Cast Iron Annoyingness

Recently, the husby and I decided to switch out our trusty Calphalon cook wear for something newer. After over seven years of use, it was time for them to go. Bryant was convinced the exterior coloring that was wiping off on our hands was going to cause us to grow three heads or something.  (It turns out the non-stick pots and pans we had are NOT dishwasher safe. Oops. It only took seven years to figure it out.)

So anyway, we decided to not only replace our set, but also cut down on the number of them we owned. 

We went from six or seven pieces to only three. (We kept an extra large stainless steel pot). Because let's be real. Bryant only uses one pot to cook Quinoa and one other to saute veggies.... and me? Well, I don't cook. 

So without any research or anything, we jumped on Amazon and ordered these two cast-iron pieces.

 

Now, remember when I mentioned above that we have been putting our non-stick items in the dishwasher for the past seven years? Well, I'll be honest with you - it was due to sheer laziness and not a lack of knowing how to properly care for them. But don't judge me. Who likes to HANDWASH anything these days?

Not me.

Well...

I'm here to inform you.

These items above? Well, they are not dishwasher safe either.

NOR can you just wash them and put them away.

Oh, no...

You must "treat" them after every use.

SERIOUSLY????

After HANDwashing them, they must be dried immediately, and then "seasoned" with a light coat of vegetable oil.

SERIOUSLY.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that these things are heavier than a dead preacher. The label should come with a warning sign that reads: 

Not a joke.

I almost broke myself last night lifting the Dutch Oven one into the sink. Water and soap was everywhere.

However, with all that being said, they cook great!! So if you are interested in pre and post treating all your cookware and throwing out your back on a daily basis, I recommend investing in this bad boy and this bad boy!

They Call Me Dean....Paula Dean.

Well, it happened.  And everyone lived through it.  Myself.  McKenna.  Bryant.  The dogs.  The house.  The neighboorhood.  Wow.  A miracle.  A sign from God that his time for us is not up yet.  Yes.  I'm talking about Thanksgiving Dinner 2009.  What was different about this Thanksgiving meal verse years' past?  Well, let's just say that the cooks in my family (a.k.a Bryant, my mom, my aunt, my Grandma, my M.I.L, or anybody else's Thanksgiving dinner I've devoured!) passed the apron, so to speak....to me!  Oh Jesus.  This could have been bad.  Real bad.  Let me preface by saying that I have royally messed up all of the following while attempting to do what they call "cook:"  hard boiled eggs, chicken noodle soup (Campbell's....only to be heated up), Easy Mac, & cheese quesadilla's.  These are all validated.  No lie.  Ask the unfortunate members of my family.  They can, and will, verify. 

I decided to document my Turkey Day adventures in the kitchen with a few photos.  This way there were photos available for insurance purposes after the fact. 

Rather than frying, roasting, basting (what does that even mean?), plucking, or whatever else you can do to a turkey, Bryant & I decided to use the good 'ole crockpot & slowly cook that bad boy to a crisp.  I might have let Bryant take care of decapitating it so that it would fit in the pot.....that weird feeling of mushy, fleshy, dead meat gives me the heebie jeebies & quite frankly makes me want to vomit.  Once it was small enough to fit, we threw a smorgasbord of random crap in there and let it sit for 8 hours.  Nice.  My kind of cooking.

This is what we like to call Obbessive Compulsive Disorder.... I might have HAD to put each items in the container that it would be served in before they were even cooked.  Doing this made everything right in my life. :-)

While the turkey was basting, baking, or whatever it is that turkey's do in crockpots, I decided to make a scrumptcious cheesecake....from scratch of course. 

So to make cheesecake (from scratch), all you have to add is butter....wish I would have seen how easy it was to measure butter before I started scooping it. Damn.

 Regardless, the ending product was in the words of my girl, Rachel Ray, delish.  :-)

Lucy enjoyed the cheesecake too....while Cami just thought she was in trouble for some reason.  Pansie.

Then it was nap & wine break time!!  :-)  World's best baby sitter right here!  Cheers!

I busted out the fine china for the occassion.  Booyah! 

Our feast!  And despite the couple "bumps in the road," like the first round of stuffing burning & almost running out of wine.....it was delicious.  A day for the record books! 

  And then the smell of turkey left-overs & dog food almost made me ralph.  Awesome.