Cast Iron Saturday

   Those of you that have followed me for awhile know I love my cast iron cookware. We have collected several pieces over the almost 40 years we have been together.

   I had attempted awhile back to set up a cast iron recipe day but that didn't have much interest, but I thought I might try sharing more recipes again using cast iron, since I enjoy using it and sharing recipes.

  Of course you can cook, grill, or bake most anything in cast iron pieces-It was what was used years ago. Cast iron is my go to kitchen tool-I just really enjoy cooking, grilling, and baking in it. 

  I joined a newsletter at Cast Iron Keto and from time to time they send out recipes to my inbox. I have gotten some good ideas from them, some not so much.  We are not on a keto diet, I personally do not believe in eliminating total food groups but I do get allot of ideas especially for baking with less carbs. The older we get the harder it is to work off carbs so I do try out new things using keto sweeteners and nut flours especially. We limit our cheese consumption and don't use as heavily as many on the keto diet do. My digestive system does not like allot of cheeses even though I love it-so I limit dairy to once a week at the most, unless it is Greek yogurt.

 We enjoy Southwest Mexican type dishes a few times a month,  so I am always on the lookout for new recipes that are a little different. Some days I just don't know what to make for our main meal-does that happen to you too? With these types of dishes one can decide on how much spicy heat you want as well. I change up recipes all the time.

  I thought I would share  Keto Enchilada Meatball Skillet  this week.  I haven't tried this recipe yet but looks delicious and is versatile with ingredients. I like that this site will give you ideas for changing up the recipes.  All the flavors for enchiladas are here without the carbs. You can change up the cheese's or spices as well. note this is their photo from above link.

 

   If you are new to cast iron cooking-baking-grilling, there is allot of information on the internet. Lodge is still in business and has been around for over 100 years and has allot of information on their site. Here is there tips for cleaning your pans  

     My personal opinion:  Please only buy USA Lodge, or vintage pieces like Wagner or Griswold, or Le Creuset, or others that are vintage or from Europe. There are also numerous small USA companies making their own style of cast iron-many can be pricey.  Please do Not use China made-I have yet to see a quality piece of cast iron come out of China-it's just Not the same. Most of  my pieces were found at resale shops, garage sales, or estate sales through the years and do have a skillet from my Grandma and also my Mom. 

    If you are on Pinterest I have a cast iron board there started years ago-You can find me there under Kathyinozarks in Missouri This is my cast iron board link

   I have no affiliation with Lodge but they are still here in the USA are constantly designing new items and they share lots of information, recipes, how to's on their site here  It's a great place to start. 

    I also learned allot about dutch oven (with the legs-coals under and on top) cooking-baking  outdoors by reading old cookbooks that used hearths in the 1700's.

Happy Friday and weekend everyone-and if you would like to share a recipe using cast iron kitchenware too-just share a post with link in comments.