This is what I ate for dinner last night.
I ate both of those with my bare hands straight out of the skillet. Then someone walked in on me with a drumstick in each hand and adobe pepper sauce all over my face. And they shook their head in disappointment and kept walking.
Just kidding.
That would have been fun though.
But do you know what I liked most about this dinner? The entire three part “balanced” meal took place in this one skillet. And you know what else I liked? You don’t really have to wash a skillet. You just wipe it out, stick it back on the stove and move on with your life.
I hate dirty dishes. That’s the only thing I don’t like about cooking. The dishes. The piles of dirty dishes and dirty counters that, according to the rigid laws of society, I’m expected to clean once I’ve used them.
So until I can find a way around these rigid, unreasonable expectations that society has imposed upon me, I’m using a skillet. And I may or may not eat directly out of it from time to time. Maybe I’ll show you a picture of that next. It’ll be a pretty sight, let me tell ya.
I love my skillet.
I might marry it.
I may trick it into proposing. I can’t propose to the skillet, I’m too old fashioned for that.
Go find a big black heavy skillet. Your life will never be the same.
11 Comments
Clayvessel
I committed a terrible sin and I must confess. Once, I was using a kitchen that was a small town deli but also someone's home. I was doing a wedding cake (the whole town was involved in the wedding) and that kitchen was designated for me to assemble and ice the cake. I was there all day by myself and after I finished the cake I attempted to show my appreciation by thoroughly cleaning the kitchen and leaving it cleaner then when I came. There was a small cast iron skillet on the stove that had really never, ever been washed and was clearly used for fried eggs and bacon every morning. My sin….I washed it. I didn't scour and scrub, but I did wash it. I may have ticked off the kitchen's owner when I was intending to make her happy by cleaning her kitchen. Forgive me.
Georgia
Aahahaha, Clayvessel, I forgive you on behalf of the skillet owner. Deep down, I believe that they need a little wipe with water every now and then.
Grandma
I love my big black skillet too,and my little(8")one too which I just discovered makes a perfect omelette; it rolled right out; perfect size for a 2-egg omelette. Next I'll try the big one for 3 or 4 eggs. A well seasoned pan seems to become non-stick; (well almost)
Gabi
Jhumpa Lahiri was just saying on NYTimes that the only thing you need in the kitchen is a cast iron skillet. I am really thinking of getting one – but they seem so heavy? Do you have any suggestions on vendors though? Also, oddly enough, that is exactly the meal I saw on my co-worker's plate for lunch this Monday! Squatting on the couch in your office with a game hen is quite a site, but I like to imagine you tearing into them with your bear hands in the kitchen 🙂
Georgia
Haha, yes they are pretty heavy but there's a handle on each side which makes for easy lifting. They also come in smaller sizes if you want something a bit lighter. I bought one from Amazon which I have listed up there under "My Favorite Things." You can't go wrong… they just take a little while to season. Report back to us and tell us how it goes!
Gabi
Oh! I have only every seen the ones with the one large handle, like a frying pan. Two handles on the side sounds like a much better idea. Do you have any tips on seasoning them? Or perhaps that could be fodder for a "The history of Me & My Skillet" post 🙂 I know that most things, like a Argentinean mate gourd, should be cured with the type of thing your will be putting in them, but it seems to vary. I have this large flat volcanic rock mortar and pestle type of thing from Bali which has to be treat with cold water baths and fresh turmeric root (which is actually rather hard to find in the states!)
Georgia
Wow, I'm totally intrigued by this mortar and pestle of yours! For seasoning my skillet I really just keep using it and oiling it and wiping it out… it takes time and the more you use it the better it gets!
Sofya
I eat out of a skillet a lot… and I love those cast iron skillets… I own not 1 but 6 of them – 2 10", 1 12", 2 6.5", and a grill pan, and I use them all regularly. Go cast iron!
sandy
Had a nicely seasoned 12" that I left behind (by accident) when we moved. Now I have to start all over again. 🙁 Here in GA, these things are sold in various sizes at the local Walmarts, but if not at yours, I'd says do the Amazon recommendation. Even though these things are heavy, they sometimes have free shipping on them. My friend uses hers religiously and uses plain salt to clean the bits up with. I have a stiff bristled brush that I like to use instead…a few swipes, a rinse, and we're calling it a day.
gpellegrini
I like that stiff bristled brush idea, I'll have to give it a try. I just got another smaller version last weekend. I'm addicted : )
Ben
I love my cast iron. I'd never used it until I moved into my current apartment 3 years ago. A friend of mine got me a "made in Taiwan" skillet for a couple bucks at a garage sale and it's the only thing I've used since, other than boiling things in a stock pot. I've used it everywhere, stove, oven, and campfire. The only place you can't use it is the microwave.