Sam's Place: cast iron pans

Showing posts with label cast iron pans. Show all posts

Cast Iron Fried Potatoes

I love cooking with my cast iron skillet. These cast-iron fried potatoes will make a perfect side dish for any meal. These little baby yellow potatoes are very versatile. You can use them for just about anything, baked, sauteed, mashed, roasted, I choose the fry them.

These little baby yellow potatoes are firm white potatoes with thin skin. They're perfect for my cast iron skillet.

I first rinsed them in cold water and then dried them. Leaving the skin on, I sliced the potatoes about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. You can cut them any way that you like, sliced or quartered.

I covered the bottom of my 10-inch cast-iron skillet with olive oil, then added 2 tablespoons of butter. Let this heat up over medium heat. I cut the potatoes while waiting for the pan to heat up.

I love cooking with garlic, so, I chopped a clove of garlic and added it to the skillet. Let this heat up until the garlic becomes fragrant. Now add the potatoes and begin to stir.

As they cook, add a generous amount of Italian seasoning. Add sea salt and black pepper to your taste. Continue to move and toss the potatoes as they cook. This will prevent them from sticking and cooking too much on one side. Cook until the potatoes are golden brown.

Now, you have a quick, easy, and perfect side dish for any meal. Try these delicious little potatoes with my Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Steak.

As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy it!

The Lodge Brand is my go-to cast iron skillet

Lodge L8SK3 Cast Iron Skillet and Ready for Stove Top or Oven Use, 10.25", Black

Lodge 10.5 Inch Square Cast Iron Grill Pan. Pre-seasoned Grill Pan with Easy Grease Draining for Grilling Bacon, Steak, and Meats.

Alfredo Cheese Pizza Recipe

Our grandson Bobby came over with this delicious alfredo cheese pizza recipe. Bobby loves to cook and is turning into quite the chef.

But first, let me tell you about another use for a cast-iron skillet. We needed a pizza stone for this recipe and didn't have one.

So, Bobby found out that you can use a cast-iron skillet in place of a pizza stone. Just place the cast iron skillet in the oven upside down at 500 degrees for 20 minutes.

After the pizza dough was made, it was divided into four equal pieces. If you need a pizza dough recipe try my All-Purpose Dough Recipe here. Or you can pick up the fresh dough at your local grocery store.

Take one part of your dough and spread it out on a floured 10-inch plate. Use a spatula to spread half of the alfredo sauce on top, then add shredded mozzarella cheese.

Using oven mitts to take the skillet out of the oven and place it on a wooden cutting board. Carefully transfer the pizza from the plate to the bottom of the cast-skillet.

Place it back in the oven for only five minutes, then slide the pizza onto a rack to cool slightly before cutting.

Bobby made four pizzas, two with alfredo sauce, and two tomato sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. The outcome was amazing, these pizzas were delicious with a nice crunch.

Oh, I almost forgot, here is the recipe for the alfredo sauce.

Ingredients

6 or 7 cloves of garlic (diced)

3 tablespoons Olive Oil

1/4 cup grated Romano Cheese

Heavy Cream (enough to cover the bottom of the pan)

Directions

In a 10-inch skillet, add olive oil and garlic.
Cook over medium heat until the garlic begins to sweat.
Add the heavy cream, enough to cover the bottom of the pan.
Add the Romano cheese and stir.
Continue stirring until the sauce is smooth.

As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy it.

You might like to try some of my other pizza recipes

Homemade Mozzarella Tomato and Basil Pizza

Cast Iron Skillet Deep Dish Pizza

Fresh Tomato Spinach Pizza

How to make Homemade Pizza

Poor Man's Pizza My Grandmother's Recipe

Cast Iron Skillet Apple Pie

We are now into the fall season and here in Western New York, we have plenty of beautiful colors all over the trees. It's time to fill the house with those wonderful aromas of cinnamon and spice. Baking this cast iron skillet apple pie did just that.

I love cooking with my cast iron skillet. This iron skillet apple pie is so easy to make, and I'm sure it will be a family favorite.

With pie crust made from scratch and, a layer of brown sugar and melted butter on the bottom of the skillet that bakes into the pie crust, makes this one a fall favorite.

Cast Iron Skillet Apple Pie: Crust

2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup Crisco (Cold)

6 to 8 tablespoons of Ice Water

You can make your own pie crust or buy it already made. I made my own by adding the flour, and the Crisco (Cold and cut into small pieces) into my KitchenAid mixing bowl.

Using the flat bar I turned it on low speed and began adding the cold water one tablespoon at a time until the dough was formed.

Then, I divided the dough into two equal pieces. I wrapped them and set them in the refrigerator while I prepared the apples.

Cast Iron Skillet Apple Pie: Filling

4 large Granny Smith Apples (Peeled, cored, and sliced)

3/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons flour or cornstarch

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

I mixed all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Then, placed it in the refrigerator while I prepared my cast iron skillet and the pie crust.

For the bottom of the cast iron skillet:

1/2 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

Melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in and spread the brown sugar until it is absorbed and covers the bottom of a 10-inch cast-iron skillet. Remove it from the heat and roll out your dough. It's best to roll out the pie crust between wax paper or parchment paper.

Place the bottom pie crust over the brown sugar mixture in the skillet. Fill the skillet with the apple mixture. Then place the top crust and form the edges together.

Cut 4 to 6 slits in the top of the pie crust. I brushed the top with 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Then sprinkled some sugar and cinnamon on top. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

The crust was flakey and tender and the filling was sweet, with a nice buttery, brown sugar bottom. If you like your apple pie on the tart side, cut back on the sugar or eliminate the brown sugar in the filling.

As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy it!

You might also like my Muffin Tin Apple Pies

Muffin Tin Apple Pie

Simple Fried Green Tomatoes

Fall is such a beautiful time of the year, and also the end of our garden season. There are always green tomatoes left on the vines of our plants. Don't let them go to waste, make these simple fried green tomatoes.

These fried green tomatoes make a perfect appetizer, snack or delicious side dish to go with any meal. I don't think my fried green tomatoes are going to win any awards, but they sure are tasty and easy to make.

The first thing was to slice the tomatoes. Then, I poured about 1/8-inch of peanut oil into the bottom of my Cast Iron Skillet and set it on medium.

While the oil was heating up, I prepared a dredging station with one cup flour, 2 beaten eggs, and two cups of Seasoned Panko Bread Crumbs.

Once the oil was ready I dredged one slice of tomato at a time. First in the flour, then the egg and last the bread crumbs. Placing them in the hot oil for only about 10 seconds per side until golden brown.
Then place them on a plate with lined with paper towels.

This is my simple method for fried green tomatoes. As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy it.

Lodge 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Pre-Seasoned Skillet – Signature Teardrop Handle - Use in the Oven, on the Stove, on the Grill, or Over a Campfire, Black

Cast Iron Skillet Pork Chops

It's winter here in Western New York, and there is nothing better to get you through those cold days than some good fashioned comfort food. I decided to make some cast iron skillet pork chops.

This is another quick and easy meal to put on the table after a long day at work. Fran picked up some thin cut bone-in pork chops at the grocery store the other day. I had everything else that I needed to make these cast iron skillet pork chops.

First I minced a clove of garlic and chopped a medium onion. Heated 2 tablespoons of olive oil in my cast iron skillet. Then I cooked the garlic, and onions with 2 cups of fresh sliced mushrooms until they were tender. About 5 to 7 minutes over medium heat.

I removed this from the pan into another bowl. I added the four pork chops and browned them on both sides. Seasoned with salt and pepper. About 5 minutes per side.

After the pork chops were browned, I returned the mushroom mixture back into the skillet. Then added a 12oz. jar of Heinz Pork Gravy. I covered the skillet and let it cook for 20 minutes over medium heat.

Cast Iron Skillet Pork Chops:

Ingredients

4 Thin cut bone-in pork chops
1 clove garlic minced
1 medium onion chopped
2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
1- 12oz jar pork gravy
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper

Directions

Heat the oil in the cast iron skillet and cook the mushrooms, garlic, and onions over medium heat until tender.
Remove from the skillet and set aside.
Brown the pork chops on both sides seasoned with salt and pepper. About 5 minutes per side.
Return the mushroom mixture, pour in the gravy, cover and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes.

That's all there is to it. In about 40 minutes you'll have this delicious comfort food on the table and your family is going to love it. Serve with your favorite vegetable or baked potato. We had baked sweet potatoes as our side dish.

Note: I used thin cut pork chops. If you use a thicker cut of chops you may want to cook for more than 20 minutes. The guideline internal temperature for pork is 145 degrees with 3 minutes of rest time.

As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy!

Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron 3 Skillet Bundle. 12 inches and 10.25 inches with 8 inch Set of 3 Cast Iron Frying Pans

Cast Iron Skillet Deep Dish Pizza

I've been wanting to make my own cast iron deep-dish pizza ever since I visited Chicago some years ago. If you're ever in Chicago don't miss trying the famous Chicago-style deep-dish pizza.

I enjoy cooking in my cast iron skillets so I thought the deep dish pizza was a perfect fit. Pizza is just one of those dishes that is so versatile. Choose the toppings that you like meats, veggies, and even fruit.

I made this one with Italian sausage, pepperoni, fresh mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese. So, I'll call this one a deep-dish meat-lover pizza.

This dough recipe is a little different than my Easy All-Purpose Dough Recipe

Cast Iron Skillet Deep Dish Pizza: Dough

4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cornmeal

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons white sugar

1-1/4 cup warm water

1/4 cup light olive oil

1 package dry yeast

First, I dissolved the yeast by adding the warm water and dry yeast into my KitchenAid Stand Mixer bowl. While waiting for that to happen, in a separate bowl I mixed together the flour, cornmeal, basil, salt, and sugar.

Then, I added the olive oil to the water and yeast. I began adding one cup of the dry mixture at a time while mixing with the dough hook.

When the ball of dough was formed I kneaded the dough by hand on a floured surface turning it over about five or six times. Lightly coat it with oil put it in a covered bowl in a warm place and let it rise for about one hour.

Cast Iron Skillet Deep Dish Pizza: Toppings

1/2 lb. Italian bulk sausage cooked and crumbled

10 slices of pepperoni

1-1/2 cups fresh mushrooms

2 cups mozzarella cheese

Parmesan Cheese (grated)

Romano Cheese (grated)

Cast Iron Skillet Deep Dish Pizza: Sauce

1- 28oz. can crushed tomatoes
1- 14.5oz. can diced tomatoes (drained)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 clove garlic minced
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

I mixed all of the sauce ingredients together in a medium bowl and set it aside while preparing the toppings.

The dough recipe is enough to make two deep dish pizzas so I divided it in half. I used the other half to make a regular pizza.

I spread half of the dough into the bottom of my greased 10-inch cast-iron skillet and worked it up the sides.

I layered the bottom with shredded mozzarella, added some sauce, and then the sausage and pepperoni.

Next, I added a little more sauce and the mushrooms then a little more sauce over the mushrooms and more shredded mozzarella. Then sprinkle the Parmesan and Romano cheese over the top.

I didn't fill it all the way to the top as it will rise while it's cooking. It's a good idea to place a cookie sheet under the skillet while cooking just in case it spills over.

I covered the pan with tin foil and baked it on the center rack at 450 degrees for 20 minutes. Then Baked for 12 more minutes uncovered until the edges were golden brown.

My first cast iron skillet deep dish pizza was a huge success. One nice slice of this about makes a complete meal.

Lodge 10 Inch Cast Iron Chef Skillet. Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Pan with Sloped Edges for Sautes and Stir Fry.

KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer K45SS, Onyx Black

Norpro Wood Pastry/Pizza Roller 4.25in/10

Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Steak

Cast Iron Skillet Steaks

Spring is on the way but not yet here in Western New York. So, how do you cook a really good steak in the winter without your grill? Iron skillet steak cooking is the way to make a perfect steak.

I had a one pound strip steak about 1-inch thick. I realized the best way to cook this was in my cast iron skillet.

The first thing that I did was preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

I chopped up two cloves of fresh garlic because I like garlic. Then covered the bottom of my cast iron skillet with olive oil.

I set the burner to medium-high while I seasoned my steak.

I seasoned my steak on both sides with salt, pepper, and McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning.

I firmly pressed the seasoning into both sides of the steak with my fingers.

By this time the cast iron pan was hot. I cooked the steak exactly 3 minutes per side.

Then I place the cast iron skillet into the oven and cooked it for 10 minutes.

I wanted my steak to be medium rare. Using my digital thermometer I made sure that I had an internal temperature of 140 degrees.

I let my steak rest for 4 to 5 minutes before cutting into it.

Cooking time may vary by the thickness of your steak.

Internal Temperatures:

Rare	130 to 135°F
Medium Rare	140°F
Medium	155°F
Well Done	165°F

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes (includes Rest Time)
Serving: 1 to 2 people (16oz. steak)

This steak was so tender, juicy and full of flavor. What I like best about cooking with my cast iron is you can go from stovetop to oven. Just make sure you have a good oven mitt to take the pan out of the oven.

As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy.