Are You A Scaredy Cat or A Trickster?

I've never been one to enjoy being scared, in fact, it doesn't take much to spook me, and once my adrenalin has kicked in, I am quite skittish and touchy.  That would make me a Scaredy Cat!

Has anyone ever scared you half to death?  I have a funny Halloween story (or not if you were my brother Marc or Bobby) about our dad, who falls into the Trickster category, no doubt about that.  In fact, I believe he was born a trickster; he has lots of stories from way back when!

Dad always made the most of Halloween, with decorations and shenanigans to spook the kids who came trick-or-treating.  Scary music would be playing, ghosts would come flying down the staircase right at the front door, he would cackle mysteriously and pounce from behind objects when you least expected it.  But my most memorable story was when he put a big black spider on a long string and hung it in front of Bobby and Marc's bedroom window shade.  The outside street lamp provided just enough lighting to the window that it made a silhouette of the spider.  My dad took his long string and hid in the boys closet, which was right near the window.  It took some time before they headed for bed and finally started to settle down (they did the usual horseplay and chit chat brothers will do when they share a room).  But our dad waited patiently, until they were ready for sweet dreams to begin.  It was then that he began to slowly inch the string up and down along the curtain rod, making the spider move up and down like on a string of silk, all the while making a little rubbing/scratching sound.  You know how it is when you are fading off to sleep...my brothers both heard something and eventually raised their heads a bit to look around.  This was dad's cue, he started to rattle the spider a little more, inching it further down the window...my brothers began asking each other what it was, and suddenly, there it was, a huge black spider silhouetted in their window!  They were so frightened they raised right off the bed and flew down the stairs!  My dad said they never even touched the ground, just raised from the bed and landed at the foot of the stairs!  This is one of those family stories that will be shared and remembered for many generations!  

Speaking of scary, this is Liam in his costume...skeLiamton!  He's had this scary skeleton costume for quite some time, I am sure he is thrilled he finally gets to wear it for the real deal and not just "show and tell". Isn't he cute?  It may be a scary costume, but look at those eyes!  Almost looks like he is scared to scare you!  Sure do miss him...

 

Remember this..."I'm meltttting, melltttting"?  Wizard of Oz was a favorite movie of mine, and when I was young and then when Erin and Jessi were young, it was so scary!  The monkey scene...petrifying!  As I watched these icicles melting today, my mind went directly to the scene of the Wicked Witch of the West melting into nothingness.  Not the same, but this is my way of getting this picture into the blog and sticking with my theme today!

I'll leave you with a favorite Halloween song of mine...The Monster Mash by Bobby Boris Pickett and The Cryptkickers.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Oh, do you like my jack-o-lantern?  It is actually cut out of black construction paper and I put it in front of the wood burning stove so I could get the flames behind it!  I still have the paper, taped to the front window, but it didn't seem worth using up a perfectly good pumpkin for carving when the only people who would see it were Johny and I...now I wish I had the real thing!

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise  

Let It Snow! Updated!

It has snowed almost all day.  A light blustery snow that didn't amount to much while the temperature climbed over 32 degrees, though it never got much higher than that.  But this evening, everything is once again covered with the light dusting of snow that has continued to accumulate.  I am continuing to enjoy this unusual October snow fall, finding myself tickled by all sorts of things that would never seem to matter otherwise.  I'm sharing a few photos reflecting those moments...a few of my favorite things...


I took this photo last night, having hung this chime out when I knew snow was possible.  "Let it snow" is a mantra of mine whenever the moment seems right.  BTW, those tiny dots are snow falling...

This is the last of my wildflowers, like the hydrangea yesterday, I love the snow delicately sprinkled on the bloom.  I especially like the tuft of snow falling off the petal (bottom center of the photo).

Our new, almost completed deck, covered in snow.  Actually, the part closest to you is yesterday's snow, blown together from the wind, and the other side is the snow from today, probably more like snow covering ice, as what was on that side of the deck had melted.  This is one of those things I said to Johny, "be careful if you go over there because it is going to be slick!"  Let's hope I remember to heed my own advice when I go feed the birds in the morning!

The afternoon dusting of the porch.  I just love watching the snow slowly cover things.  The clump of blue green material behind the rocker is my canvas swing that usually hangs at the end of the porch, but I took it down to eliminate the potential 'sail' with all the wind we have been having.

