Cast Iron

As you know, I’m a huge fan of cast iron and, for the most part, it’s all I use for cooking, other than a few sauce pans and the Instant Pot. Vince always wants me to cook eggs in those horrible little non-stick fry pans. I cannot cook an egg in those. They stick every time. Give me a cast iron skillet and I can cook eggs all day and you’d never know anything was cooked in the skillet . . no scorching, no residue.

I have quite a few bread pans, some cheap and poor quality, some expensive and not so great either, some I don’t mind using but it’s the cast iron pan I always use first if it’s handy (that means .. if I can find it!)

Today when I was making bread, I thought . . I should have two of these because it’s fairly often I’m making two loaves of bread – either one to give away or two for us or a load of plain bread and a loaf of cinnamon swirl bread so I went to Amazon, then I looked at Walmart, then I went to Lodge.

Only through today (10/28) there’s a code (FALLBAKING) to get 20% off baking items. They also have free shipping on orders over $59.

I got the bread pan but I also got a couple of other things. Vince keeps asking what I want for Christmas and then when I think of something, he says “Just get it and wrap it!” Oh . . that’s fun and very exciting and takes so much thought! 🙂

So, I said . . I know what I want! Cast iron! He said “Fine, get it!” So I did.

I got the 9″ pie pan. Actually, I almost always use a 9″ skillet – just a regular cast iron skillet, for my pies but now I’ll have an official cast iron pie pan.

Also, I have a couple of 9 x 13 glass baking dishes for casseroles and the ones I have are so scratched up. I guess it’s the years of use because I don’t know what I do that scratches them. We don’t use knives or metal spatulas in the glass or metal baking dishes but every time I use one, I say “I’m going to get rid of that and get a new one” and I never do.

Also, I had a couple of 9 x 13 metal cake pans and they were scratched up. One was beginning to peel . . whatever the coating was started coming off so I tossed it. Chad is so crazy about cast iron. At least this is something he’ll keep when I’m gone . . not that I buy the things I think he’ll like but it is nice to know he’ll appreciate something I leave behind . . it will NOT be silk floss or linen fabric!

I don’t think I’ve shared this story. When they all spent the night here a few weeks ago, Chad had a splinter – two splinters in his hand. I had Prid but he wanted Tweezers. I got them for him. Then he wanted a sharp pin or a needle. I got both for him. Seems like there was something else he asked for and I got that.

After the finally got the splinters out (they were kinda stuck in callouses), he asked for Peroxide. He followed me into our bathroom and yes, there’s stuff everywhere on the counter. He used the Peroxide, put it down and then very “sarcastically Chad” said “Did I put that in the right place? It isn’t in your way, is it?” I gave him a look that I hope he understood to mean “Mind your own business!” He said “I need to come over here and help you organize.” I told him “Chad, you asked for at least four things and I went right to each of them, found them without hesitation. You don’t worry about my “stuff”!”

Then I remembered my mom’s kitchen. Mom never had a lot of kitchen gadgets and junk like I have but the kitchen was never her favorite place to hang out. Mom is not big on clutter where I want everything I see that looks like it would be fun to use. And if one is good, two is better! Mom never cooked a lot and she used the same basic ingredients. I’m sure she’s never had a can of black olives or a can of anchovies, or a tube of goat cheese or even brie in her house. She had a nice, big kitchen but nothing was where someone who cooks a lot would put it. The drinking glasses were by the stove. The measuring cups were stuck in the back of the pantry. The spices were way over by the fridge. Back when I would visit their house, I’d do most of the cooking when I was there and I’d tell her “When you’re not watching, I’m re-arranging this kitchen.” Of course, I was joking but it would make her so mad. YOU STAY OUT OF MY KITCHEN! She would tell me . . it’s just the way I want it.

So, I guess Chad wanting to organize my bathroom is no worse than my threatening to re-arrange mom’s kitchen.