I’ve seasoned a couple dozen iron skillets in my day and I’ve never quite gotten it right… till now. It started with that griddle Mr. FixIt bought at a junk shop in Colorado. I read about all kinds of methods. Stove top, outdoor grill, oven. Water, never water. Lard, avocado oil, vegetable oil, grape seed oil. Metal spatulas, NEVER touch with metal. Low and slow heat, turn up your oven to the highest setting. It was all so confusing. So, this time I kind of chose a little of this and a little of that and did it intuitively.

I cleaned the skillet well, with salt and grape seed oil and a paper towel. I wiped out all the salt and oil and let it sit overnight. The next day. I put a very small amount of grape seed oil in the skillet (about a teaspoon) and wiped the the entire skillet, inside and out. I turned the oven up as high as it would go which on my stove is 550°F. I placed a sheet of foil on the bottom rack of the oven and when the oven came to temperature, I put the skillet upside down on the upper rack, shut the door, and set the time bake to one hour. That cuts the heat off and I can go about my day. When the pan was cooled, I repeated the process. 

I was concerned about that mottling, but it didn’t stick so I’m good.

The real test to see if a skillet is seasoned is to use it. I mixed up a batch of Long Table’s Popcorn Pancakes, heated up the skillet on medium heat, and cooked the pancakes two at a time till the batter was used up. I didn’t put oil or butter in the skillet at all. The pancake batter has enough butter in it to keep the pancakes from sticking and man…that skillet was as non-stick as any commercial nonstick skillet. I was amazed. I asked my dear friend, Kate…the Campground Gourmet and she said I’d seasoned it enough if it wasn’t sticking at all. I trust her with ALL things cast iron!

We had a lovely day yesterday. I did the shopping at Sam’s while Mr. FixIt had his appointment. Then I had my annual mammogram. At the risk of a little TMI…losing thirty-three pounds made a HUGE difference in the comfort level. Compression wasn’t nearly as painful as it normally is. Ladies…please don’t put off preventive health care. We need to take care of ourselves or we can’t take care of anyone else.

A nice early supper at our favorite diner and we were home before dark. The roofer comes today. AND….drumroll, please….today is the LAST day of open enrollment for Medicare so let’s hear it for reduced spam calls, emails, texts, and annoying 45 minute commercials that yammer on and on and on! Whew. Now…if the 2024 election was over, I’d be a really happy camper!

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”An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.“

2 Timothy 2:5 ESV

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Simply Joy…make it a mocha in this minimalist mug!

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