Cooking chit chat

[xolady]

Ok I have been baking like a maniac!!! I spent about $50 on expensive stuff to bake. Yesterday I burned 5 tray's of cookies, I am so mad about burning this stuff. I bake for everyone of my neighbors and I also mail x-mas cookies to my family. I'm about to pull my hair out strand by strand!!!LOL I'm also getting crazy about a few other things that have been going on but can't post anything about it or I'm sure some one will delete it!!!

[MrsDeeKay]

Sorry you are having a hard time. Praying things turn around for you soon!!

[jadah]

At least you're baking. I'd eat the burned cookies. Shoot! I'd eat the dough!

[sidewalker]

I got a new pan for Christmas.
Id mentioned in passing I'd like a cast iron pan to my hub a while back.
Not sure why but he got me the one with the grill marks thingys on it.

I used it for the roast I did yesterday. Ug. gonna have to get used to it.
Bitch to clean, even after I added some of the spray stuff (pam-like)
It cooked nicely enough but I cooked it too long or it got too hot. Ticked me off.
Roast was good even still.....but just no pink in the middle. darn it.

[xolady]

Originally Posted by sidewalker

I got a new pan for Christmas.
Id mentioned in passing I'd like a cast iron pan to my hub a while back.
Not sure why but he got me the one with the grill marks thingys on it.

I used it for the roast I did yesterday. Ug. gonna have to get used to it.
Bitch to clean, even after I added some of the spray stuff (pam-like)
It cooked nicely enough but I cooked it too long or it got too hot. Ticked me off.
Roast was good even still.....but just no pink in the middle. darn it.

Cast Iron cookware is great!!! But you really have to practice on using it!!! I have a huge skillet that I bought at a yard sale and brought it home and scrubbed it raw!! Well I have had to season it a bunch of times to get it right. Plus you are never supposed to wash with soap!!!LOL I know I was like WTF as if I would ever use something that wasn't washed with soap!!! Anyway I use mine for a ton of things baking is great but honestly for roasts I buy throw away pans!!! Sear the outside then cook on 300 for 1 hour and they are rare in middle and the rest is medium rare.

[sidewalker]

Yeah, I read a bunch of different ways.
I think I could have skipped the part where it said to cook it on a high temp for like 15 min, then turn down the oven.

This one was already preseasoned (the pan)
It does state you can use soap on it, but Ive also heard your not supposed to use soap. You do have to dry them off really well after you wash.
Since this one has the uneven bottom (the grill lines) its gonna be a bitch. Need to resist the urge to get out a grill brush, from the bbq

I had purchased one of those large enameled pots with a lid a few months ago. I love that thing.
Probably be pulling that out this week to make a beef stew. Ive been craving that.

[xolady]

I use course salt to clean mine and steel wool!!! Even the preseasoned have to be seasoned each time you clean it. I use extra virgin olive oil after I clean it turn oven to 450 put it in oven for around 1/2 hour then shut oven off let cool. Then store it in a big airtight plastic bag. I can't help myself I have to clean it or I can'r use it!!!LOL

[sidewalker]

I was remembering salt was good to use. i just was to lazy yesterday. haha.
Now to find room in the cupboard for it.
Hub was looking for a spot for it, so I just told him to put it in the drawer under the stove. (gotta remember to pull the stuff in there out later today. I wanna run the oven clean....I spilled some juice when I was taking it out of the oven yesterday....you forget how heavy those suckers are)

[xolady]

That drawer is a bread warmer!!! I never knew that until recently I always thought it was a storage drawer!! When I had a gas stove/oven it was the broiler!!! Now I know why my mother never liked to broil!!!

[sidewalker]

My old oven used to have the broiler there...(we also have a gas stove)
Ive never used the thing for anything really. The broiler now is on the top. I rarely use it cause Im afraid of starting a fire! lol

Im even nervous to use the automatic oven clean cycle. But I gotta do it.
Only done that once before. It does heat the kitchen up nicely tho. A plus.

[xolady]

Originally Posted by sidewalker

My old oven used to have the broiler there...(we also have a gas stove)
Ive never used the thing for anything really. The broiler now is on the top. I rarely use it cause Im afraid of starting a fire! lol

Im even nervous to use the automatic oven clean cycle. But I gotta do it.
Only done that once before. It does heat the kitchen up nicely tho. A plus.

I had a brand new electric oven in my first apartment. I caught the oven on fire broiling a flank steak!!! I've messed up quite a few kitchen gadgets over the years!!! Love self cleaning ovens!!! I used mine like all the time just to use it!!! Now I don't have one and you can tell!!!LOL

[nimuay]

Once your cast iron is seasons (or if it comes that way), just swish with water and a little soap if necessary, or scrub with kosher salt and rinse. After that - and this is the important part - put it on a burner to heat off all the water! Don't do a huge re-heat, just get all the water out of the pores of the pan. The rub a little oil on the pan, but very, very little (like a couple of drops smeared around with a paper towel), and not olive oil. Flax seed oil is good. Then it's good to use. No need to store in plastic once it's properly dried over the burner. (I have cast iron from the size of a single pancake to a 12-inch, and a dutch oven and biscuit pans; never need to do more than I've just outlined.)

