Not Your Mother's Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook
More Than 150 Recipes for One-Pan Meals for Any Time of the Day
by Lucy Vaserfirer


My father had a six-inch cast iron skillet he fried eggs in almost every day. My mother had cast iron heart and cornbread pans as well as a waffle iron that I don’t remember her ever using. My daughter collects cast iron and I have one pan I bought on a whim, seasoned and use daily. I decided that this book might give me new ideas for the pan I have and guess what? It surely did! I knew that some of the recipes mentioned could be made in cast iron but the variety in this cookbook is impressive. Recipes include: breakfast, egg dishes, starters, snacks, main courses, side dishes, sweets, baked goods, spices and sauces. There are recipes to make your own chorizo and sausage and a whole lot more.

The first part of the book gives detailed instructions about how to buy, season and care for your cast iron. Sizes are mentioned and what they are best used for in cooking. I came away realizing that just about anything can be made in a cast iron pot or pan and that I would like to look for a few in smaller and larger sizes to add to my kitchen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Harvard Common Press for the ARC ~ This is my honest review.

5 Stars

At the beginning of the book, the author discusses her experience with cast iron cookware and she recommends the best type of cast iron pans to buy.
You are given a list of accessories to use with your cookware to help you to be able to cook any type of food with ease. You are also taught how to preheat your pan, prepare the ingredients, you are even told which stove burner is the easiest to use, and most importantly, how to keep food from sticking!
You are also taught how to braise, blacken, broil, and even how to turn the food that sticks to the bottom of the pan into the base of a sauce or gravy!
You are shown how to clean your pan of residue and how to season it so that your pan will last for many more years.
The first recipe is for Individual Dutch Babies (pancakes) using eggs, flour, salt, butter and milk - they look amazing, and they are so easy to cook in the oven in your new pan! Another recipe for Apricot Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast uses challah, cream cheese, brown sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla to create a melt-in-your-mouth treat!
You will need to follow the directions carefully so that your recipes turn out correctly.
There are even recipes to make your own smoked bacon using only three ingredients, along with a recipe for making your own chorizo!
Enjoy exploring the world of cast iron cookery and scrumptious recipes!

I did not realise how versatile a skillet is. I will definitely be trying out some of these recipes. I really like the idea of cooking chicken dishes in a skillet. The book is beautifully presented and explains each cooking technique. The technique to use for each recipe is given along with clear instructions. I will really enjoy working my way through this cookbook.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Not Your Mother's Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook by Lucy Vaserfirer is a great cookbook for those that love cast iron or have a cast iron skillet passed down through generations and don't know what to cook in it. The book covers how to clean up an old rusty pan, how to season a cast iron pan, how to maintain your pan as well as how to clean and store your skillet.
The author's recipes are like a trip around the world. There are breakfasts, sides, main dishes and sweets. There are spicy, savory and sweet recipes. This is a definite must have for those who want to use their cast iron skillets. I highly recommend this cookbook.
I would like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This cookbook has a wide range of recipes for all areas of cooking - appetizers, mains, desserts. It also includes a detailed section on the history of cast iron cooking, use and care of cast iron, recommendations for pans and utensils, and how to cook in cast iron. I love my cast iron pans and the meals I prepare in them. It's a great method of cooking! So I appreciated the detail the author went to to get others to love their cast iron. Many of the recipes, however, didn't appeal to me personally. Nothing against the author or the book, but for my tastes, they just wouldn't be meals I would cook. I also prefer for my cookbooks to have photos of every dish. Again, a personal preference. The recipes were easy to follow and written with enough detail that even the newest cook can successfully make them. So if the meals and ingredients appeal to you, this is a great book for either cast iron pros, or newbies to cast iron cooking.

I read a lot of book where they cook using a cast iron skillet and i was curious.
This is a great book, it explains how to use an iron skillet and full of recipes and great images.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Quarto Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC

150 One easy One Pan meals. What's not to love?

You'll enjoy the recipes - they're classics like Yorkshire pudding, Dutch Babies, Hot Wings, and Potstickers. The tools and methods are clearly and simply laid out. There are pictures that explain the procedures, too.

I recommend this if you have a small apartment or limited storage - why not grab this book and a skillet - and learn to cook a few favorites?

Not Your Mother's Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook is a great cookbook that also includes tips and care for cast iron skillets. The recipes look amazing, though I wish there were more photos of the recipes. The photos that are included are beautiful and full page color. I would recommend this cookbook for cooks who use cast iron.

