Joanna Pruess, author of the The Griswold and Wagner Cast Iron Cookbook, will appear on Kitchen Ideas on QVC tonight at 9 PM EST.

If you haven’t seen Joanna’s book, be certain to read my review. It is perhaps the best cast iron themed cookbook I’ve ever seen. We liked it so much that after we bought ours, we bought three more to give as Christmas gifts last year.

Be sure to catch Joanna on QVC tonight and if you don’t already have her book, you may want to order one.

Tags: Rick

Well, it’s been well over three weeks since our last “Cast Iron Around the Web” update. And fellow black iron aficionados, that’s WAY too long, but the cast iron revolution is ROLLING. People everywhere are cooking in cast iron and talking about cast iron as this post CLEARLY demonstrates.

This update represents almost all of the cast iron-related news and recipes posted new over the past two weeks we could find with the exception of event announcements that had already past.

Enjoy the cast iron exploration below!


INFORMATIONAL / HOW TO
A Steak Fit for the Dark Knight. What does cast iron have to do with Batman? Read and find out.

Sunday Fried Chicken Dinner Is Back. Debbie Maugans tells us why and how.

How Do You Remove Rust from a Cast Iron Pot? Cleaning with the ole’ Coca Cola treatment and then basic re-seasoning.

Grandma Was Green Before It Was Cool: What My Green Grandma Taught Me. And guess what? She used cast iron (of course!). Lots of good stuff here.

Fire and Ice. Most folks associate cooking hot food in dutch ovens. But what happens if you use ice cubes instead of hot coals? Well, believe it or not, you can make ice cream!

What You Should Know About Dutch Oven Cooking. A short, but good introduction to the history of cooking in dutch ovens.

How to Properly Care for Cast Iron. Basic article on use and care of cast iron cookware.

Taking Care of Your Gear. Basic instructions on caring for cast iron and other kinds of cookware.

An Ode to Cast Iron. Few things in the kitchen are more versatile than a cast iron skillet. This post includes a good cornbread recipe, too.

Cast Iron Pans and the Return of Sustainability. One of the best ways to overcome the thinking of a disposable society is to return to our roots, such as cooking in cast iron.

Using a NakedPan Helps Reduce Your Fuel Costs. How? Okay, I’ve never heard of a “NakedPan,” but it’s made of cast iron. The link goes to a British site. Has anyone in the US used one of these?

How To: Clean Cast Iron with Kosher Salt. Stephanie shows us how.

Porcelain Cast-Iron Cookware: Not An Oxymoron. Discusses the value of enameled cast iron.

The Pros and Cons of Cast Iron Cookware for Camping. I need a second opinion. Does anyone besides me feel this writers list of the advantages of cast iron is particularly weak?

Foodie Freak: The Kitchen Gallery. Ross Christensen discusses caring for cast iron cookware about 2/3 into his article.

Safe Cooking: Cast Iron. Quote: “When it comes to frying, grandma had it right. Cast iron is a safe, reliable classic. However, they do take some special care.”

How to Clean a Cast Iron Grill Pan. If you’ve ever cooked in one of these pans, you know that the grill pan is the most difficult piece of cast iron cookware to clean. Here are some tips.

What You Need to Know About Enamel Cast Iron Cookware. Information and benefits of Enameled cast iron cookware.

Cast-iron Cookout: Try Your Hand at Dutch-Oven Cooking on Your Next Camping Trip. Quote: “Cooks who pack in a few pieces of cast-iron cookware, however, can expand their everyday recipe repertoire into the great outdoors.”

Dutch Ovens Cook Up Outdoor Treats. Quote: “If you want an egg at my house, you'll have to eat it scrambled. My culinary skills haven't reached any level higher than that. I plan to do some hunting this year, however, and keeping with my philosophy that if you kill it, you eat it, I decided to look into trail cooking.”

The Science of Dutch Oven Cooking. Quote: “There are a few tricks concerning the cooking source that are important to successful Dutch oven cooking. They can make the difference between undercooked or burnt food.”

Dutch Oven Camping. Quote: “...there is a way to eat great, even gourmet, food while camping and it’s through a Dutch oven.”

Toss the Teflon. Options including cast iron.

Steaks. Zank shows us that all we need for a great steak is a good rub and a cast iron skillet.

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. Zank shows us the art of making the simple grilled cheese sandwich in a cast iron skillet.

Cast Iron Cookware: Great for Cold Foods, Too! And I bet you thought cast iron only worked when hot.

Friday Cooking Brunch. From the Camp Chef Blog comes a pictorial guide to great pancakes.

Wagner Ware Drip Drop Roaster Restoration, Parts One, Two and Three. Greg (Black Iron Dude) has his own electrolysis tank for restoring cast iron which we think is not only hard core, but very cool. See these posts in which he chronicles the restoration of a Wagner roaster.

Wapak A Loo Bop. If you’ve never heard of Wapak cast iron, don’t be surprised; neither had I. They were only around from 1903 to 1926 until they went out of business. Find out more about them as well as some very nice pictures at this post.

Ghost Markings. I thought this was fascinating. Ghost markings are the faint outlines of another company’s logo on a different company’s pan, proving what I’ve thought for a long time--that most cast iron companies (even reputable ones) copied each others’ offerings.

