Somehow my review for this book didn't get posted back in 2020. Sorry for that.

I think this is a great book. Ashley Jones has a thing for cast iron and she shares her enthusiasm with us in this comprehensive book.

Here we find everything we might want to know on caring for our cast iron pans including how to clean and reseason them if needed. Then we are treated to recipes that demonstrate a wide range of cooking techniques.

What more could we want?

I received a review copy of this book from Red Lightning Books through NetGalley.com. ( )

This book isn't quite sure what it wants to be, tries to be everything and flails about while doing so. While there are helpful tips for adapting to cast iron in some of the recipes and a useful guide for restoring that old pan you found in grandma's basement, it feels sort of like a primer for people who don't know how to cook in any pan.
There's a recipe for sautéed asparagus, for example. There's a three paragraph explainer about why she likes asparagus and then here's the recipe:
1. Place a small skillet over low-medium heat.
2. Add olive oil and asparagus to the pan. Season to taste. Turn periodically while cooking. The asparagus is done when it's the consistency you prefer.

If you would like to spend two pages on recipes like this, this is the book for you. (Learn how to make a grilled cheese!)

At the beginning, it feels for a while like the author is going on some sort of weird wellness spiel, talking about how bad every other kind of pan is because of things she found out while researching pans, I guess. But there are zero sources. So we're just supposed to believe that she, a home cook and blogger, is the ultimate source for complicated chemical and food studies. Listen, I love cast iron and use it all the time, but you can't just make statements like this without backing them up. (Clearly, she can. It got published.)
The best part of the book is when she goes to the Lodge manufacturing facility and talks about the process (with photos!) of making the pans.


Side note:
There's also an inset where she talks about this special big pan that was used to cook for Confederate soldiers... who went on to win the battle! Oh good, I'm glad you're proud of helping Confederates win some battles. ( )

Cast iron cookware is far from just dark, heavy pieces of metal that come to life when heat and food are added. In its own way, cast iron purveys sustenance, comfort, family memories, and a sense of "home". I have cast iron skillets in every size, and I use at least one almost every day. I also have other cast iron cookware like Dutch ovens, cornstick pans, and more. I am still using my Gran's big 12-inch skillet to make her recipe for Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. Mom used that same skillet to fry chicken in real butter and then make gravy from the pan drippings. Of course, nothing accompanies a simple pot of brown beans better than crispy, golden cornbread baked in a cast iron skillet. In her book, "Modern Cast Iron: The Complete Guide to Selecting, Seasoning, Cooking, and More", author Ashley L. Jones explores the history of cast iron, explains its various incarnations and their usages, and advises how to properly season (the process that turns cast iron into a cook's "black gold"), clean, and care for the cookware. The down-home delicious recipes include breakfasts, breads, sides, main dishes, desserts, and more. The author includes tips for healthier food preparation and has updated some of the classic recipes. Here's just a sample of the delightful dishes you can make: "Robby's Quiche"; "Mayonnaise Biscuits"; "Baby Limas"; "Garlic Potatoes"; "Beef & Vegetable Soup"; "Beef Stroganoff"; "Salmon Cakes"; "Apple Crisp"; and "Brownies". The author writes in a warm, personable style--and with great love of subject. After reading "Modern Cast Iron", not only will you be hungry, you will understand why cast iron cookware becomes a family treasure shared through generations.

Book Copy Gratis Red Lightning Books via Indiana University Press ( )

This book is amazing! So many tips, tricks and recipes I can't wait to try on my pans. The book is hardcover and FABULOUS! I'm glad I got lucky with this giveaway. It'll be with me forever! :) ( )