Not Your Mother's Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook tells about cast iron basics along with a lovely selection of recipes. Author Lucy Vaserfirer tells about how she fell in love with cast iron cookery, goes onto explain how to season your cast iron skillet, and describes various cooking techniques often associated with cast iron cooking. You will find the following recipes in her cookbook:

Homemade Sage Breakfast Sausage
Biscuits & Sausage Gravy
Furikake Potato Chips
Lucy's Ultimate Five-Cheese Stovetop Mac & Cheese
Chicken-Fried Biscuit Sandwiches
Bacon-Wrapped Pork Filets Mignons with Onions & Roasted Poblanos
Hamburger Steaks with Mushroom & Onion Gravy
Asparagus with Brown butter, Orange & Herbs
Almond Green Beans
Summer Squash Fries
Buttermilk Biscuits
Chocolate Buttermilk Skake with Ganache Frosting (A chocolate cake recipe)
Peach Shortcakes
Lucy's Seasoned Salt

Recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley.

cooking, new-skills

Campers and reenactors wake up! Get your cast iron skillets out of the camp boxes and learn how to use them all year round!
Whether or not you've used cast iron for cooking before you will find a lot to learn and apply to your daily cooking experience. The beginning of the book will acquaint the reader with terms and necessities before getting into the recipes, some of which are suitable for historical reenactments.
So whether you hope to learn more about cooking with cast iron in the oven, stovetop, grill, or ala 18th century, this book is the very thing!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Quarto Publishing Group – Harvard Common Press via NetGalley.

Not your mothers Cast Iron Cookbook
By: Lucy Vaserfirer

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

This was my first cookbook through Netgally and felt the need to give a truly non biased review. Let me start by saying I spent days reading and planning what would be my first meal cooked in a cast iron skillet. Needing to season and learn proper car of the skillet and cleaning and storage after cooking.

I received my first Cast Iron skillet for Christmas. Since I’d been planning and reading this great book and all it’s directions, suggestions and recipes so I’d planned some meals to cook. After spending several days cooking I can honestly say that this book is absolutely a fantastic read. Not only will you be able to follow along with simply put direction but you’ll also get recipes for the average person to enjoy. Highly recommend and the author writes with knowledge and know how.

Thanks Netgally for allowing me to read and review!!!

I inherited a cast iron skillet from my grandmother and was excited to use it, but i had no idea where to start.
Then I received an ARC of Not Your Mother's Cat Iron Skillet. Lucy Vaserfirer gave me the instructors to maintain my skillet as well as the cooking theory i needed to know. The first 35 pages are welcome knowledge for my cooking arsenal.
I was amazed at the variety of recipes included. Vaserfirer includes diverse recipes fro a variety of cultures breaking you out from just the typical bacon an cornbread routine. Create Mexican Chorizo, Shakshuka, and Falafel along with typical favorite such as dutch babies and pork chops. I just wish that the book included more photos so I could understand what I am making.
Get out of your comfort zone, bringing out the cast iron skillet and get cooking.

Being an avid collector (I've never seen so many) with many years of hard-earned experience, the author created a treasure trove of information for care, use and cooking with the immortal cast iron skillet. Careful instruction is given for each of the over 150 delicious recipes. In all their glory, sumptuous pictures highlight some of the mouth-watering finished masterpieces. Whether considering breaking the ice or improving upon your already honed skills for cast iron cookery, this invaluable cookbook comes highly recommended.

In recent years, the availability of cast iron skillets has made a tremendous comeback. Many are offered pre-seasoned, thereby, taking the guesswork out of the initial cooking process. A can't miss, many of the recommended tools and utensils are described with accompanying labeled pictures that clearly identify each. Countless cooking methods are described in detail that take their individual place in the order of preparing meals. Finally, careful maintenance of the skillets is provided so they will continue to provide many useful years in the kitchen.

I sent my thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Harvard Common Press for this digital edition in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you Quarto Publishing Group – Harvard Common Press for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book has anything and everything you would ever want to know about cooking with cast iron. I found the background and information more interesting than the actual recipes. I learned how to strip an old nasty rusted cast pan and re-season it like new. However, I would have liked to see more pictures with the recipe portion of this book.

There are some amazingly creative recipes in here and has opened my eyes to new ways of using a skillet. I had never heard of Dutch Babies (a bit like a large, sweet Yorkshire pudding), had not tried something as great as Corn Fry Cakes (adapted - see below) and hadn't ever thought it possible to do cookies or cakes in a skillet.

The instructions at the opening on how to season a skillet, what it can be used for and its benefits are set out in great detail.

I really appreciated the metric conversions here! So many books don't have these and it's a constant back-and-forth with a calculator.

The only reason I took one star off was because I like to have a picture for each recipe - I like to know what I'm aiming for. Having said that, the recipes are very detailed in their description so I haven't been too lost so far.

As a person who is gluten intolerant, I was able to easily adapt the recipes to suit me.

This book offers plenty of tips and tricks, along with a bevy of recipes. There is a lot of info here that covers everything from care and cleaning of your cast iron cookware to tricks to get the best results. The book also has a large collection of recipes. Breakfast, main dishes, sauces, appetizers, side dishes and desserts are covered.