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EXPERIENCES
Cooking Outdoors Tastes Better than Homecooking. Read about experiences campers have cooking in the great outdoors and pick up some ideas for your next outdoor cast iron adventure.

June Dutch Oven. Douglas and Karolynn took a dutch oven class and then shared their new found skills with the neighbors.

Camp Cooking with the Kids. Evidently camping is great in Maine where’s there were no bugs for Shawn and his kids. Oh, and they ate very well thanks to the cast iron.

Cast Iron and Coleman Camp Stoves. Cast iron skillets and camp stoves are a match made in heaven, no doubt. Also includes recipes for chili and 15 bean soup.

Now You’re Cookin! Jared picked up his first cast iron skillet since college. And his first experce with a pre-seasoned pan led to stuck-on egg, but at least he knew how to fix it!

Garage Sale Cast Iron Frying Pan Reborn. Mister Jalopy (interesting name) found a treasure at a garage sale--a 12” Griswold skillet. But it was in pretty bad shape initially. Fortunately, he knew how to clean it up and restore it to its former glory (be sure to check out the before and after pictures). And he was so inspired that he’s decided to carry Lodge cast iron in his store. How we love a happy ending!

Dutch Oven Cooking & a Llama Hike. Okay, I made up that title because there isn’t one at the original post. But hopefully it piqued your interest enough to go check out Lightfoote’s description about how the two came together perfectly for a great day overall.

Vacation Food Update. What do you do when you leave your griddle at home? Easy--you turn the dutch ovens upside down and cook your pancakes on the lid!

Our Dutch Oven Experience. The Gamboa and Metcalf families got together for some camping and in spite of the rain, they ate VERY well thanks to good ole dutch oven cooking.

Dutch Oven Cookoff! What do you do when family comes over? You get out the dutch oven and put on the jambalaya!

Dutch Oven Cuisine from New Mexico. Ronnie ate well while in New Mexico recently. And why not? Most of his food was prepared in dutch ovens.

Shorts About the Camping Trip, Part 2. This mother of nine decides the best way to break in a new dutch oven is to take it on the camping trip. But she also wonders if perhaps she doesn’t need a second dutch oven. With nine kids, maybe she does!

Rafting Trip Allows Unique View of Canyon. Quote: “Meals are so unbelievably outstanding on the river that it is often playfully referred to as the ‘float and bloat.’ Breakfasts included eggs cooked to order and French toast. Dinners frequently finished with a fresh baked desert such as brownies and pineapple upside-down cake, cooked in a Dutch oven.”

Dutch Oven. Who said there’s no such thing as love at first sight? Melanie had been looking for just the right dutch oven for quite a time when she found this one in blue enamel.

Dutch Oven Dinner NIght. There’s not much better than a Dutch Oven Potluck.

Over an Open Fire: McAdams Couple Enjoys Dutch Oven Cooking with Fellow Campers. Quote: “When avid campers Bobby and Tammy Payne of McAdams tired of their usual fare of hot dogs and hamburgers they began experimenting with cooking in a Dutch oven over an open fire.”

A Picture to Prove It. Doreen tells about her recent camping adventure with the. How do you cook in dutch ovens if you don’t want to smell like a campfire? Easy--you prepare all the food and then give instructions to family members.

An Iron Skillet Seasoned with Love. This is a very touching article about a mother and daughter who spent months seasoning and cooking in a new skillet that the daughter took wither her when she moved away from home.

Cast Iron King of the Empire State. If you’re visiting the Big Apple, where better to stay than with a friend who’s into cast iron?

Denny's Chefs Break New Ground and Introduce New 'Sizzlin' Breakfast Skillets. Quote: “The Southwestern Sizzlin' Skillet comes to the table fajita-style on a hot cast iron skillet and features scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns and fire-roasted onions and peppers accompanied by warm tortillas, freshly made pico de gallo and sour cream.”

Cast Iron. Erin just got a Martha Stewart cast iron skillet. Her first dish cooked in it: Pork Tenderloin with Honeyed Butter.

I’ll Stick with Mom’s Old Cast Iron Pan. Tom Oleson describes his most treasured position.

Food Journal Number 42: Meet Our Cast Iron Pan. Even in Sweden, there’s a move from Teflon to cast iron.

The Original Happy Meal, Brownie Style. Marlena Spieler reminisces upon her scouting experiences.

Well Loved Pots Are a Cook’s Treasure. Marilyn Monette reflects back on the tools in the kitchen that have served her well.

S’Mores with the Browns! What’s better than dutch oven cooking, s’mores and a movie with friends?

Le Creuset Is Cool! Lisa finally got that dutch oven she’d been wanting--in cobalt blue!

Kids Can Cook. But Will They Want To? Great article on getting kids interested in dutch oven cooking.

High Adventure Weekend Part 2: The Food. Read about one mom’s experience providing dutch oven meals for seven families with a variety of dietary restrictions.

Playing with Guns. Nathan writes about his experience camping, complete with dutch oven cooking and guns!

Worth the Wait. Quote: “A definite highlight of each year’s Palousey Trail Ride is the Dutch oven dinner. George Hatley is considered the cook wrangler, offering advice and a few specific orders to volunteers who bring a wide variety of good stuff.”

The Third Time’s the Charm, Sort Of. After previous failures with attempts at no-knead bread, finally a recipe that works!

Dutch Oven Delight. Read how a dutch oven went from really bad condition to ready for cooking no-knead bread.