[sidewalker]

Good to know about not using olive oil in the pan. (note to self...get some different oil)
Its similar to this one
https://www.target.com/p/lodge-cast-...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

[xolady]

Originally Posted by nimuay

Once your cast iron is seasons (or if it comes that way), just swish with water and a little soap if necessary, or scrub with kosher salt and rinse. After that - and this is the important part - put it on a burner to heat off all the water! Don't do a huge re-heat, just get all the water out of the pores of the pan. The rub a little oil on the pan, but very, very little (like a couple of drops smeared around with a paper towel), and not olive oil. Flax seed oil is good. Then it's good to use. No need to store in plastic once it's properly dried over the burner. (I have cast iron from the size of a single pancake to a 12-inch, and a dutch oven and biscuit pans; never need to do more than I've just outlined.)

Why not olive oil?? I always use it, as it can take high heat and not burn? The reason I store it in plastic is to keep dust and other stuff like dog hair from getting on it!!!

[safran]

I think of dog hair as roughage, a friend views it as a condiment.

[xolady]

Originally Posted by safran

I think of dog hair as roughage, a friend views it as a condiment.

I'm a little to shall I dare say OCD for that!!!

[nimuay]

Originally Posted by xolady

Why not olive oil?? I always use it, as it can take high heat and not burn? The reason I store it in plastic is to keep dust and other stuff like dog hair from getting on it!!!

Because it goes rancid so easily.

[nimuay]

Originally Posted by safran

I think of dog hair as roughage, a friend views it as a condiment.

In horse circles (where almost everyone also owns dogs), it's just normal. We show up in formal black with dog hair, sitting on a couch equals dog hair, cleaning the heating vents is an absolute must, and if it's in food - oh well.

[xolady]

Originally Posted by nimuay

Because it goes rancid so easily.

That's what I thought but I use it faster then I buy it!!! Regular oil goes rancid also, I keep it in the refrigerator as I don't use much regular oil.

[nimuay]

Flax seed oil, especially when applied to a hot pan (from the drying) tends to become a lacquer and reseal the pan with "black rust" better than others.

Hey, whatever works for you.

[safran]

Originally Posted by xolady

I'm a little to shall I dare say OCD for that!!!

Imagine that!

[xolady]

Originally Posted by safran

Imagine that!

Just almost peed my pants. Thanks I had my neighbor pass away and not in a good way, if there is one. I have been like a total psycho about germs so everything gets washed scrubbed and sanitized over and over!!! I drove to walmart at night 30 miles and bought 10 gallons of bleach, no joke. I have to actually go to the doctors because I'm having ptsd over this. I had this happen years before from a traumatic event and it just totally is back like its happening all over again.I haven't slept and broke my phone right after this happened screwed up my internet and am just barely getting by!!! But other then that I'm good and so is the mutt!!!

[safran]

Oh no! So when you get too stressed you start cleaning?

I don't like thinking of you driving at night like that though; I try to only drive at night or in bad weather only if it is mandatory and by mandatory I mean to rescue a dog.

Have you replaced your phone? Ya gotta have a phone! I never talk on my phone, but I have it with me at all times - I leave it just outside the bathroom door when I shower "just in case".

[xolady]

Originally Posted by safran

Oh no! So when you get too stressed you start cleaning?

I don't like thinking of you driving at night like that though; I try to only drive at night or in bad weather only if it is mandatory and by mandatory I mean to rescue a dog.

Have you replaced your phone? Ya gotta have a phone! I never talk on my phone, but I have it with me at all times - I leave it just outside the bathroom door when I shower "just in case".

I had blood everywhere all over my front door and porch the walk way. I had 4 gallons of bleach and was like I need more and I couldn't sleep. I had my phone I tried to replace my phone but somehow speaking to the agent I ended up not and upping my coverage!! I can still use the phone but I have the screen scotch taped!!!LOL I spent all day trying to get my old phone to work but no such luck its locked and I can't get it unlocked. I don't know the passcode for the account I changed servers because I had no service in my old house I had to drive like two miles to make a call. Anyway I am just going to keep using my broken phone till next month when I can drop all the extra's and afford to buy one. I am so freaked out about how my neighbor died and all the blood that I am like a lunatic with the cleaning. She was a dialysis patient and she was having problems with her port. Anyway she bled out before she ever got in the ambulance. I was there and I couldn't do anything at least she wasn't alone. I hate what happened and I was a very good friend to her. She just used to sit alone in her apartment before I moved here and I had her all over the place she loved coming over for coffee in the mornings and loved my dog who would smile and play her cute act for treats!!! I know I did more to make her life better even if it was just reading the paper together. Her family wasn't the best to her and I get being ill is rough on anyone but she was always so glad of the smallest things. I actually realize how lucky I am that I don't have kids rather then have kids that are shitty to me. Anyway today she will be buried, I am going to church service, I didn't go to the viewing I just couldn't do it I have seen way to much death and honestly I think I would have lost it. Anyway some other neighbors are going with me to the church. I just hope to get through today and not fall completely apart. I do great in a crisis but totally lose it after!!!

[safran]

What a nightmare!