Cast ern Skillet

For those of you who talk to me in real life - you have may already heard how much I LOVE MY CAST IRON SKILLET!
I cook in that thing almost every single day!

So - 10 Reasons that you need to get one of these beauties.

1.  It's American made - of Iron.  (I'm not sure that all are made in the USA, so make sure to double check)  It is always good to support the U S of A when purchasing products.

2.  You can scratch the shit out of it with a metal spatula without ruining it or worrying about ingesting some weird plastic non-stick stuff.

3.  It's NONSTICK.  If seasoned correctly.  There are several different ways to 'season' a cast iron skillet - just take a look on Pinterest.  I rubbed a thin layer of lard (yes, I said lard) all over it and baked it for a few hours at 250 degrees.  It works.

4.  You can use it as a grill if you live in an apartment on the 2nd floor where grills aren't allowed and everything you own is in storage 1,000 miles away including your grill.

5.  You don't need soap to clean.
 
6.  You can cook on the cooktop and then throw in the oven.  (be careful because the handle gets HOT)

7.  You can cook anything from desserts to steak to eggs to pancakes in this thing.

8.  Can't really think of anything else....maybe it would make a good door stop....

9.  Still can't think of anything else - except I really liked buying lard and have re-seasoned it a few times.

10.  You feel like an old cowpoke on the range when you cook on it.

This past weekend I made a recipe from the 'Tasty Kitchen Blog' called Greek Roasted Shrimp with Olives and Feta and it was delish!  You can subscribe to that blog on www.tastykitchen.com

It turned out really good - definitely check out that website if you have a chance.  She posts a TON of great recipes.  Most are not super healthy (as in low fat - primal - paleo - clean, etc) but all are SUPER GOOD!  I can usually find a way to change them up to suit my eating needs.  (for example this one above was all clean ingredients and I skipped the bread crumbs that it called for) 

Zee porka chopa.  We had a Pork Chop in NYC at the Tribecca Grill that I absolutely cannot stop thinking about.  So...I tried to re-create it the other night.  It wasn't nearly as good, but look at these big sumbitches!  I went into a meat coma that night.  Best.night.of.my.life. 

I've also been really into roasting beets lately.  They are really hearty and good and work well on Meatless Monday.

This is just a small sampling of what I have been cooking on this beauty.  I dont think I have used any other of my pans in several months!  I've even made a couple of desserts in this bad-boy!

Definitely worth a try!  They are great and you will feel all rustic and outdoorsy-like when you cook with one!  Kind of like camping in your kitchen - without having to deal with the grizzly bears, cold, no showers, bugs, etc.

Enjoy your day!