Baking at Camp. Read about this blogger’s adventures in bread making.

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EVENTS
Another Feast in La Sal. Among all the other events on July 24, Pioneer Day in Monticello, Utah included dutch oven potatoes in several varieties.

Jackson Lake’s [Colorado] First Dutch Oven Cook-Off. 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Cookoff at the Better-Than-OK Cheyenne Corral. Cooking is always better than shooting. Quote: “Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday had their six-guns. The Ryans come armed with 300 pounds of cast-iron Lodge cookware, black as night and beautifully seasoned. A 16-inch-diameter Dutch oven that turns out feathery biscuits weighs 40 pounds.”

West Coast Chapter of the Griswold & Cast Iron Cookware Association to meet September 5-6 in Deer Lodge, Montana.

Dutch Oven Cooking Demo. August 23, Sportman’s Warehouse, Colorado Springs, Colorado. 10 AM to 12:30 PM.

Dutch Oven Cookoff. Oct. 18, 11 AM till finished. Sportmans’s Warehouse, Bozeman Montana.

First Annual Dutch Oven Cook-Off. Cottonwood, Idaho. Despite the oxymoron of the name of this event, it will be held Saturday, August 23, 9 AM to 2:30 PM.

Dutch Oven Dessert & Game Night. August 30, Cane Creek State Park, Star City, Arkansas.

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PHOTOGRAPHS
Cast Iron Cooking

Dutch Oven and Campfire

Dutch Oven Cooking

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THIS AND THAT (meaning that it doesn’t fit into the other categories)
Special Friday "Review" Round-up. Who needs fancy workout equipment when you’ve got cast iron dutch ovens!? (scroll down to the section “Redneck Kettlebell” )

Dutch Oven. Great picture of dutch ovens and coals from 1939. The fun comes from the accompanying story about trying to get a dutch oven cleaned up since the kitchen stove was broken.

Cast Iron on My Mind. Of course there are other uses for a cast iron skillet...

Cast Iron Competition. Some people cook in cast iron. Others toss them competitively. Really.

Using a Cast Iron Griddle to Tell the Future? Ever heard of scrying? Maybe the cast iron just needs to be cleaned more thoroughly.

Other Uses for a Cast Iron Cook Set. And even more uses beyond cooking...

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RECIPES
Andrea's All-Purpose, All-Natural, Thick 'n' Tasty Tomato Sauce (dutch oven)

Aimee’s Canned Tomato Sauce (dutch oven)

Apple Cheddar Cornbread (cast iron skillet)

Arroz con Pollo with Green Sauce (dutch oven)

Australian Damper Bread (dutch oven)

Baked Apple Pancake (dutch oven)

Baked Rice Casserole (dutch oven)

BBQ Shrimp (cast iron skillet)

Beef Brisket with 40 Cloves of Garlic (dutch oven)

Beef Recipes from Wyoming (some call for a dutch oven and some for a skillet; we’ll assume it’s a cast iron skillet, of course).
 - Chunky Beef Stew (dutch oven)
 - Brisket for a Bunch (skillet)
 - Ground Beef Gravy (skillet)
 - Chicken Fried Steak and Gravy (skillet)
 - Sombrero Casserole (skillet)

Better Homes and Garden Blueberry Chutney (dutch oven)

Black Bean Cheese Enchiladas (dutch oven)

Bowl O’ Red Chili (dutch oven)

Braised Pork Shoulder with White Wine and Apple Onion Confit (dutch oven)

Bulgur Chili (dutch oven)

Carmelized Onion and Wine Braised Brisket (dutch oven)

Cast Iron Skillet Chocolate Pie

Cast Iron Skillet Steamers

Catalan Lamb (dutch oven)

Chicken and Sausage Stew (dutch oven)

Chicken Fajitas (cast iron skillet)

Chickpea Ravioli with Basil Pesto and Hazelnuts (dutch oven)

Chinese Grocery Roast Pork and Bok Choy (dutch oven)

Cinnamon Pecan Roll (dutch oven)

Comer Family Fried Corn (dutch oven)

Country Style Ribs (dutch oven or roaster with lid)

Crawfish Recipes (cast iron skillet; yes, I know the articles says CRAYfish, but I can’t bring myself to list it that way).

Deluxe Pot Roast (dutch oven; oh, and the picture makes this dish look so very good)

Dutch Oven Apple Crisp

Dutch Oven Apple Pie

Dutch Oven Bisquits

Dutch Oven Blueberry Cobbler

Dutch Oven Dirty Rice

Dutch Oven Recipes
 - Lasagna
 - Enchilada Pie
 - Potatoes and Onions

Dutch Oven Venison

Dutch Oven Yogurt and Herb Fish

Fantastic Black Bean Chili

Farmer’s Omelette (cast iron skillet)

French Fries (dutch oven; great step by step pictures)

Fried Green Tomatoes (cast iron skillet)

Fritatta (cast iron skillet)

Ginger Lemongrass Beet Gazpacho (dutch oven)

Home Fried Potatoes (cast iron skillet)

Homemade Corn Tortillas (cast iron skillet)

Indian Style Eggplant and Potatoes (cast iron skillet or dutch oven)

Irish Soda Bread (dutch oven)

Irish Soda Bread (cast iron skillet)

