Cookware!

Remembering that this week's theme is "when to spend", I decided to talk about my beloved cast-iron skillets and baking stones! These things defy the laws of consumerism. In case you aren't familiar, the law that I am referring to states that once a product is paid for, it will immediately start to decompose thereby convincing you that you must go out and buy another similar product usually of a greater value. Well, I'm sure that it's not written exactly this way, but the idea is the same. That is why my mother's microwave is as old as I am, yet I can't keep one for longer than 5 years. It's that stinking law! And boy does it work!

But my rebellious cookware, oh how I love it! It grows better with age. With each use, the quality of the finish gets better. The food that I cook in it gets better as well. The iron actually leaches into the food, helping to maintain healthy blood iron levels. The skillets are practically indestructible! A friend recently had a kitchen fire. The only salvageable item? The cast iron skillet. It goes on the stove, in the oven, over a camp fire. This thing is the Superman of cookware. Its kryptonite is the microwave. It can do everything else, but no nuking. The stones, on the other hand, can go into the microwave. I have my eye and a little gem that can cook a meatloaf in the microwave in a total of 20 minutes! The stones develop that beautiful smooth surface as well. It’s ugly, but works beautifully! (I know some folks like that, too.) They go into the oven and the microwave, but don’t dare put them on the stove! So together they are like the team of Superman and the Green Lantern. Both are awesome, but with different weaknesses. But between the two of them, the job WILL get done.

Since the consumerism police know that these mighty rebels don’t follow all of the rules, they must make sure that they get as much money as possible on the front side. Cast iron and stoneware are more expensive in the initial investment, but well worth it. Just try to remember every Teflon pan that you’ve thrown away since you got your own kitchen!