Cast Iron Cooking!!! Great for Winter!!!

A quick peek outside and you will see that we are in the frozen throes of winter! With some days of being stuck inside inevitably ahead, winter can be a great time to savor some wholesome flavors from cast iron cooking. Cast iron cooking has been used for centuries, so there is nothing that really exemplifies great home cooked meals better!

New to cast iron cooking? Here are 5 reasons why you should start:

• Cast iron pieces are exceedingly versatile. You can literally cook 100s of dishes using a cast iron skillet from pan roasted chicken to pretzel bread to s'mores to quesadillas and much more!
• When a cast iron pan is properly seasoned and cared for, it remains nonstick without all of those harmful chemicals that go into nonstick cookware.
• Cast iron cookware distributes heat evenly for well rounded flavors!
• Heat sources are no problem! Cast iron can be used over any heat source. Plus, cast iron can take the heat that other cookware can't.
• Cooking with cast iron can give you an iron boost! While cooking with cast iron, you can increase the iron levels in foods. Great for immunity and energy!

 There are so many amazing cast iron recipes out there! Here are a few of our favorites!

Black Iron Skillet Deep Dish Pizza by Menu Musings

Pull Apart Pretzel Skillet and Beer Cheese  by Host the Toast

Steakhouse Roasted Mushrooms by A Food Centric Life

Hot Wings from Half Baked Harvest

Zucchini Basil and Kale Frittata from The Roasted Root

Indoor S'mores by Dessert for Two

How can you resist these recipes? Some really great ones and perfect for winter cooking! Need some cast iron? Don't fret, we have a wonderful collection of cast iron made here in the U.S.A!

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For more on cast iron:

5 Myths of Cast Iron Cookware via the Kitchn
13 Reasons to Own a Cast Iron Skillet via One Good Thing

Creative Ice Cream Sundaes for Summer Served with Made in America Style!

Summer is here and if there is something everyone can agree on, it is that it is the perfect time for some ice cream! While truly a treat that delights everyone, there are some really creative ways to amp up your ice cream. We have collected a few ideas for putting a spin on your favorite treat if you feel like trying something new! Plus, check out some of our neat American-made items perfect for any ice cream party!

Food + Wine Magazine has a pretty inspiring collection of sundae ideas including Apple-Butter Ice Cream with Ginger-Chocolate Ganache, Apple Pie Sundaes with Cheddar Crust Shards, Roasted Pear Sundaes with Balsamic-Caramel Sauce and more. Talk about interesting combinations that will impress your guests while they enjoy a summer treat!

Apple Pie Sundae with Cheddar Shards via Food + Wine

Watching a summertime movie? Bon Appetit has a recipe for a Popcorn Crunch Sundae combining two favorites making a fun summer treat!

Popcorn Crunch Sundae via Bon Appetit

Better Homes and Gardens shared a recipe for Ice Cream with Orange-Praline Sauce which sounds difficult to execute but actually is pretty easy and the results are tasty:

Ice Cream with Orange-Praline Sauce via Better Homes and Gardens

Now that we are all ready to jazz up our favorite summertime treat, how about using some classic American-made glassware to serve up your creations? Soda glasses, sundae glasses, sherbet dishes and banana split dishes--we have them all!

Scooping ice cream is also a cinch with our aluminum spades and scoops!

We also have a number of preserves, compotes and spreads that can help you make your jazzed up sundae!

With Fourth of July around the corner and so many fun summer events and BBQ's, maybe you try a few different sundaes this summer! We are excited about sundae season, how about you?

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All American Fun for Labor Day! {Recipes, Products and Ideas}

Summer's end is quickly approaching with the Labor Day holiday this weekend. The weekend is sure to be packed full with barbecues, beach trips, hikes, outdoor concerts, carnivals, bike rides and more fun! We have been curating a wonderful Pinterest board to give you some ideas for your Labor Day festivities. On our Labor Day Ideas Board, you will discover recipes for your Labor Day party or trip to the beach including some fun popsicle and cake pop recipes. You will also find game ideas, craft ideas for kids, decoration inspirations and some made in the U.S.A. items to help make your plans become reality.

Here is a little taste:

If you are looking for some cool and healthy treats for the kids, we found some good popsicle recipes from TLC. We have wonderful sets of popsicle makers to help you make your frozen treats easily. We have both 4 and 8 count sets. The sets are BPA free!

We also found a tasty collection of Labor Day cocktail ideas at Serious Eats. A watermelon margarita will look quite refreshing in our Rio glasses (our Rio glasses can be purchased individually as well as in a set):

If you love making adorable cake pops but do not know how to store them, we can come to the rescue with this lovely made in the U.S.A. cake pop dome (with cover). Cake pops are so fun for backyard get togethers!

If you need to keep the kids busy, She Knows has a number of Labor Day craft ideas. You can also engage them is a lively game of Bocce Ball!

We have many more ideas collected on our Labor Day Ideas Pinterest Board. Head on over to take a look at our collection of recipe ideas, party ideas and made in the U.S.A. items ideal for your weekend!

**If you stop in to visit or make a purchase online, be sure to tell us where you learned about Norton's U.S.A.