Jake’s Dutch Oven Recipes
 - Jake’s Bubble Pizza (12” dutch oven)
 - Jake’s Pull-Apart Cinnamon Rolls (12” dutch oven)

Maple-Mustard Pork Tenderloin (cast iron skillet)

Mediterranean Skirt Steak (recipe calls for a “cast iron pot”; more than likely the writer is referring to a dutch oven)

Molasses and Buttermilk Cornbread (cast iron skillet)

Moroccan Beef Stew (dutch oven)

Nine Mile Stew (dutch oven)

No-Knead Bread (dutch oven)

No Sugar Added Fruit Cobbler (dutch oven)

Orange Knot Rolls (dutch oven)

Pepper Beans (dutch oven)

Plum Pudding (dutch oven)

Pullman Brown Ale Braised Venison (dutch oven)

Prosquitto Lasagna (cast iron skillet)

Ragu Alla Napoletana (dutch oven)

Rice and Beans (cast iron skillet or dutch oven)

Roasted Tomato Soup (dutch oven; site requires registration)

Seared Lamb Steak with Orzo Pasta Salad and Heirloom Tomatoes (cast iron skillet)

Shelled Beans and Vegetables Stewed in Their Own Juice (dutch oven)

Special Veggie Steak Stew (diabetic recipe; dutch oven)

Spiced Eggplant Salad (dutch oven)

Spiced Pork Chops with Red Sauce (12” dutch oven)

Spicy Chicken for Leftover Stew (dutch oven; two meals from one main recipe)

Spicy Shredded Pork (dutch oven; great and detailed pictures)

Steak and Kidney Pie (dutch oven)

Steak Quesadillas with Roasted Peppers and Boursin (cast iron skillet)

Steak Tacos (any cast iron pan)

Stuffed Bell Peppers (cast iron skillet or dutch oven)

Summer Minestrone with Fresh Basil (dutch oven; site requires registration)

Sweet and Sour Chicken (wok or deep cast iron pan)

Swirled Bread in the Dutch Oven

Tomato Juice Can Chicken (dutch oven)

Veggie Fajitas (dutch oven)

Veggie Turkey Pot Roast (dutch oven)

White Bean and Pancetta Soup With Kale Pesto (dutch oven)

Zesty Pork Stew (dutch oven)

It’s not just a Cast Iron Renaissance; it’s a Cast Iron REVOLUTION! And here’s more evidence:

INFORMATIONAL/HOW TO
“Dutch Oven Baking.” The Happy Campers show us how to cook hamburger buns from scratch in a dutch oven. Great pictures.

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REVIEWS
The Scout’s Outdoor Cookbook by Christine and Tom Connors. Kathie Smith reviews this book at the bottom of her column on s’mores and shopping.

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EXPERIENCES
“Dutch Oven Cookin’.” The Stevens family has finally put the backyard fire pit to good use with dutch oven cooking.

“My First Culinary Award.” What could be better than entering a dutch oven cooking contest for the first time? Winning, of course!

“Cast Iron, What’s Not to Love?” Michelle and her family detoured on the family trip to stop at the Lodge Outlet Store in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. We certainly can’t blame her. Check out her pictures and read about her new acquisitions.

“Dutch Oven Cooking with Daddy.” Okay, this one is a post that...well, you’ll just have to see this for yourself.

“Seasoning My Cast Iron Skillet.” Erica thought that seasoning cast iron would be a major drawback. Then she tried it and found that it wasn’t such a big deal afterall!

“Birding Center Teaches Outdoor Cooking.” Quote: “Steve Rodriguez hopes to teach area residents that there's more to outdoor cooking than wood chips and lighter fluid.”

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EVENTS
“Teasdale Volunteer Fire Department's annual Mutton & Taters Dutch Oven Fundraiser.” Teasdale, Utah, Noon, July 26.

“3rd Annual C. O. Dutch Oven Society Cookout.” Sportsman’s Warehouse, 10 AM to 3 PM, Salem, Oregon

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RECIPES
Black Beans and Rice (dutch oven)

Cast Iron Chicken (cast iron skillet)

Dutch Oven Cobbler

Easy Grated Plantain Soup (dutch oven)

Green Beans and Potatoes (dutch oven)

Miss Vickie’s Roasted Potatoes (dutch oven)

One-Pot Pork and Rice (dutch oven)

Quick Oatmeal Soup (dutch oven)

Roasted Duck (dutch oven)

Below you’ll find cast iron related posts since last Tuesday.

INFORMATIONAL/HOW TO
“Are You Stuck on Teflon Pans?” Well, don’t be. It’s bad for you.

EXPERIENCES
“Do It Yourself Tortillas.” What do you need for tortillas? A cast iron press.

“Obsession Alert: Enamel Cast Iron Cookware.” Diana writes about her obsession. It’s okay, the folks here can relate.

“Who Knows Where the Time Goes?” Molly is back from her wedding celebrations, so whats better to do than bake bread in a dutch oven?

“Natanis Point Campground.” A blogger writes about his family camping trip which involved among lots of other activities, dutch oven cooking. Great pictures in a slideshow, too.

“Done Friday.” After using a dutch oven to cook a ham, this blogger may abandon a conventional oven altogether.

“A Good Bread Day.” The bread came out great. And why wouldn’t it? She used a Le Creuset oval dutch oven.

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EVENTS
“Cooks Share Expertise, Recipes at Dutch Oven Event.” Read all about the event that took place in Sioux Falls, South Dakota last weekend.

