Cast Iron Cookware

If you don't have a cast iron skillet, I strongly urge you to get one.  Cast iron cooks evenly, holds the heat, and is as effective as any non-stick pan you've ever used, if seasoned properly.

 

To season cast iron, wipe it down with cooking oil and bake in the oven until the oil has hardened.  You'll need to do this a few times before it turns black like this one and is seasoned and becomes non-stick.  Preseasoned pans can be purchased.

 

Cast iron is good for cooking all sorts of things from your morning eggs to fried chicken, any kind of meat, and of course, for baking cornbread.  You can use it on a grill or campfire, so it's good to have on hand in case the power goes out or if you are a camper.

 

A good seasoned cast iron skillet or pan is so highly prized they are passed down from generation to generation.

 

You'll see different ways to preserve the seasoning on these beauties.  Some say water should never touch cast iron.  These people say to wipe them out with a paper towel.  I've used cast iron for years and have no problem wiping them out with a damp sponge and rinsing under hot water.  Some people dry them with a paper towel, and that's fine.  My method is put the skillet on the stove burner and turn it on.  Any residual grease will cook onto the pan, maintaining the seasoning.

 

If something should stick on the pan, put a tablespoon of oil and a tablespoon of salt in the pan and scrub the stuck bits loose with a paper towel.  Rinse and wipe dry.

 

I personally never cook eggs in my cast iron skillet, but opt for a non-stick pan.  My grandmothers cooked eggs every morning in theirs, but first they cooked the bacon and then the eggs, sloshing the bacon grease over the tops of the eggs to cook them.  I almost never cook bacon and the eggs, being particularly "sticky" would have a tendency to stick without all that grease.

 

If something you cook does stick and you end up scrubbing the skillet, you may be concerned that you've scrubbed off the seasoning.  You can reseason by rubbing the inside with some cooking oil and baking in the oven or cooking the empty skillet on the stove top. 

 

You want to avoid letting water stay on the pan at all costs.  This will cause rust.  Take care of your skillet and it will serve up delicious meals for many years to come.

 

 

 

 

Keeping Food Fresh

There are many food saver appliances and gadgets available and they all work.  I purchased this one some time ago and just recently decided to use it, mainly because my daughter in law has something similar and was raving about it keeping the lettuce fresh.

This one from Ziplock is about as simple and inexpensive as it gets.  I paid around $8 for the vacuum and the bags are about the same price as regular zip lock bags, but they have a circle where you put the vacuum to suck out the air around the food inside.  The pump looks a little like a tiny bicycle pump, only instead of pumping the air into the bag, it sucks it out.  The first few pumps may not look like it is working, but suddenly, the bag tightens around the food. 

 

 

Here is a piece of an onion that I used the vacuum pump to remove the air from a saver bag.  The bag is so tight around the onion, you can even see the layers.  This keeps the air from spoiling the onion and keeps it moist. 

 

So when your kids just eat half an apple, you can save the other half for later.  These would also be good for storing dried foods that you've dried in a dehydrator, or that half a box of raisins that are drying out in the pantry. 

 

Unlike food systems that melt the plastic to seal them, these bags have the regular plastic zipper, so if you need to be extra frugal, you can rinse them out and reuse them because you don't have to cut them open.  I can think of tons of uses for these space saving and preserving vacuum bags.  Since air makes cut apples and avocado turn dark, this should prevent that problem too.  I'll be testing that theory soon. 

September is National Sewing Month

September is National Sewing Month, which means you'll be able to find some great deals on sewing machines, fabrics, patterns, and notions. 

 

I mention this, because sewing is a great skill to have!  When times get tough, you can alter clothing, make clothing and household items from scratch, and repair clothing for your family.

 

I'll be showing some easy projects for everyone to see as we go along.  If you don't have a sewing machine, I recommend one with a back stitch to tie ends, zig-zag to finish edges, straight stitch, and separate feet for darning, zipper foot, and basic foot at least.  In addition, you'll need a good pair of sewing scissors (not to be used for anything else), thimble, machine needles, a variety of thread, pins, hem gauge, seam ripper, and measuring tape.  These are the very basics and as you learn and expand your sewing repertoire, you'll probably need additional things for different projects.

 

If you have been sewing all along, you probably have a stash of fabrics and patterns purchased along the way that you haven't gotten to.  Most seamstresses buy things on sale or with the intention of making clothing.  When lean times hit, my stash has gotten me through more than once.  It's so nice if you can't afford to go to the mall, to be able to sort through your fabrics and make a unique new item to perk up your wardrobe. 

 

Over the years, I've made everything from three piece mens suits to quilts, baby clothing, dresses, costumes, and countless other things.  Yes, sewing is a good thing to know how to do. 

Food Dehydrator

Summer is winding down, but there are still lots of summer fruits and vegetables that would be very tasty dried and bagged to cook with or snack on during the winter months.

A food dehydrator something like this one from Nesco  is on my list to get very soon.  Dried food requires no refrigeration and is light weight and compact - a plus if you are storing food.