Cast Iron Cooking For Dummies

In some cooking circles, cast iron gets a bad rep people think it's old-fashioned, heavy, and hard to take care of. And really, how often do folks nowadays need to hitch up a mule and wagon and leave civilization and Teflon-coated saut pans behind? True, cast iron is old; it's been around since the Middle Ages. And it is heavy. No one can dispute that even a small, cast-iron pot has a heft to it that no other cookware has. Nevertheless, cast-iron cookware has a place in today's kitchens, and that doesn t mean simply hanging on the wall for decoration. Cast iron has much to offer modern-day cooks; it's easy to use, easy to care for, economical, versatile, and durable, and let's face it, it has a nostalgic appeal that no other cookware has. But more compelling than all those reasons is that it's a great cookware that makes great food. In fact, most cast-iron cooks will tell you that food cooked in cast iron tastes better than food cooked in anything else! Cast-Iron Cooking For Dummies is for those cooks who may want to inject a little adventure and variety into their cooking. If you've never even thought of using cast-iron cookware, or you have a few cast-iron pots lying around, you'll discover all you need to know about making great food using cast iron. Here just a sampling of what you'll find in Cast-Iron Cooking For Dummies: Selecting the right cast-iron cookware for you Seasoning a new cast-iron pan Caring for your cast-iron cookware Discovering techniques to enhance your cast-iron cooking Enjoying cast-iron cooking in the Great Outdoors Tons of delicious recipes, from main and side dishes to desserts and international dishes Top Ten lists on ways to make your cast-iron cookware last longer, the best dishes suited for cast iron, and tips for achieving success in cast-iron cooking So, whether you're a cooking novice or an experienced chef, you can find plenty of enjoyment from cooking with cast iron and Cast-Iron Cooking For Dummies can show you the way.

In some cooking circles, cast iron gets a badrep - people think it's old-fashioned, heavy, andhard to take care of. And really, how often do folks nowadays needto hitch up a mule and wagon and leave civilization andTeflon-coated sauté pans behind?True, cast iron is old; it's been around since the Middle Ages.And it is heavy. No one can dispute that even a small, cast-ironpot has a heft to it that no other cookware has. Neverthelesscast-iron cookware has a place in today's kitchens, and thatdoesn't mean simply hanging on the wall for decoration. Castiron has much to offer modern-day cooks; it's easy to use, easy tocare for, economical, versatile, and durable, and let's face it, ithas a nostalgic appeal that no other cookware has. But morecompelling than all those reasons is that it's a great cookwarethat makes great food. In fact, most cast-iron cooks will tell youthat food cooked in cast iron tastes better than food cooked inanything else!Cast-Iron Cooking For Dummies is for those cooks who maywant to inject a little adventure and variety into their cooking.If you've never even thought of using cast-iron cookware, or youhave a few cast-iron pots lying around, you'll discover all youneed to know about making great food using cast iron. Here just asampling of what you'll find in Cast-Iron Cooking ForDummies:* Selecting the right cast-iron cookware for you* Seasoning a new cast-iron pan* Caring for your cast-iron cookware* Discovering techniques to enhance your cast-iron cooking* Enjoying cast-iron cooking in the Great Outdoors* Tons of delicious recipes, from main and side dishes todesserts and international dishes* Top Ten lists on ways to make your cast-iron cookware lastlonger, the best dishes suited for cast iron, and tips forachieving success in cast-iron cookingSo, whether you're a cooking novice or an experienced chef, youcan find plenty of enjoyment from cooking with castiron - and Cast-Iron Cooking For Dummies canshow you the way.

Introduction.Part I: Coming Around to Cast-Iron Cooking.Chapter 1: Welcome to Cast-Iron Cooking.Chapter 2: Selecting Cast-Iron Cookware.Chapter 3: This Little Pan of Mine, I'm Gonna Make ItShine: Seasoning Cast Iron.Chapter 4: Caring for Cast Iron.Chapter 5: Cast-Iron Cooking Techniques.Part II: Main-Dish Cast-Iron Recipes.Chapter 6: It's Meat for Dinner Tonight.Chapter 7: Tastes Like Chicken (and Turkey).Chapter 8: Fish, Shellfish, and One Amphibian.Chapter 9: One-Dish Meals.Part III: Cast-Iron Sides and Sweet Endings.Chapter 10: Vegetables Even Your Kids Will Love.Chapter 11: Cornbread and Biscuits.Chapter 12: Pancakes, Muffins, and More.Chapter 13: Delectable Desserts.Part IV: Cast-Iron Cooking for the Great Outdoors -- andBeyond.Chapter 14: Cooking Around the Campfire.Chapter 15: Anyone Game?Chapter 16: Going Global with Recipes from Around the World.Part V: The Part of Tens.Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Make Your Cast Iron Last a Lifetime (orLonger).Chapter 18: Ten Dishes Best Suited to Cast Iron.Chapter 19: Ten Tips for Surefire Success.Appendix: Metric Conversion Guide.Index.