“Teens Learn About Cooking.” Silver Springs, Nevada. “Last week, youths that participate in the Teen Summer Program learned about different types of cooking” including dutch oven cooking.

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MISCELLANEOUS
“Fortuna Society Shows Another Side of Cooking.” A profile of Marv Rutledge of Fortuna, California and the Fortuna Dutch Oven Society.

“My Indispensable Kitchen Gadget List.” Amy lists her indispensables for the kitchen which include a cast iron griddle and a cast iron press.

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RECIPES
Baked Gnocci Parmesan (dutch oven)

Balsamic Tempeh Wild Rice Bowl with Sauteed Kale and Radicchio (cast iron skillet)

Balsamico Chicken with Olives (dutch oven)

Beef Stew Zuazua-Style

Beef Stroganoff (dutch oven)

The Bocadillo de Conejo [The Rabbit Sandwich] (dutch oven)

Braised Beef with Brandy and Mustard (dutch oven)

Braised Chicken with Leeks (dutch oven)

Cajun Red Beans and Rice (dutch oven)

Croquecamille’s Pizza/Calzone Dough for Tiny Kitchens (dutch oven)

Curried Seafood Chowder (dutch oven)

Dutch Oven Breakfast Casserole

Dutch Oven Hoecakes

Dutch Oven Peach-Berry Cobbler

Fried Eggs with Sauteed Beet Greens (cast iron skillet)

Fried Green and Heirloom Tomato Salad (cast iron skillet)

Fried Okra (cast iron skillet)

Gemelli Pasta With Clams, Scallops and Shrimp Recipe (dutch oven)

Good Old Fashioned Pot Roast (dutch oven)

Hamelman's Light Rye (dutch oven)

Ina’s Homemade Applesauce (dutch oven)

Jam (dutch oven)

Marinated Eye of Round (dutch oven)

Pig Loaf (dutch oven)

Pot Roast (dutch oven)

Rosemary and Chile-Grilled Shrimp with Lemon Zest (cast iron skillet)

Smoky Barbecue Bean Soup (dutch oven)

Summer Bake Sale Doughnuts (dutch oven)

Tortilla Soup and Cornbread (dutch oven and enameled cast iron casserole)

Yuengling and Honey Braised Chicken (cast iron skillet)

Almost an entire week has past since our last Cast Iron Update, so there’s LOTS of content below for all of you black iron aficianodos!

BRANDS: LODGE MANUFACTURING
Ovet the last few days, the Lodge Manufacturing website has received a total makeover. The new site has a modern look and the menus are quite intuitive.

On the front page of the Lodge website, there is notice that the Lodge Signature Series Skillet has won Houseware’s 2008 “Gold” Design Award. If you’re unfamiliar with Lodge’s Signature series, these are very modern-looking cast iron pans accented with stainless steel. When I toured the Lodge factory in April, I saw a machine that was specifically designed to test handle strength. It raised and lowered pans tens of thousands of times--probably more times than the average cook would lift the pan in a lifetime. Congratulations to the fine folks in South Pittsburg for winning this award.

Lodge’s Signature Series is a bit more expensive than their other cast iron offerings, however they are can be found for lower prices at Amazon.com’s Lodge Store.

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INFORMATIONAL/HOW TO
“Cooking with Cast Iron Pots” [Subtitle: “Heavy Metal Cookware: Great for Cooking Indoors and Out”]. Martha Gore writes a great article about the benefits of cast iron for the modern kitchen.

“Seasoning Your Cast Iron Cookware.” From the Home Ec 101 website, Ivy offers instructions on seasoning cast iron pans.

“Cooking with Cast Iron.” Justin Owings writes about his experiences with cast iron cooking and its benefits.

“Seasoning Cast Iron.” Carolyn explains the basics of seasoning cast iron cookware.

“Smoke Enders.” Grill pan making too much smoke in the kitchen? Here’s a solution.

“How to Season a Wok.” TV chef Ching-He Huang hits the gas and demonstrates essential tips on cooking with a wok. Although the video demonstrates seasoning a stainless steel wok, the article also refers to traditional cast iron wok.

“Must Haves for Any At-Home Kitchen-Companion.” Cast iron makes this list--but of course!

“Test Kitchen.” How to take care of your pots and pans of all varieties, including cast iron.

“Turn Campfire Chow Time Into Cuisine Over Coals.” Includes a number of great looking recipes.

“Summertime Cooking.” It’s summer--why cook inside when you can take the dutch ovens outdoors?

“Rules to Cook By in the Great Outdoors.” The first rule, in this article by Leslie Cole is to pack a few great pans, and she recommends a cast iron skillet and a dutch oven.

“10 Tips on How to Green Your Kitchen.” Another reason why cast iron is better than teflon!

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EXPERIENCES
“My First Attempt At No Knead Bread.” Rachel received two cast iron skillets and a dutch oven for her birthday. She continued the celebration by baking No Knead Bread.

“Hockey Bag Stew.” It tasted much better than it smelled!

“John Stolpe ‘Stretched.’” John has come a long way in his cooking skills since he left home. He proved it while on vacation in Wisconsin serving up quite the selection of food using newly found dutch oven skills. Great pictures, too.

“Dutch Oven Enrichment.” Lynne learns how to season and cook in a dutch oven. Check out the great picture of the ovens stacked four high with coals.