And this is my view from the kitchen sink.  I love this view when it snows, and don't mind doing the dishes at all when this is what I am looking at.  You once again see the dots of snow, still falling, though very lightly now, though the chimes are still swinging like there is a competition going on:)

Oh yes, the song "these are a few of my favorite things" is another of my favorite things.  I still love The Sound of Music, and have been humming this tune (amongst others from the musical) to myself all day.  Between the snow and the tune, what could be better?

Perhaps you will now have one of your favorites streaming through your mind as you bring your day to a close.  What is your favorite?

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

Let It Snow!

It has snowed almost all day.  A light blustery snow that didn't amount to much while the temperature climbed over 32 degrees, though it never got much higher than that.  But this evening, everything is once again covered with the light dusting of snow that has continued to accumulate.  I am continuing to enjoy this unusual October snow fall, finding myself tickled by all sorts of things that would never seem to matter otherwise.  I'm sharing a few photos reflecting those moments...a few of my favorite things...


I took this photo last night, having hung this chime out when I knew snow was possible.  "Let it snow" is a mantra of mine whenever the moment seems right.  BTW, those tiny dots are snow falling...

This is the last of my wildflowers, like the hydrangea yesterday, I love the snow delicately sprinkled on the bloom.  I especially like the tuft of snow falling off the petal (bottom center of the photo).

Our new, almost completed deck, covered in snow.  Actually, the part closest to you is yesterday's snow, blown together from the wind, and the other side is the snow from today, probably more like snow covering ice, as what was on that side of the deck had melted.  This is one of those things I said to Johny, "be careful if you go over there because it is going to be slick!"  Let's hope I remember to heed my own advice when I go feed the birds in the morning!

The afternoon dusting of the porch.  I just love watching the snow slowly cover things.  The clump of blue green material behind the rocker is my canvas swing that usually hangs at the end of the porch, but I took it down to eliminate the potential 'sail' with all the wind we have been having.

And this is my view from the kitchen sink.  I love this view when it snows, and don't mind doing the dishes at all when this is what I am looking at.  You once again see the dots of snow, still falling, though very lightly now, though the chimes are still swinging like there is a competition going on:)

Oh yes, the song "these are a few of my favorite things" is another of my favorite things.  I still love The Sound of Music, and have been humming this tune (amongst others from the musical) to myself all day.  Between the snow and the tune, what could be better?

Perhaps you will now have one of your favorites streaming through your mind as you bring your day to a close.  What is your favorite?

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

Our First Snow & An Unexpected Guest

I was thrilled when we woke this morning to a thin sprinkling of sleet/snow covering the bird feeders, the ramp railing and the deck.  It was pretty, and a good indicator of what was in store for us.  You may be wondering why I am so excited about this...one of the reasons we decided to come live up here is we wanted to be able to experience the seasons in their entirety...from the first buds of spring to the richness of summer (I could do without the high humidity) to the full color of of the fall leaves that drop and leave a barren forest to the first snow!  And here we are, the first snow of the season!  We are actually hopeful we might be able to pull out the sled tomorrow!  With all that said, please enjoy with me this snow sprinkled hydrangea...an homage to summer and fall, and likely the last time it will be so beautifully blue!

The temperature never rose above 36 degrees today, and the wind has had the chimes singing loudly all day.  I've watched as the snow clouds shrouded the mountains, bringing us snow flurries on and off.  I thoroughly enjoy standing on the porch and watching the snow come, there is a very distinct look to the clouds and the sky as it approaches.  You can see the snow falling just beyond the trees, a very different look from when rain is approaching, which has a much grayer look to the rain.

Here is a short video of the flurries that I thought you might enjoy...(if you receive this blog by email, please go to www.liseslogcabinlife.com to be able to open the video, just click on the arrow)...it's not quite as dramatic as seeing it in person, but it gives you the idea.

As the day progressed it began  to snow; I had to share a video of that too! (You know the drill, if you receive this blog by email, please go to www.liseslogcabinlife.com to be able to open the video, just click on the arrow).

The snow has stopped for the moment and it is now dark.  We shall see what the morning will bring!

