Home
Our Project Pages
Lo Gap Woodworks

Natural
Healing

Back
to
Basics
Do
It
Yourself
BWL Blog
Links
Disclaimer:  All information on this site is for informational purposes only.  Before using any alternative remedy, begin any new exercise routine or otherwise start trying any of the recipes included on these pages, check with your primary health provider.  Many herbs, foods, and exercises can conflict with medications you are taking or have unknown side effects.
All Pages
Copyright
2005 - 2007
by
Kat and Kevin Yares

Use of any of these works without written
permission
is prohibited by law.
Cast Iron Makes a Comeback

I've got to admit that while watching PBS's America's Test Kitchen the other week, I had to giggle when Chris Kimball admitted that they had switched to using cast iron for all of their 'non-stick' cooking needs.  Heck, I've know since I first inherited my grandmother's skillet that nothing beats well seasoned cast iron for cooking.

That first skillet, which my grandmother claimed (and I have no reason to doubt) belonged to her mother, has traveled all around the country with me.  It is used exclusively for frying eggs.  Why?  I don't know, but that's what my grandmother used it for and it seems almost sacrilegious to put anything else in it today.

Over the years, I've collected numerous other pieces of cast iron cookware.  From cornpone pans to Dutch ovens, we've probably own at least fifty different pieces.  Heck, we even received a Dutch oven for a wedding present.  One of the first things Kevin and I purchased together at an auction was a 22 gallon cast iron cauldron.  In it, we've cooked everything from chili for a crowd to freshly butchered chickens.

This spring we made the decision to finally complete our collection.  After searching for hours online to find the best prices, we made a list and now have almost the complete line.  Our latest was the two burner griddle.  Something I really could have used when all the kids were at home, but never could find affordable.

Before we went online, we looked around locally.  The local flea markets were outrageous on their prices and what little is sold in the stores lacked the quality of the old fashioned cookware we were used too.  We wanted heavy duty and we wanted Made in the USA.  So, we decided on Lodge.  They've been in business for over a century and they still do their own castings.

Prices varied around the net, with Lodge themselves being one of the most expensive.  We finally settled on Carolina Rustica (carolinarustica) and I can say that not only do they have the lowest prices; they also offer the fastest shipping I've ever seen.  We placed our order on a Sunday (and got a very personable thank you from them the same day) and got our first order on Thursday.  And there was a holiday on Wednesday.

Anyhow, I'm done now.  We have all we need for our lifetime and probably our children's also.  I know our oldest daughter will get my grandmother's egg skillet once we're gone, but the rest of it - well, the kid's will have to fight that one out for themselves.