“The Fourth and Girls’ Camp ‘08.” Quote: “I needed to have my dad spend the afternoon teaching me how to do dutch oven [cooking] since I had never before used one, and would be feeding the girls at camp in, um, four days. Can we say procrastination?”

“A new hobby - Dutch Oven Cooking and a table too!” The “Fly Fishin’ Christian” tries out a new hobby: dutch oven cooking. Great pictures, too.

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IN NEED OF HELP
“Do I Really Need a Dutch Oven?” Over at chowhound.com, one person asks whether a dutch oven is necessary (of course we would say YES).

“Anyone tried Mercola's enamel cast iron cookware?” Another query from chowhound.com.

“Food Sticking to Cast Iron.” No matter what Debbie does, food sticks in her cast iron. Can you help her?

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REVIEWS
“Polly Want Some Cornbread?” Kara Zuaro reviews Crescent Dragonwagon’s book The Cornbread Gospels.

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EVENTS
Dutch Oven Cooking Competition at the Davis County Fair (Utah). Fair begins August 13.

Family Fun Day/Dutch Oven Class. Saturday, July 26. Sportman’s Warehouse in Burlington, Washington.

“McAlpine wins the first Homesteader Day Dutch Oven cooking contest.” “Tuna McAlpine, who claimed first place in the main dish category with his Creole Chicken, also received the People's Choice award after the taste test was complete. McAlpine also entered a brownie dish in the dessert category.”

“Cee Dub’s Dutch Oven Cooking.” Watch and taste the food as Cee Dub himself works his magic with his Dutch ovens preparing such dishes as Crab Rockefeller, Peach Apricot Cobbler and many other favorites! Sportsman’s Warehouse, Saturday, August 2, 10 AM to 4 PM.

“Dutch oven cookoff features homegrown produce and fun.” (McAlester, Oklahoma) “The Pittsburg County OSU Extension Service Dutch oven cookoff was a hit with those in attendance at the Farmers Market in downtown McAlester Thursday evening. The cookoff featured three, two-person teams of amateur cooks who whipped up a few dishes even Bob Flay could be proud of.” See accompanying video.

“Fall Classic.” A dutch oven cooking contest will be part of the festivities August 8-24 in Independence, Missouri.

“Dutch Oven Basics.” Sportsman’s Warehouse, Saturday October 11, Spokane, Washington.

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MISCELLANEOUS
“Cornbread, ‘a Southern Treasure’ *Contest*.” Leigh is giving away treasures she received at the National Cornbread Festival to the individual who describes the most interesting festival he or she has attended.

“Tuna Meet Cast Iron” (photo)

“Son who found body expected to testify in DeKleine murder trial.” I had to include this. Can you believe he would try to blame his injuries on a dutch oven?! Maybe we could expand the list of weapons in the Clue board game: “I believe that Col. Mustard did it with a dutch oven in the billiards room.”

“Feeling the Pinch.” Shirley Goode misses her dutch oven.

“What’s In Your Emergency Kit, Part 3?” Blogger “Nuke” reproduces a list of the first 100 things people run short of during a national emergency. Want to guess what #50 is? As I always say, “In the event of the Apocalypse, you can still cook in cast iron!”

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RECIPES
Almost No Knead Bread (dutch oven)

Barbeque Beer Ribs (dutch oven)

Bison Burgers (cast iron skillet)

Black Bean Chili (dutch oven)

Boston Baked Beans (dutch oven)

Chicken Durango (dutch oven)

Chicken Under a Brick (cast iron skillet)

Chicken with Forty Cloves of Garlic (dutch oven)

Corn Tortillas (cast iron griddle and cast iron skillet)

Deep Dish Pizza (cast iron skillet--scroll down halfway to find this version)

Dutch Babies with Vanilla Apricot Sauce (cast iron skillet; great pictures)

Dutch Oven Enchiladas

Dutch Oven Meatloaf Stuffed Onions

Dutch Oven Rye Bread

Fried Apples (cast iron skillet)

Fruit Cinnamon Crumb Cake (dutch oven)

Garlic Studded Pot Roast (dutch oven--scroll down to second half of page)

Gold Medal Sizzling Fajitas (fajita/sizzle skillet)

Goulash (dutch oven)

Gram Gram’s BBQwiches (dutch oven)

Greek Style Braised Greens (dutch oven)

Jambalaya (dutch oven)

Joe’s Jambalaya (dutch oven--scroll down to second half of page)

Mom’s Pan Fried Okra (cast iron skillet)

Moroccan Spiced Chicken with Saffron Couscous (dutch oven)

Peruvian Style Fried Rice (skillet or dutch oven)

Pressed Sandwiches (used a dutch oven as a press!)

Primo Peach Salsa a la Silence (dutch oven; scroll down)

Slow Cooker Beef Tacos (prepared in dutch oven before moving to a slow cooker)

Summer Sandwiches (Martha Stewart suggests that a cast iron pan can substitute as a panini press; also here and here)

Triple Berry Cream Cheese Pie (dutch oven)

Turkey Mushroom Soup (dutch oven--last recipe on webpage)

Veal Osso Bucco (dutch oven)

There was lots of cast iron activity around the web since last Thursday. Just more evidence that the Cast Iron Renaissance rolls on.