So you are waiting with baited breath to hear about our guest, are you?  Well don't let me keep you any longer...Johny's been working on a wood working project in the basement, and happened upon this little creature that was behind a plastic package that was suspended from a nail...he heard a squeak, moved the package thinking it was a mouse, and found this...just hanging out (ha ha, I'm so funny, hanging out!).

It's a little brown bat or little brown myotis!  Kind of cute in a batty sort of way.  We didn't want to disturb her (using that term because of the French name chauve-souris, which I believe is feminine), being that this is the time of year bats hibernate.  So for now, we put the package back in it's place, and left the area. I think we'll just let her hibernate!  But she sure is furry, I didn't realize bats had such long hair, and a pretty color too!

As I go to stoke the fire in the stove, I am thinking about all our friends, family and everyone else who are feeling the wrath of hurricane Sandy.  My cousin Mitch is already without power in RI, I sure hope things don't get terribly worse before they get better for folks. 

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

Frankenpear Cake & a Winter Storm Warning

Early this morning, we learned via the internet that there is a winter storm warning that includes our area (and lots of area around us); we should expect high winds and possibly 2 - 4 inches of snow between tomorrow morning (Monday) and Tuesday evening.  Yes, this is being generated by the mega storm forecasters are predicting hurricane Sandy will become when it collides with two other winter storms...I've heard it called Frankenstorm...I have to say, though I do hope no harm comes to anyone who have or will experience this storm, I am looking forward to the possibility of having our first snow storm of the year!  LET IT SNOW!

Read on to hear about this Pear Cake I made today (aka Frankenpear Cake), I do believe you will be glad you did...a cake that is made like a bread...moist with a bit of a crunchy crust, sweet and oooh those pears are good in there!

But let's talk about what happened today before we get to that...once we learned about the winter storm warning, we went to the garden and covered everything with straw; we are confident the turnips, rutabaga and beets will come through, as we understand they are winter hardy...we covered the beans, peppers, collard and mustard greens (we are a little worried about these but they are too young to harvest).  We harvested our sweet potatoes (they look funny, but they look good!), a rutabaga and turnip (they were getting pretty big) and 5 lone string beans (these things keep growing and growing...I ate them raw for lunch, still so delicious, crunchy and sweet!).

Mountain Man harvested his radishes, which were smaller and much spicier than he anticipated!

It's been rainy day, a little windy and cool with a few remnants of fall speckled about.  I saw this particularly nice view as I walked around the porch...the bright leaves contrasting the stark rain covered branches caught my eye...I though you might like it too!

Then Johny went to the store to pick up a few supplies, being that we might not be able to get out for a few days (the combination of rain, ice and snow make going down the mountain impossible).

And I decided to bake a cake!  I got this recipe from our Dogwood Crafters cook book (we were able to taste it at the Dillsboro Color Fest a few weeks ago, delicious and I intend to have the same result!). 


Oh, this reminds me, remember how I keep having trouble burning things in my oven?  Or not having my baked goods bake properly?  Well, I finally broke down and bought an oven thermometer, you know, taking a fact based approach to figuring out what the heck is going on.  And lo and behold, the oven temp runs a whole 75 degrees hotter than the oven knob setting indicates!  Can you imagine that?  My baking troubles probably have nothing to do with altitude and everything to do with oven attitude...LOL...sometimes I make myself laugh!  So I have resolved my oven temp issues by using the internal temp gauge.  How about them apples!!!

Back to...
Frankenpear Cake

These are the necessary ingredients (see above for the list)...

I followed the recipe exactly as directed.  I loved the color of the egg mixed with sugar...gorgeous yellow!

The dough is very thick but it loosens up when you add the cut pears and pecans.  I do suggest you be sure your pears are ripe and somewhat soft, which ensures both juiciness and sweetness.

The cake is perfectly delicious.  If the power goes out during Frankenstorm, and I have absolutely no way to prepare any food (not going to happen, we are well prepared and can cook on the wood burning stove), we will not go hungry! Frankenpear Cake to the rescue!

Stay safe tonight and the next few days!

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

Treasures...Old & New

We spent this morning in Franklin, taking care of things on our "to do" list, and then moseying through thrift and antique stores just for fun. Even though we were just browsing, I came across some great finds!

