A Love Letter To My Cast Iron Skillet

by Katy on June 15, 2008 · 12 comments

Hello, gorgeous. I’ve been thinking about you.

We’ve been together almost twenty years now, and your allure beckons as much as the day we first met. I got you on the rebound from the furniture-selling Van Gronas. The classified ad in The Village Voice was officially for a couch, but your hefty beauty stole my heart. That couch is long gone. But here you are, still with me, still nourishing my secret shameful need — extra iron in my diet.

Other pans have come and gone. Le Creuset with flashy colors that soon appeared dated. Non-stick, with its possibly carcinogenic lining. But your matte black surface, so silky, so smooth, so — dare I say it? — sensuous. Your hotness never goes out of style.

Sometimes I think I may have loved you too much, but a slow gentle caress with an oily rag revives your former loveliness. If only that were all it took for my youthful beauty to return. Like Dorian Grey, you appear to never age.

(Botox, Katy? No thanks, I’ll just rub my face with an oily rag.)

Other pans may tempt me, but I know we will overcome all obstacles. Our love is that which ignites the heavens. Like Romeo and Juliet, Bogey and Bacall, Charo and Captain Stubing.

If I have not said it before, I say I now. I love you! You had me at iron fortification.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }

Alexis Ahrens June 16, 2008 at 4:00 pm

OMG, this is hilarious, Katy! Captain Stubing and Charo!!! 🙂 Perhaps I should try your oily rag rejuvenating facial treatment. Keep up the great writing!

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Julie June 18, 2008 at 6:48 am

The skilllllllllll-et,
soon will be making another meal……………………….

🙂 Great blast from the past. Thanks Katy.

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Joe August 23, 2012 at 8:07 am

I have a cast iron “Dutch Oven” set that is made up of 2 pans. One deep pan with a hook on the opposite side of the handle and a shallow, heavy pan with an notch on the opposite side form the handle, and they nest as a Dutch Oven.

Whats amazing about them is the fact that they were given to my Great Grand parents on their wedding. The company that made them went out of business in 1903 and cast the pans in the late 1880’s. I am looking forward to teaching my daughter how to cook with them and handing them down to her.

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Katy August 23, 2012 at 6:16 pm

That’s great, I love your pan!

Katy

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Cathy Wanat August 23, 2012 at 10:22 am

I really wanted the 12″ cast iron sillet that I watched my Mom use for many years. It made the best meatballs and sausage “gravy” for the Sunday meals she put out every week when we all congregated at the family bastion in our Italian neighborhood. Unfortunately, I had moved to Florida and my brother’s wife who was not much of a cook got to keep all the kitchen items. It also included the book of recipes written in Mom’s own hand. I have since found a 9″ nickel plated Griswald iron skillet at a thrift store. About 15 years ago, it was only 95 cents. It’s not Mom’s but it makes great beatballs too. So I understand how you can LOVE a sillet.
Cathy

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Cathy Wanat August 23, 2012 at 10:24 am

Sorry, I just noticed that the K key stuck. twice. Sometimes it gives me two k’s when I only need one. Cathy

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ch August 27, 2012 at 9:35 am

Kathy,
Its OK to love the cast iron but your allusions about the oily rag did leave me a little “over seasoned”—-It cast be sure to get good quality antique ware and GRISWOLD is the very best.
cal hansen

k

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Katy August 27, 2012 at 9:40 am

My cast iron pans are old, not sure of the brand.

Katy

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ch August 27, 2012 at 9:42 am

darn typos:
If cast, be sure to get good quality antique ware and GRISWOLD is the very best

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