EVENTS
“Dutch Oven 101.” Saturday, July 12, 1 PM, Sportsman’s Warehouse (Kennewick, Washington).

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INSTRUCTIONAL/HOW TO
“Camp 2008 -- Goal #2: Reduce end-of-camp donation.” Steven Karoly discusses the business side of camp cooking. Great pictures of his dutch ovens in action.

“Get Away From Everything But Great Cooking.” Noelle Carter demonstrates that all one needs for great food while camping is a cast iron skillet and a dutch oven. A number of recipes are included.

“Cast Iron Cookware Is Great for Campfire Cooking.” A good article if you can read past all the ads blocking the flow of the text midway.

“A Healthy Way To Cook - Enameled Cast Iron.” In his corporate blog, Steve MacDonald, Director of Sales Services for Range Kleen makes the cast for enameled cast iron.

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EXPERIENCES
“Dutch Oven Time.” David managed to break in his year old dutch oven finally with a rump roast in spite of constant interference from his grandmother.

“Good Eats! Swiss Steak.” This writer has been following the recipes of Alton Brown’s Good Eats.

“Little House on the Prairie for Independence Day.” Jack tells of going to the Pugh-Towe farm in Granby for Independence day with the kids. They were served food cooked completely in cast iron which he says is the BEST way.

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MISCELLANEOUS
“Dutch Oven Pot Roast.” No recipe, but what a great picture of an oval-shaped dutch oven in action.

“Heath Ceramics, Fiestaware, and Other Registry Items.” Hadassah and Jon are getting married and they have a blog to prove it. Guess what’s on the list of registry items for the wedding? Lodge cast iron! I’ve always thought cast iron would make a perfect wedding gift.

“MomGadget Home Tour - Kitchen.” Quote: “Throw in a Crock Pot, a Dutch Oven, a couple of cake pans and you have yourself a complete kitchen - at least in my book.”

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RECIPES
Buttermilk Cornbread (cast iron skillet)

Coq Au Vin (enameled cast iron dutch oven)

Braised and Barbecued Pork Ribs (dutch oven)

Cajun Pot Roast (dutch oven)

Campfire Apple Cobbler (dutch oven)

Dutch Oven Cheater Bread

Dutch Oven Cobbler

Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler Dump Cake

Ground Beef Baked Beans (dutch oven)

Hearty Meat Lasagna (dutch oven)

Kale and Chickpea Soup (dutch oven)

Lemon Basil Shrimp and Pasta (dutch oven)

Murgh Methi (Chicken cooked with fenugreek greens) (dutch oven)

Mussels Portuguese Style (dutch oven)

No Knead Bread (dutch oven--great pictures)

No Knead Pseudo-Sourdough (dutch oven--scroll down)

Norwegian Meatballs (dutch oven)

Pan Fried Potato Slices (cast iron skillet)

Penne Ala Vodka (dutch oven)

Rosemary Fried Chicken (cast iron skillet or dutch oven--great pictures)

Sweet and Sour Cherry Clafoutis (cast iron skillet--great pictures)

Zinfandel-Braised Beef Brisket With Onions And Potatoes (dutch oven)

Independence Day is a great time to celebrate the Cast Iron Renaissance. Here are other folks doing the same!

INFORMATIONAL / HOW TO
“Fear of Frying.” Whole Life Times offers some alternatives to Teflon. Quote: “When it comes to cast iron, you may be better off buying used because the surface of a cast iron skillet is seasoned with use and actually becomes more nonstick as it ages.”

“Shortcut Cooking.” What works better for Asian cooking than a dutch oven?

“Cooking With Fire: Campfire Meals Made With Dutch Ovens, Foil Packs.” Includes a number of recipes as well.

“Elements: Cast Iron.” Michael Ruhlman talks about his three cast iron pan.

“My Beloved Cast Iron Pan.” After seeing Ruhlman’s post on his cast iron pans, Steph is motivated to show off her pan, too.

“How to Clean Cast Iron Cookware.”

“An easier way season your cast iron + a handy tip!” In yet another Ruhlman-inspired post, Monika Bartyzel tries seasoning on the stove top.

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NEEDS HELP
“What do you make in a Dutch oven?” Over at chowhound.com, one reader is looking for vegetarian and seafood recipes for use in a dutch oven.

“Cast Iron Cookware.” Another reader at chowhound.com is asking questions about care and restoration of cast iron.

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EVENTS
“2nd annual Camp Chef Dutch Oven Cook-Off.” July 18, Canyon County Fair, Idaho.

“Dutch Oven Cookoff/Cowboy Festival.” Saturday, July 26, Florence Arizona.

“Chuck Wagon Dutch Oven Dinner.” Saturday, July 5, Hamblin Park, Evanston, Wyoming.

“Dutch Oven Dinner.” July 10, Clinton, Utah.

“Cast Iron Cook-Off.” July 15, Eureka, California.

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REVIEWS
“The Heat Is On.” Three stove top grill pans are compared: preseasoned cast iron, enamel-coated cast iron and stainless steel.