I have been looking for a cast iron kettle to put on my wood burning stove with water in it (this is to infuse steam into the cabin, which is quickly becoming dry as winter approaches...I will put different herbs and spices into the pot as the mood or need suits me...cinnamon and clove during the holidays, eucalyptus to sooth the lungs, whatever else might sound like a good idea or come from old timer recommendations!).  I found this Lithgow kettle in excellent condition!  I've tried finding it on the internet, but can't come across one just like it..does anyone know anything about these kettles?

I've also been keeping my eye out for a canister set for our kitchen (yes, I actually want to use them to store things!) and came across this Treasure-Craft set and a matching cookie jar...I figured I was getting a good deal as I negotiated the price with the sales person, but when I got home and researched Treasure-Craft on the internet, I discovered I got a really good deal.  The set is in excellent condition, though the lid handles can use a little shining up.  I do believe I can accomplish that:)

I haven't been looking for anything like this, but when I saw it, I really wanted to have it.  My mom used to have a set of big pots with glass lids that were similar to this, though I am not sure they were the same Guardian hammered aluminum.  I got a good deal on this too, but it was totally a sentimental purchase.

Then we discovered this new treasure, Art & Soul, that is next door to a thrift store we stopped at.  It's a shop that sells handmade items made by local artists.

We chatted for quite some time with the Proprietors Eric (in the background) and Tom (one the right).  We spoke with them about a wide variety of things, including my blog and Johny's photo art and the possibility of his becoming one of the artists exhibiting there. 

 The place has a lot of beautiful, interesting and unique items, some of which were created by Eric and Tom. 

It was a really nice to meet them and we are sure we will be back!

We both enjoyed the day thoroughly.  As we settled down, we wanted to see what PBS might have to offer this evening (we only get 3 stations on our TV through our antenna, all PBS stations) and found a show honoring good 'ol time music, including some incredible renditions of Appalachian ballads.  A perfect ending to a great day.  Sometimes, it's good to just let the day bring you what it may!  You never know what treasures you might find:)

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

Brandied Apple Encrusted Pork Tenderloin Roast

This recipe is inspired by my friend/niece Amy (x-niece in law if we are to be specific; she is cool, as are her siblings and daughter and I really like them, and whose parents are included in the cool determination here, but what is most important at this point in time is that Amy is a chef and the inspiration to this dish)...THANK YOU AMY!

We had a bunch of apples that we had 'effused' after infusing into some brandy for a while (the brandy, by the way, is delightful) and I asked Amy what I might do with these totally pungent apples.  Her response was enthusiastic and inspiring, and though I could not possibly attempt all her suggestions, I settled on an approach that would help me dress up a pork tenderloin I had thawing in the fridge.  The end result was  Brandied Apple Encrusted Pork Tenderloin Roast!  And before you read on, I have to say, this one is a real keeper, I mean, YUMMY!

 
 Ingredients:
 Funny, I didn't do my usual picture of the necessary ingredients.  I'll do my best here...
 2 cups of apples that have been infusing some kind of liquor (the infusion is not necessary, it just adds flavor)
 1 cup of apple cider
1/2 lb butter
2 tbsp fresh thyme
1 tsp dried sage (2 tbsp if you have fresh)
1 tsp chopped garlic
salt to taste (Amy said, "remember that salt brings out the flavor of everything")

Season the pork tenderloin:
(Amy cooks like I do, with 'some of this and some of that', so I am giving you my quantities).  You can't go wrong here, these seasonings are exactly what this recipe requires:)

1/2 palm full of dried garlic
1/3 palm full of cumin
1/4 palm full of smoked paprika
salt & pepper to taste
Rub the pork loin and let is rest at room temperature (while the apples are reduced)

Here we go with the process; I can't say this is per Amy's recipe, but we have both stated that we would love to cook together...maybe that day will come down the road.  For now, this is my version of my Amy inspired dish! 

Roast the apples in the oven (Amy said cast iron is preferred, and as you know I completely agree), at 375 degrees until tender.  My apples did not get tender, so I added some apple cider, about 1/2 cup.

