Cast Iron and Cheese

Its not a weapon, I swear! Sure I think that Coyote hit the Road Runner with one, but I don't think I will be hijacking this plane with my cast iron pan. TSA did not buy our plea and confiscated my cast iron grill pan as a weapon.

With little cookware, I decided to go almost exclusively cast iron upon restocking my kitchen. Cast iron is amazing for several reasons.

First it is cheap! I got a cast iron grill/griddle pan from target for $4.99. On average the pans will run cheaper than the potentially cancer causing Teflon coated variety. Cast iron is very versatile, it holds heat well and can be transfered between the stove top and oven. So you can get a beautiful crust on a thick juicy Tbone on the fryer and finish it off in the oven to perfection. A potential negative for some is that the pans are heavy ~8lbs for a large skillet. I use it as part of my workout plan which saves time!

Homemade mac'N'cheese is my comfort food when Wyatt is away. A quick recipe for to die for cast iron mac. Make a rue in the cast iron pan with butter and a little flour. Add milk to this and any combinations of left over cheeses in your fridge (highly recommend including a sharp cheese like Dubliner Irish Cheese from Trader Joes). Once a nice smooth cheese sauce forms, stir in enough cooked elbow macaroni to almost fill the pan. Top with homemade bread crumbs and a little Parmesan. Cook at 350 in the oven in the same pan for roughly 30 minutes or until a beautiful crust forms around the edge.

Its a miracle! Cheese that does not melt. I finally found this jewel at Whole Foods - Halloumi. Halloumi is a mix of sheep's and goat's milk that is only made is Cyprus. You can fry it, grill it, bake it and it will not melt. The taste is close to Saganaki - the flaming cheese you find at Greek restaurants (usually made with Kasseri or Kefalotyri). I chose to fry it in olive oil in my cast iron skillet and top with a lemon vinaigrette with lemon zest served with homemade pita chips.

My last plug for cast iron is the enameled Dutch Oven. You can buy enameled cast iron of other pans for a significantly higher cost. The Dutch oven is one item thats worth it. You can use it like a crock pot and slow cook about anything in the oven. You can braise in it, make stews and soups, and simmer curries. I love it and use it several times a week.

Thought for the Day: There is no spectacle on earth more appealing than that of a beautiful woman in the act of cooking dinner for someone she loves ~ Thomas Wolfe