Quote of the Week

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!!!

Tasty Tuesday:Cast Iron Skillet

There are many kitchen items, utensils I could recommend that every cook needs, but none gives me that nostalgic feeling that a cast iron skillet gives me.   You know those memories of your grandparents crispy fried chicken and that fabulous hot cornbread--you couldn't wait for to cool off.My love for cast iron skillets started at an early age, but I never knew how much I loved them until, I didn't have any.
I remember when my husband(fiancé at the time) and I got our first apartment; and we had a hodge podge of cookware.

A lot of the cookware was supposedly nonstick, but I always had the most difficult time cooking with them. Maybe it was me or maybe the cookware was just cheap....who knows what the problem was--but my frustration lead me to research other cookware.

During my research, I stumbled upon an old friend--the cast iron skillet.

 Those memories of good home cooking rushed in as I became more informed about the affordability of the skillet and its many uses....I was Sold!!!

Selling points for me:
Can be used on the stove and in the oven.

Can withstand high temperatures.

Its nonstick(if properly cared for, by keeping it clean, and well seasoned) when heated up.

Easy clean up.

Allows food to absorb iron.

Affordable.

Can last generations(If taken care of properly).

Cooks food evenly.

Golden and Crispy fry.

Food memories from childhood.


Well, that's my list of selling points for the cast iron skillet for then and now. If you don't have at least one in your kitchen, you most definitely should invest in one....you won't regret it.


If you already have a cast iron skillet, what were your reasons for buying one or is it a family heirloom? Also, what's your favorite thing to cook in it?

Quote of the Week

Got the internet back up and running (thanks AT&T),now I'm ready to hit the ground running.

Keep Calm and Keep Blogging

It never seens to fail...once I get into a particular system or flow, my computer starts acting up.

Yesterday, I wanted to finish up and post my usual Tasty Tuesday  post, but I lost Internet connection and couldn't finish up my post at all. So, I decided to try and finish things up by way of my phone, and guess what...a lot of what was written,didn't get saved.

I seriously thought about posting anyway, but it really didn't seem right or complete at all.

I'll just wait to post that particular post some other time when my home computers are fixed.

I'll just keep calm and keep blogging.

As long as I can write from my phone, from my blog and blog app then I'm good.

Garlic in the Garden

Quote of the Week

Join the Discussion

Sharing Is Caring

Just got this in my inbox, the Cook's Garden is have a moving sale, just thought I would share.  http://www.cooksgarden.com/

Happy Holidays!!!

Mixed Greens

A little harvest of some mixed greens from the garden,mostly mustard greens, but there's a little bit of kale and turnip greens too.

Can't wait to get them cleaned and cooked!

Tasty Tuesday: Tortillas

In this household we run through tortillas, so I always try to keep a nice stock in the house. We use tortillas to make quesadillas, chips, sandwich wraps, pizza, and tacos (soft and hard shell). You know what, I've never tried to make those baked taco salad bowls, I should give that a try. Has anyone made their own before, and if so...what did you think?

Listen to me, I'm venturing off into something else...let's get back to the subject at hand....tortillas. 

Yeah, my family and I love having tortillas in stock, they're so convenient and handy for our household, and economically speaking--affordable. However, over this past summer, I decided to try my hand at making my own.

 

 

 

The photo shown is my first attempt at making tortillas over the summer.
I thought they came out pretty well for a first try, and since then my rolling skills have improved significantly.

We still purchase tortillas (I can't pass up, closeout specials of $.25 or $.50)from time to time, but I make tortillas at home more often than not...and it's pretty easy and very economical.

If you've never made your own tortillas, you should give it a try... they're delicious!!!

 

 

Recipe

 

4 cups of All-Purpose Flour (I used Pajaritos flour, but you can use any All-Purpose flour of your choosing)

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons of Lard or olive oil

1/2 cup of hot water

 

Directions

 

Whisk the flour and salt together in a mixing bowl. Mix in the lard/olive oil with your fingers until the flour resembles cornmeal. Add the water and mix until the dough cones together. Divide the dough into 24 equal pieces  and roll each piece into a ball. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Use a well- floured rolling pin to roll a dough ball into a thin, round tortilla. Place tortilla into the hot skillet and cook until bubbly and golden. Flip and continue cooking until golden on other side. Stack cooked tortillas on a plate or place in a tortilla warmer, and continue rolling and cooking the remaining dough.

 

See that's an easy recipe...go try it and come back to share your results.

The recipe was provided by Pajaritos Flour and you can find the unbleached flour in select grocery stores or online at lehirollermills.com.

 

Have a Tasty Tuesday Day!!!!

 

Quote of the Week

No Words Needed....Just Do It!!