Shortly after I added the apple cider, I poured the apples into the same glass jar they came from (brandy juice was in the bottom), added the thyme, sage and garlic, and used an immersion blender to whirl it all up.  Oh, if you put hot stuff into a glass container, put a piece of metal, like a skewer, into the container, which will help conduct the heat; you can also put it onto a wooden surface, like a cutting board, which will help conduct the heat as well...I did both, being that I have cracked more than one glass container by forgetting these rules, and therefore ruined the beginning of a dish!

 Then I used the cast iron roasting pan it came from, added some butter, and created a warm apple spread. 

 I removed the spread from the pan, seared the pork tenderloin in the same pan, then covered the loin with the apple spread.  I put the pan back in the oven at 375 degrees until the meat reached 140 degrees (mine actually reached 200 but it was still juicy and perfectly done; perhaps the thick spread helps keep all the juices from escaping).

 When the meat was cooked, I put the pan under the broiler to crisp the top of the apple crust. 

 
 The end result was a Brandied Apple Encrusted Pork Tenderloin that was perfectly cooked, encrusted with an apple spread that was both subtly sweet and tangy with brandy!

I forgot to mention a few things.  The apples still had the peels on them.  I am one for keeping all the parts of the fruit when cooking (and come on, it's good fiber, a thing that at this point in life, you want more of).

I also made a sauce by removing the pork roast from the pan, letting it rest a bit (Amy's suggestion) and putting a bit more butter and a little more of the apple topping spread, let it come to a bubble, added a splash of the apple brandy we had made from those apples, and stirred.  You can see the sauce in the first picture I posted. 

Now, I am not one to brag.  But I must admit, this pork roast was delicious.  The hints of thyme and sage were perfect, and spices I never would have thought to introduce to this menu had I not asked Amy.  And I must give credit to Amy, who's culinary expertise was the guiding light to this excellent meal. 

I hope you decide to try it, though I give you fair warning that this is a time intensive meal. I made home made mashed potatoes (Johny/Mountain Man loves them) and the last of our garden green beans, the preparation of the roasted apples, then the spread, then the pork, then the sauce, is time consuming.  But it is worth the effort!

Thanks again Amy!  This recipe is a keeper:)

You are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

Windows of Possibility

I took this picture from the inside of an old barn we like to visit...the image made me think about all the possibilities.

Life is full of possibilities.  Something about looking out this window made me a more aware of all the possibilities than I usually think about.  Some of those thoughts included...

The possibility that this lone new squash I found in the garden this morning may actually make it to full maturity (if mother nature cooperates)...

The possibility that this hydrangea will be the last bloom of the season.  The possibility that if mother nature cooperates, I could have a really beautiful dried hydrangea bloom to enjoy throughout the winter (if you allow hydrangea blooms to begin to dry on the stem, and then cut and allow the drying process to continue, they preserve extremely well as dried flowers).

The possibility that this 4 foot tall stem of wildflowers I planted long ago may actually bloom (if mother nature cooperates).  Even if it doesn't bloom, I am pleased with the fact, a totally different concept than possibility, that the wildflower seeds I planted actually turned into something possible!

The possibility that I might begin to raise chickens...this rooster was at the same barn as the window and I found myself captured by his handsome, charming and somewhat protective demeanor (of his lady friends) and once again inspired with the possibility of raising chickens.  This has nothing to do with mother nature cooperating!

Does looking through the window cause you to think about possibilities?  For some of my family and friends, hurricane Sandy sure is causing thought about the possibilities...let's hope mother nature cooperates and brings no harm to the eastern coastline and thereabouts...

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

It's A Perfect Indian Summer Day

Well, this is not exactly an Indian Summer day, being that we have yet to have our first frost.  But the early afternoon temperature has been reaching toward 70 degrees for the past couple of days, high enough to open all the windows and take off the "fall wear" and revert to late summer apparel (makes great weather for working outside, we are building a "rain shield" under the deck, can't wait to share those details with you!).  The sky has been perfectly blue with hardly a cloud.  Almost all the leaves have fallen, and for those still clinging to the trees, they are dried and brown and float beautifully in the wind as they make their final descent to help create the blanket below. 

