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

Easy Ways to Keep Busy this Winter

When it gets cold outside, it is easy just to wrap yourself in a blanket, watch some TV and call it a day. Of course, those days can provide for much needed relaxation. However, there is much more to winter. Try some of these ideas to keep yourself busy this winter!

• Baking: What says comfort more than the smell and taste of a delightful baked good? Chatelaine has a splendid collection of recipes for baking inspiration.
• Scrapbooking: This is time to whittle down that mound of paper keepsakes by scrapbooking. New to scrapbooking? Check Paper Wishes for some advice. Creating Keepsakes also has some tips.
• Skiing, Snowshoeing and/or Hiking: Just because it is winter does not mean you cannot go outside. In fact, these outdoor activities can be quite exhilarating. Many local parks, nature preserves, arboretums and more have skiing and/or snowshoeing available, so be sure to check around!
• Visit a museum: Have a favorite museum that you haven't visited in awhile or know of a new one you would like to discover? Winter is the perfect time to peruse museum collections!
• Create an Indoor Garden: Missing your greenery? Why not assemble a natural sanctuary inside? HGTV and Reader's Digest both offer suggestions to get you started.
• Winter Bird Watching: Not every bird skedaddles for the winter. About.com has some strategies for seeing some of our flying friends that stay around for winter.
• Clean out your freezer and have a potluck: Have a freezer potluck party where all of your friends bring one of their freezer items. What a fun way to organize and clear out that freezer!
• Volunteer: If the lack of outdoor activities finds you with some extra time on your hands, why not volunteer? Soup kitchens, animal shelters and libraries afford some rewarding opportunities.
• Write letters to the troops: Send some wishes from home to our brave men and women overseas. Hugs for Soldiers collects Valentine's Day cards for our soldiers. Why not add some cheer from home to a soldier's day?
• Clean your closets, cabinets and/or pantry: Why save all of the cleaning for spring when you rather be outside? Start cleaning out your closets, cabinets and/or pantries now. Maybe you will find that you have enough items for a spring garage sale?

With all of these ideas, we can all keep pretty busy this winter! What do you like to do during winter? Feel free to add some more ideas in the comments!

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