Sunday, November 4, 2012

Cast Iron

I cook in Cast Iron often. I set up my fireplace in the winter so I can cook in it. Here are some photos of my collection of cast iron.
Some of the other photos include our Enameled Cast Iron Stove that we use as a kitchen island, a Model T wheel from my father in law that we use to hang cooking utensils for cooking outdoors ( I had a local Blacksmith make hooks to hang everything). Food seems to taste better when cooked in cast iron!
When you first get a piece wash it in very hot soapy water. Dry it with a cotton towel, put it on a Medium High heat burner for a couple of minutes to allow it to dry completely. Use a paper towel, still on the heat and rub it thoroughly with a small coating of Vegetable Oil. NEVER SEASON IT WITH OLIVE OIL!  NEVER COOK WITH OLIVE OIL. My motto is EAT OLIVE OIL, COOK WITH VEGETABLE OIL. Drizzle Olive Oil on prepared Pasta, in Salad Dressings, of Garlic Toast and Croutons.....etc. Oil used to re season Cast Iron will get rancid during non use. If you cook something, only use Vegetable Oil. If anything crusty stays in the skillet I clean it with Sea Salt and a bit of Vegetable Oil. I place it back on the heat with  a small layer of water and boil it to loosen particles, scraping with a Metal Spatula,  and repeat the salt and oil process. All of my pieces are virtually non stick. I don't let anyone else clean them. I have been able to completely restore damaged pieces too. I may have to sand some rust spots on vintage pieces and then re season them.














Saturday, November 3, 2012

Provence

Anne and I have very good friends, Irene and Jean, that live in Provence, France. We also spend time with their children in Valensole and Paris.  We have visited them many times since 1996. I actually met the family for the first time in 1988. They have also traveled to Texas to stay with us. We eat well when we are with them in France. The French are passionate about their cooking and Irene is an excellent cook. I just spoke to her today, to get permission to publish some of her recipes that we have enjoyed over the years. I will certainly let everyone know when I am talking about her recipes. Thank you Irene for creating some of the best meals that we have ever experienced in France.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Soufflé Aux Pommes de Terre

The first recipe I chose from my Aunt's collection is :
Soufflé Aux Pommes de Terre

I was surprised to find a French Recipe in my Aunt's collection.
I knew she cooked for a fairly wealthy family and now I see that
they ate quite well.
I speak French, I began traveling to France in 1970.
We have returned to France many, many times, it's our vacation destination,
and we have friends throughout France.
It's possible that the connection between my love of cooking and my
love of France may very well have been influenced by Aunt Faye.

Soufflé Aux Pommes de Terre:
Add 1/2 C Cream to 2 C Mashed Potatoes -
Salt & Nutmeg.
Cook over low heat until very hot.
Remove from heat - add 2 TBS grated Parmesan or Swiss
Cheese.
Add 3 beaten Egg Yolks - one at a time beating well after each addition.
Cool - then fold in 4 well beaten Egg Whites.
Fill Buttered Baking Dish to 3/4 full and bake 375 degrees for 30 - 35 min.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Family Photos




These are a few of the items that I received from relatives. It's just a sample of the recipes that my aunt collected. I included some family photographs just for the heck of it. The picture of the woman with the Collie puppy is Aunt Faye! When she wasn't in the kitchen, she was raising some amazing show Collies. The picture of the covered bridge and Faye at the table is a memory of visiting them on the farm for the Holidays and the elegant table that she set. I threw in the family photograph of myself with my sister and our parents, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. My other obsession is Christmas!
Today, I received the second package of information about my aunt that I spoke of previously. I'll begin posting pictures and recipes soon. In the meantime, keep cooking and enjoy , Peace in the Kitchen!


I wanted to share some of my pieces of enameled cast iron cookware. I follow a cast iron cookware page on Face Book and we all share pictures of our cookware and what we're cooking in cast iron.

Thursday, November 1, 2012