One of my favorite newly rediscovered delights, something I used to do as a child and had forgotten about, is crunching through the blanket of fallen leaves that cover almost every inch of the ground.  The sound is both exciting and comforting.  I remember when I was a child (just yesterday I believe), my siblings and I (the ones who were old enough) used to jump into the piles of leaves my father would rake up; while the memory brings me incredibly warm memories, I would not jump into a pile of leaves today, (mostly because there aren't any piles, we leave them spread about like a forest quilt, and honestly, if there were piles, I am not so sure my body, though it still insists it is youthful, would appreciate the act of jumping into them), but the pleasure I get from crunching through the blanket with every step, and giving a good kick to watch them fly ahead of me, is a joy-filled experience that brings out the child in me and makes me love these Indian Summer days all the more!  Here is a brief video, capturing the sound of the crunching.  I hope you enjoy (if you are receiving this by email, you may need click on www.liseslogcabinlife.com to be able to click the start button on the video).

Ahhh, Indian Summer.  Perfect while it lasts.  Have I told you lately how grateful I am to be living this log cabin life?  I am!

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

Restoring Cast Iron The Old Timer Way, Part 2

Yesterday I shared the first steps of restoring your cast iron  the way the old timer's used to do it (click on the link to read more).  Today, we finish the process.

Here are the 3 pieces I put in the fire yesterday to burn all the ugliness from them.  After letting them cool completely...

...clean with a steel wool or copper cleaning pad and warm water, scrub the charred pan(s) inside and out (this will be the last time your cast iron will see water except for extreme circumstances). 

 Then dry the pan(s) completely; I first dry with a paper towel, then I let the sun finish the job.

Now it is time for seasoning.  If you discover that your cast iron does not have a smooth surface, you may want to repeat the cleansing by fire step.  I considered putting them into the fire once more, but when I felt the surfaces, they were all bare cast iron with no remnants of crud.  So I decided to move on to the seasoning phase, though there is nothing to say if I am not happy with the end results, that I can't go back to the fire pit and start all over again.

When looking closely, you can see that there are a few remaining spots of darker areas that may well need another cleansing by fire.

After all the pans are dry, put a little oil into the pan (I use olive oil, even though it has a low smoking point, I prefer the smell and the effect on the cast iron and I use a low temp/long baking approach so there is not enough heat to smoke the oil), though I've heard tell using a thin layer of cooking fat (like Crisco) is preferred by some.  Spread the oil with a paper towel, inside and out.  Put the pan(s) into the oven at 200 degrees for two hours.  Don't open the door to peek in, even if you are sorely tempted to do it!

After my pans came out of the oven the first time, I decided to put them in with another coat of oil and another 2 hours in the oven.

This is what I started with, before the fire pit cleansing...

...and this is where I am after 2 rounds of seasoning.  I may do one more seasoning round tomorrow, but I'll wait and see how everything looks and feels.  What you want is a smooth cooking surface with a nice glaze of baked on oil, no stickiness (if sticky, wipe that off with a paper towel and season again).  Cast iron will continue to season with every use (it gets better and better!).

Now once you have your cast iron seasoned, how do you keep it that way?  After each use, clean it with a paper towel (never use soap and water only if absolutely necessary), preferably while it is still warm.  I sometimes use salt to help get up bits that are stuck to the pan; just put a little in the pan and scrub with your paper towel.  After you have cleaned it, rub cooking oil into the pan while it is still warm, wiping up any excess (if it's already cool, rub on the oil and either put it in a low oven or on the stove top on low for a little while, just enough to "melt" the oil into the pan).  Wipe out any excess oil and let it cool and then store.  Do not stack your cast iron, if you must, put a paper towel between them to avoid moisture build up.  Moisture is the enemy of cast iron!  I hang my pans on the wall above my wood burning stove; this helps to keep the moisture away from them. 

One other pointer for cast iron...seems contradictory, but the best way to ensure your cast iron continues to season properly is to use metal utensils when cooking.  I used to think I should use anything but metal, but have since learned that it helps in making sure the bottom stays smooth. 

There is nothing better than a perfectly seasoned cast iron pan.  It is true, it takes a lot of effort and patience to get it to that point, but once there, cooking in cast iron is, well, perfection!  One of my favorite recipes is good old fashioned buttermilk corn bread!  Crispy on the outside, silky on the inside...deliciousness!

Do you use cast iron?  Do you have favorite recipes you'd like to share?  Please do, I'd love to hear them!

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise