Supper

[Diancecht]

we have to figure out where to put it. that’s the limiting factor in our kitchen. i can’t imagine three just yet.

[Wilfrid]

Too much chicken liver. Last night in a kind of burrito with crema and cilantro, tonight breaded and fried with lemon wedges. Done with it for a while.

[voyager]

4 hours ago, Diancecht said:

i think a cast-iron pan will be on my birthday list this year.

 

If you want the superior quality of vintage cast iron (I'm using some that might be 100 years old), drop by Cookin' on Divisidero.   Tell owner July that her fellow Francophile sent you.   She's not cheap but she is a bearcat for quality.   Or go to the Sunday Alemany flea market where you'll find sellers with decent stuff.  

 

[Sneakeater]

I inherited my cast iron from my wife.  I have no idea when or where she got it.  There is no question it’ll long outlast me as well.  I hope our nieces and great nieces appreciate it. 

[joethefoodie]

Griswold (Erie) and Wagner are my choices for vintage...but they command collectible prices when being sold by people who know they are collectible (find a nice garage sale in the middle of bumfuck and you might get lucky).

That stuff was made differently than most new stuff - polished smooth, so as to make it easier to become nonstick as it was seasoned. Not pebbly, like most cast iron one might see now.

However, if I were buying a new piece or two, I'd look at this stuff - it's gorgeous (and polished).

https://smithey.com/collections/castiron

Have you given any thought to, or do you own any, carbon steel?  Some of my favorite pans to cook with, much lighter generally, and they become smooth as glass with proper care.

Still kicking myself over getting rid of a vintage cast iron Dutch oven, but the sucker took up a lot of space, to say nothing of what it weighed.

[voyager]

What joe says.    IMHO, CI is more forgiving than carbon steel.   And you don't have to go all the way to bumfuck.    There are dozens of weekend sales on Craig's list every week.   And old kitchen ware goes pretty cheep.    Check Castro and outer zipcodes for good sales.

 

[Diancecht]

i’m thinking of getting one because we don’t have any oven proof pans, for things like frittata and dutch babies.

my inlaws gifted me this 11 piece set from sardel but i wouldn’t dream of putting any in the oven. 

[Diancecht]

thanks for the recs, will definitely look into those closer to xmas

[joethefoodie]

5 minutes ago, Diancecht said:

my inlaws gifted me this 11 piece set from sardel but i wouldn’t dream of putting any in the oven. 

Why not - it's all oven safe.

[Diancecht]

i guess i’m just scared of what might happen since one of the people who helped with the gift is no longer with us. hubby’s sister died last year after having suffered from cancer.

[joethefoodie]

4 minutes ago, Diancecht said:

i guess i’m just scared of what might happen since one of the people who helped with the gift is no longer with us. hubby’s sister died last year after having suffered from cancer.

That sucks. I don't think anything can happen to them; it's as if they have a guardian angel.

[Diancecht]

grazie, joe

[voyager]

Grazing all day in the country -> Brussels sprouts in mustard vinaigrette

Super blitzed cauliflower soup with sliced seared sausage

View from the kitchen window

[Diancecht]

braised lamb with mint

green salad, shallot vinaigrette 

strawberries, 25 yr. old balsamic, black pepper

[StephanieL]

--Grilled spatchcocked chicken that N had marinated in a combination of herbs, spices, and white wine before grilling.  (And no, she didn't do the spatchcocking herself--we have a very good butcher for that.)
--Bread salad: Beckmann's stuffing mix, RG Mayacobas, grilled butternut squash, broccoli, and radishes, balsamic vinegar, and various seasonings
--For dessert, a beer float, using Elysian Brewing's Split Shot espresso milk stout