Cast Iron ???

lunch for Gavin and Elizabeth and myself today

grilled cheese  on homemade bread toasted in a cast iron skillet

we also had clementines and a sliced apple

I chatted with another blogger,  Belle at The Bon Bon Club, about cast iron.  She showed some before and after pictures of cast iron that really needed TLC.  They looked amazing after she cleaned and seasoned them.  

It reminded me that I have several pieces of cast iron but almost never use them.  I do a lot of cooking in big non-stick skillets that need replaced about every year or so - not a thrifty thing at all.  

Anyway,  she encouraged me to use them.  

So,  I thought what have I got to lose?  I opened the drawer under the stove and found more cast iron pieces than I remembered.  I knew I had 2 cornbread stick pans and 2 skillets,  actually I have 3 skillets!  

I got out one of them  and was pleased to see it was seasoned a lot better than I remembered.  I've cooked in it 2 days in row now and plan to keep working with it.  

So,  do you have cast iron?

What do you cook in yours and what do you not cook in it?
This old dog wants to learn some new tricks.  

new address for one of my very favorite friends who is also a blogger

  Blue House Journal  

Terri used to write Penny Ann Poundwise and In the Blue House on the Hill.  

She has a new blog address and I just wanted to pass it on in case any of you might be looking for her. 

Big Oops!

I have not heard from anyone who tried to make this recipe.  

I noticed a problem before I gave the recipe card to my DIL.  

This recipe also calls for 2 1/4 cup milk.  

I added it to this card and hope you will too if you try to make them.

They really are good pancakes!

I am so sorry if anyone wasted your time and ingredients because of my goof.  

who does this messy kitchen belong to?

 Before 

 who does this messy kitchen belong to?  That can't be Rhonda's kitchen, can it?

Well, yes it was my kitchen this morning. 

another shot of my messy kitchen.

I have had a few days alone and I mostly just rested for a week.
I did the stuff that had to be done and a few little projects but mostly I just rested.
2011 was a busy year 

AFTER

 I was slow getting around this morning but then I got busy in that messy kitchen.  

All the dishes got washed and put away.

 Supper is cooking in the crockpot -smothered pork chops.

 Potatoes are peeled and waiting in a saucepan to cook for supper.  

Every surface got wiped off including all the appliances and counter tops.  

The floor was swept and mopped

The big pantry needed some organizing and got it

Trash taken out

   awwww

it makes me smile just seeing my kitchen clean and organized again. 

Frugal Doings 

homemade croutons
I made croutons with some bread that just starting to be quite  fresh enough - it is really easy .
We are having salad for supper but the croutons taste so good,
so I had a salad for lunch as I did not wait so long to eat them.  

Kitchen trash can lined with a brown grocery sack.

I try to remember to use those cloth bags when I shop but have not been too good about it lately.
We got a stack  of these brown sacks in December when we bought groceries in Oklahoma City.
One big brown sack is just the right size for our kitchen trash can.  

an announcement and a frugal recipe

This is a photo of some things on my fridge.

edited  !!!!   This recipe also calls for 2 1/4 cups of milk

One is the Christmas card from my stepson Clint and his wife Amanda.  The picture is her torso by their Christmas tree.  If you click on the picture,  you can read the message better.  

The other is a recipe Amanda asked for months ago and I just got around to writing it out for her.  

This baby will be a sibling for Gavin.

Our son Bobby and Sheena will also be having a baby
due the end of March.

We will have 4 grandbabies come next Christmas,

won't that be fun!!!!

So, I think 2012 is going to be a busy year too.  

Good thing I've been resting for a week!

Frugal Makes Cents

I am participating in the saving money in 2012 challenge over at Frugal Makes Cents and will have some posts about it soon.

Go on over and visit if this is a subject you are interested in.  

I should be back posting soon, just resting up as 2011 wound down and 2012 gets started.