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RECIPES
Beet Green Soup

Breakfast Around the Campfire

• Dutch Oven Blackberry Cobbler
• Campfire Eggs (skillet)
• Stuffed French Toast (skillet)

Chicken Tikka Masala (dutch oven)

Fried Apples (skillet)

Fried Chicken Sandwich and Poppyseed Coleslaw (dutch oven)

Fried Zucchini (skillet)--excellent pictures

Iced Fruit Punch

Oven Barbecued Spareribs (dutch oven)

Peach, Blackberry and Almond Crisp (dutch oven)

Potato & Chickpea Curry With Rice (dutch Oven)

Misc Recipes (all on one site):

• Smothered pork chopes (skillet)
• Chicken & Dumplings (dutch oven)
• Rick’s Finest Kind of Chili (dutch oven)
• Best Ever Pot Roast (dutch oven)

The Cast Iron Renaissance continues to pick up steam. Here are the latest cast iron related posts from the last three days.

INFORMATIONAL / HOW TO
“The Well-Stocked Kitchen: Tips from Chef Francisco.” Quote: “Chef Francisco swears by his cast iron, saying that it outperforms any other skillet for most stove-top tasks.”

EXPERIENCES
“I Got a Pizza Stone!” In spite of the title, this is a great story about experimenting with cast iron for making pizza.

‘Wild Alaskan Salmon.” All was going well until the salmon stuck to the pan!

“The Happy Tail [Tale?] of the Cast Iron Skillet.” She thought her pan was ruined. Not so. Cast iron is amazingly resilient!

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EVENTS
“Rockin’ Utah.” Read about the Smith’s family’s experience at the “Rockin’ Utah” even which included dutch oven demonstrations and cooking.

“Annual Adoption Reunion Camp-out.” Ginger writes about this event that included nine families. Turns out the dutch oven cobbler was quite good, too. Look for the picture.

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RECIPES
Apple Pie Baked Over a Fire (dutch oven--warning, music plays when you hit this site, but there are two great pictures)

Bowl of Texas Red (skillet & dutch oven)

Campfire Dutch Oven Potatoes

Chicken Gumbo (dutch oven)

Country Dutch Oven Chicken

Crunchy Zucchini Blossoms (cast ion skillet)

Dutch Oven Salmon and Potatoes

Etruscan Peasant Soup (dutch oven)

Ham and black bean soup (dutch oven)

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese (dutch oven)

No-Knead Bread aka Beer Bread (dutch oven)

Red Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs (dutch oven)

Roti Bread Recipe (cast iron skillet)

Salmon with Saffron Rice (cast iron skillet)

Seared Tuna a l’Indienne (cast iron skillet--also a great tutorial on searing fish)

Spiced Plum Butter & Gingery Plum Jam (dutch oven)

Spicy Thai ‘Fish’ and Stir-fried Cucumber with Woodear Mushrooms and Chili (cast iron skillet)

Swiss Chard with Onions --also here (skillet or dutch oven)

Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread (dutch oven--great pictures)

Want evidence of a Cast Iron Renaissance? You’ve got it. Below are recent posts from around the web that relate to cooking in cast iron in one way or another.

EXPERIENCES
“The Joy of Cast Iron Cooking.” In light of serious issues regarding Teflon, Stephanie discusses the benefits of her recent switch to cast iron pans.

“Easy Dutch Oven Biscuits.” In spite of the title, this isn’t a traditional recipe post. The “Outdoor Cook” thought he couldn’t make biscuits. Then he learned Bill’s secret...

“Skillet-Head.” Chauceriangirl wanted a cast iron skillet so badly she resorted to eBay (gasp!).

“Operation Domesticity.” Adventures in breadmaking.

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EVENTS
The last “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” (BOW) workshop for 2008 will be held Aug. 15-17 at the Friendly Pines Camp near Prescott, Arizona. The program introduces women to outdoors skills in an enjoyable, non-threatening environment with expert instructors. Classes are held during the day and include horsemanship, outdoor photography, birding, hiking, archery, fly-fishing, shotgun/rifle/pistol shooting, and Dutch oven cooking, among others.

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INFORMATIONAL / HOW TO
“Savor Great Outdoors with Great Recipes for Camping.” All you need for great cooking at the campsite is a cast iron skillet and a dutch oven. Noelle Carter shows you how. For a similar article see “Campfire Cooking Made Easy” by Nicole Foulke.

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MISCELLANEOUS
“Feast Your Eyes: Green Beans & Tofu.” No, this isn’t a recipe, but in this short post Marisa McClellan marvels at the nicely seasoned cast iron skillet in picture containing the aforementioned dish. We understand, Marisa; we understand.

“A Love Letter To My Cast Iron Skillet.” Katy Wolk-Stanley demonstrates that a cast iron skillet can be one of the most steadfast relationships one could ever have. Every cast iron aficianado will understand Katy’s sentiment.

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RECIPES
Baby Back Ribs with Sauce (dutch oven)

Beef with Spicy Cocoa Gravy (dutch oven)

Bobotie (dutch oven)

Campfire Cobler (dutch oven)--lots of great pictures

Creamy Dill Chicken (cast iron skillet)

Dump Cake (dutch oven)

Madame Monet’s Fast-and-Easy Homemade Crouton Recipe (skillet or dutch oven)

Mom’s Skillet Goulash (skillet or dutch oven)

Pot Roast with Crash Hot Potatoes (dutch oven)

Rustic Artisan Bread (dutch oven)

Savory Venison Stew (dutch oven)

Spring Spaghetti Sauce (dutch oven)

Super Spaghetti Sauce (dutch oven)

Zesty Wheat Berry-Black Bean Chili (dutch oven)