So as of right now my menu is as follows (note how many recipes come from Pintrest):

1. Crock Pot Honey Balsamic pulled pork with onion straws <Pintrest
2. Take-out
3. Tequila Lime crusted Tilapia and french fries
4. Crock Pot Ranch Pork Chops with Parmesan Mashed Potatoes <Pintrest
5. SUPER BOWL (I'm making mini food to snack on) <Pintrest
6. TRADITIONS!!!!
7. Steak with Whiskey Cream Sauce and Smashed potatoes with Garlic Aioli
8. Penne with Roasted Asparagus and Balsamic Butter Sauce <Pintrest
9. Breakfast for Dinner (anything goes!)
10. Taco Ring <Pintrest
11. Crusted Chicken with Pasta and Garlic Bread
12. Cider Braised Beef with Mashed Potatoes and Cider Gravy
13. Potato Cakes made with leftover Beef^
14. Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken with Brown Rice <Pintrest
15. Over Fried Buttermilk Chicken with Cauliflower pancakes
16. Take Out
17. Crusted Fish with Mashed Potatoes
18. Spicy Whiskey BBQ Sliders with Onion Straws and Rings
19. Pasta
20. Chinese Take Out
21. ?????
22. Mac and Cheese Cauliflower Bake <Pintrest
23. ?????
24. Homemade Burgers and Fries
25. ?????
26. ?????
27. Double Bacon Cheese Burgers with Maple Worcestershire Onions and Onion Rings
28. MY BIRTHDAY!!!!! ?????
29. ?????

So there it is...the reason I have a bald spot from pulling my hair out! Anything recipes I use from Pintrest I will have a link at the bottom of the post so you can find the original recipe, I don't want to take any credit for something I didn't come up with. :)