Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook: More Than 150 Recipes for One-Pan Meals for Any Time of the Day

by Lucy Vaserfirer

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of " Not your Mother's Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook" with the purpose of reviewing it.



Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook Description by the Publisher:

Today’s cooks are realizing that their mother had the method right when she cooked with the big cast iron skillet. Cast iron has the incredible ability to spread heat quickly and evenly to create a crispy, seared surface that locks in freshness and flavor.

In Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook, Author Lucy Vaserfirer brings cast iron cooking completely up to date. She shows you how to work magic on cast iron with more than 150 recipes that are definitely not the kind of fare your mother cooked up. You’ll learn how to cook up vegetables, which are especially flavorful when cooked on cast iron; see how cast iron is the perfect vessel for cooking all types of fish and shellfish; learn how to sear meats to perfection; and even learn how you can use your skillet for baking.

Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook:


My thoughts on Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook

I was intimidated by the heavy and huge cast iron skillets my grandma used to cook with. And it doesn’t help that she preferred to teach me to cook using her set of stainless steel pots.

Then, I asked my stepfather to show me how to cook some of his German recipes. And as nice as he is, he showed me more than just German recipes, and any time I was invited over for dinner, he would call me to sit close by and would talk about what he was doing. Right there is where I became less intimidated by the cast iron skillet. So, I slowly began to use it.

But I found myself making many mistakes. I didn’t know I had to season it. I didn’t even know how to season it!

Eventually, with the help of dear Mr. Google, I found some answers. (I think is Mr. Google, could it be Mrs. Google?). Yet, I’m still a newbie when it comes to cooking with the cast iron skillet. I can make some basic stuff, and honestly, I love it. So I was extremely happy to get my hands in this book and learn more thing to make with it.

As I read the section on getting started, I giggled a lot. I remembered that I made almost all the newbie mistakes listed in the book. Of course, I laugh now, but it was frustrating in the beginning. I also learned new things of course, since I am just a regular cook.

I did feel bad when I found out that the quality of the new cast iron skillets isn’t as good as the old ones. I might have to follow the author’s advice and go look in thrift stores and find me a good ol’ fashion cast iron. Or never try it and be happy in my ignorance that there is something better. Since I didn’t really cook by myself with an old fashion cast iron skillet, I’m not experienced enough to know any difference, and maybe is better that way.

Image via amazon.com

Besides all the wisdom about caring, seasoning, and using your cast iron skillet, you then go to the most important section (in my opinion), the scrumptious recipes!

The photography is so spectacular that makes my mouth water. Someday I will try every single recipe. I loved the cornbread recipe, but I have to admit that I changed the recipe, as I don’t like onions.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting to take their cast iron skillet to the next level and use it to the maximum potential.

 

Find a copy here: Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook

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