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Cast Iron Skillet

It’s there. Stashed on a back shelf. Hanging on a hook at the far end of the kitchen. Perhaps hidden in a basement. Alone. Abandoned. Probably a little tired, a little dusty, maybe with a touch of red rust somewhere.

I am not going to say “shame on you.” I wish to merely point out that you are missing out on culinary opportunities that are easy to make, immensely satisfying, and just a few moments away from reality.

Sharon Kramis and Julie Kramis Hearne are cast iron skillet mavens. This book, Cast Iron Skillet, was a best seller in its first edition. Now, it has been revised, extended, made a little more contemporary, and friendly to those who favor veggies on their plate. Now, these changes should not be a surprise: daughter Julie for years was the chef at the Herb Farm Restaurant outside Seattle. There is no better restaurant anywhere. [Suzen and I will never forget the Douglas fir sorbet!]

Mom Sharon has over 30 years as a restaurant consultant and studied under James Beard.

And here these two experts are rolling out more cast iron gems. There’s a need to stop, look, and listen. Oh, to cook and taste and relish, too! A cast iron skillet is a dramatic piece of cooking gear. Have a pan full of chicken or veggies, cooking on high heat, and your kitchen — if not your whole house — will fill with extraordinary aromas. It’s not just the smell of cooking food. It’s the smell of “completely” cooked food in the way that only a cast iron surface can do.

What’s here to cook? Well, on the cover there are those pecan sticky buns, but I should not start with something quite so sweet.

There are chapters here from breakfast to dessert. In each one, you’ll find items that make you want to exercise those muscles and lift up that, I admit, heavy pan.

This is a Seattle-based book, so you know there have to be Dungeness crab recipes:

  • Dungeness Crab and Tillamook Cheddar Soufflé
  • Dungeness Crab Cakes
  • Dungeness Crab Quesadillas

You want “the white meat?” Consider:

  • Chicken Paillards
  • Chicken with Calvados and Cream
  • Chicken with Herbed Dumplings

The other white meat is there, too:

  • Pork Katsu

[I’m urging Suzen to start testing with that recipe because it includes a recipe for making your own Katsu sauce. Never had Katsu? It’s rich sweet and breaded pork. And the sauce is sweet and spicy and sensational on your tongue.]

For side dishes, you can sample from:

  • Sweet Potato Soufflé
  • Wild Mushroom and Caramelized Onion Tart
  • Winter Squash with Cranberries, Hazelnuts and Fried Sage
  • Caramelized Brussels Sprout Hash

And to end the meal:

  • Bread Pudding with Grand Marnier Sauce
  • Caramelized Apple and Gingerbread Cake
  • Old-Fashioned Peach Dumplings

Cast Iron Skillet is an exciting book. With these recipe options, Suzen and I just need a cold winter weekend to test and taste.

Guess what? This weekend will bring the third round of snow in a week for us. So, we are pouring over this lovely book, plotting our meals, and getting ready for a cast iron skillet weekend. Suzen is preparing to add to her inventory of four [2 large, 2 small]. I’m just want to get fresh peaches for those dumplings. In February. Clearly, a trip to Whole Foods is in order.

We’ll let you know the results. Bite by bite.