There are few items that are essential for every American home, and a set of cookware is one of them. Everyone from college students living on their own for the first time to 100-year-old great grandparents have some form of cookware in their home. Because cookware is such a staple in every household, you should put some thought into your purchasing decision.

Since you know that you are going to be using the pots and pans for many years on a daily basis, be sure to opt for durable cast iron pots and pans. It is worth the extra money if you don’t have to be constantly replacing items out of the set. With so many sizes of sets available, think about your particular needs before you go buy a 24-piece deluxe set for just you and your spouse.

There are several different kinds of cookware and appliances that are great for making simple and quick meals. With appliances, few can argue whether the personal griddle is here to stay. Cast iron griddles are great for all kinds of breakfast foods, and are ideal for making large quantities of food for multiple people. Griddles can be used for eggs, pancakes, hash browns, sausage, and much more. For those desiring ethnic foods, consider a cast iron Fajita set. The cast iron Fajita set is designed for making delicious fajitas without a lot of clean up or mess. For people who are fond of grilled sandwiches, a
cast iron grill press is a great item to have in the kitchen.

With all cast iron cookware and appliances, it’s important to season now and then to preserve the condition of the cast iron. Seasoning isn’t all that difficult, and takes about an hour with a significant amount of wait time while the object is in the oven. It’s a good idea to season at least twice pear year with most cookware, and also after extended usage in a short period of time.

In these tough economic times, people are looking to save money not just right now, but in the future. The truth is, a lot of companies that manufacture cookware make money because their product wears out over time, and the customer must then purchase a newer version. However, unlike other kinds of cookware, cast iron cookware almost never breaks down. In fact, a well tended cast iron pan can last for centuries, even through constant use. Cast iron cookware is a great investment for the future, and often it doesn’t cost much more than other kinds of cookware.

Cast iron cookware has been around for centuries, being one of the most enduring and reliable forms of cookware throughout the ages. In fact, cast iron cookware has been forgotten in attics over the decades, and reclaimed generations later in much the same condition. There are several reliable manufacturers of cast iron cook ware, but as long as it’s 100% cast iron, it’s hard to get it wrong. Old Mountain cast iron cookware and Lodge cast iron cookware are two of the more renowned names.

I went over to my sister’s house for dinner the other night and she served the most delicious meal. We had Dijon pork chops and peach rum cake-and she made the pork chops in the Dutch oven I gave her for Christmas. I too have a Dutch oven, but I recently moved and haven’t got around to unpacking it yet. I will definitely dig it out soon though, because I want to try the recipe my sister made the other night. Seriously, how could such a yummy great meal be prepared in a cast iron dutch oven? I need to try it myself to believe it.

I wanted to share the recipe with other Dutch oven lovers out there. Happy cooking!

Easy Baked Dijon Pork Chops

6 bone-in pork chops; center cut works best.
1 box instant stuffing
4 Tbs. melted butter
4 cups of hot water
1 large can of sliced pineapple
¼ cup marmalade
1 tbs. Dijon mustard
1 Tbs. dry minced onion
Salt and pepper to taste.

To a 12″ Dutch oven add stuffing mix and seasoning packet, butter, hot water and juice from canned pineapple; stir to mix then spread evenly. Season pork chops with pepper and salt, and arrange over the top of the stuffing. In a small bowl mix together preserves, mustard and minced onion. Spoon mixture on top of the pork chops; coating evenly. Arrange pineapple over the top.

Cover oven and bake using 10 briquettes bottom and 16 briquettes top for 60 minutes.

If you take good care of your cast iron pans you will have them for generations. Here are some simple ways to make sure that your cast iron collection stays in good shape:

• Never use soap or steel wool on cast iron-it ruins the seasoning
• To clean your cast iron you just need to use hot water and a plastic scouring pad
• Always dry your pan thoroughly after washing-they can rust
• Store you pan without the lid on it to prevent moisture build up
• Don’t cook acidic food in cast iron-it’s a reactive metal
• Don’t store food in your cast iron-However Do use your cast iron to keep food warm while you are serving it.

Are you tired of Teflon flaking off in your scrambled eggs? Afraid of what the health issues might be if you ingest all the missing pieces from your old non-stick pans?

Cast Iron pans are a timeless non-stick solution. When properly seasoned cast iron pans are great nonstick pans.

Not only that but they heat very evenly. They have excellent heat retention on conductivity so you can have evenly cooked foods. They are also very versatile. You can even use them in the oven, over an open fire, and to keep your food warm while serving it.

Cast Iron has been around for generations and if you were lucky enough to inherit grandma’s old skillet or Dutch Oven make sure to take good care of it. If you didn’t get one passed down to you maybe now is the time to start a new tradition and invest in a skillet you won’t have to replace on a yearly basis. Lodge, and Old Mountain are some great makers of cast iron cookware, check it out.