There is nothing better than a well-seasoned cast iron pan! While I wasn't lucky enough to have had old cast iron passed down from previous generations, I have lucked into great deals on secondhand pieces and use mine almost daily. The author begins her book with her own story of using (and abusing) cast iron pans and learning to love them. The reader gets some history of cast iron, tips on what to look for when making secondhand purchases, recommendations for buying new, care and usage tips and of course, how to restore cast iron in need of reseasoning. Tips for cooking with cast iron are also included along with descriptions of the various cooking methods called for in the recipes. Then we get to the recipes...

Vaserfirer has divided recipes into eggs and breakfasts, starters and snacks, main dishes, sides, sweets and baked goods and spices and sauces. As someone who chooses a vegan diet, I knew going in that the majority of the recipes wouldn't be of any use to me and this is certainly the case. Not the fault of the author at all. I was actually pleasantly surprised to see several recipes lacking animal ingredients - falafel (minus the yogurt dipping sauce) and many of the sides (some with easy substitutions ie vegan butter). This is not a vegan or vegetarian cookbook however and most recipes do contain meat of some kind, dairy or eggs. The main dishes are all very heavy on meat. The sweets nearly all contain dairy and/or eggs. Again, not surprising, just wanting to point this out for the veg*ns who might be curious how useful this cookbook would be for them.

Overall, for many cooks, I think this would be a good reference, but for those not looking to base every meal around meat, this would be a pass. The information on cast iron in the beginning however would be handy for anyone.

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group – Harvard Common Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

In a recipe, I never thought I would read a 'Recommended Skillet'. Well, the reason is that would mean, that there are many choices available in size (I didnt know that before). Author Lucy Vaserfirer of 'Not your Mother's Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook' spends a good 10% of the book in introducing the CI (Cast Iron) skillet to novices. There must be many readers who have CI, MIA form cooking but hiding in the pantry. My hand is raised. Its because, I read something about seasoning. I didnt believe the wiping it in oil part after cleaning, even though that is how non CI pans seem to look after an ineffectual wash with the dish soap. Still, I never got the courage to cook with CI.
This book might change it all. Vaserfirer starts off her missteps with her two first CI skillets and the story ends up with a rack full of various CI skillets. Who knew they were collectibles? Her passion for all things skillet is infectious and will rub on you.
Looking through the recipes, I realised that Chinese Flaky pancakes (Mixing the dough with chopsticks) are similar to Laccha paratha. Garlic rubbed Heirloom Tomato Melts. Did that do something to you? Spaghetti frittata - What a great way to spruce up leftovers? Skizza. Figure it out Einsteins.. Since things cook differently in a CI skilet, it is wonderful to look at all the pictures to. Can I make a flag out of those Elotes?

PS: Inside out Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

Using this traditional pan, you'll cook up a slew of wonderful dishes from this book.

It starts with a wonderful guide to buying, seasoning, and using cast iron. If you are new to them, this section is a must to get you started right.

The recipes follow in chapters arranged by meals or courses. By far the longest chapter in on main dishes. I love that because there are so many wonderful choices. The recipes are inspired by cuisines around the world. Where ingredients are exotic, there are suggestions for where to find them, including a resources section at the back of the book.

Every recipe includes, along with the usual stuff, the recommended size of skillet and the cooking method used. In addition many recipes have variations to suggestions for alternative meats.

I'm ready to run off and make dish from here for dinner tonight!

Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to read Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook by Lucy Vaserfirer. The book is split into two main sections, the first section has 5 chapters on fit and draping, the second section covers various projects. Rather unexpectedly, Coffin’s book is all about sewing woven shirts that fit using draping rather than flat patterns, or taking measurements.

In the introduction Vaserfirer discusses why to use cast iron cookware, and which types she recommends. She also details what one can cook in cast iron, and what the various sizes of skillet are suitable for. I particularly appreciated that the skillet sizes were listed in both inches and cms here. She then goes over the various tools and utensils that are useful for cast iron skillet cooking, some of which are also pictured in a keyed photo. An in-depth overview of different cooking methods follows, before a couple of exhaustive sections on cleaning and maintenance, another on seasoning and then finally restoration. The introduction ends with a section full of information on the recipes to follow, and the ingredients they use.

There are six recipe chapters; Eggs and Breakfast, Starters and Snacks, Mains, Sides, Sweets and Bakes, and finally Spices and Sauces. Each recipe has an introduction with serving suggestions and yield, a recommend skillet for preparation, the cooking method used, followed by the ingredients and then finally the directions. The ingredients are listed both in cups and grams or ml, and the size in both inches and cms. Oven temperatures when applicable, are listed both in Fahrenheit, Centigrade and gas marks.

I haven’t tried any of the recipes yet, but the way they are presented is wonderful and I truly wish all cookbooks would list them in the same manner. Even if the recipes haven’t been tested in metric, not having to convert cups to grams is a huge boon, and makes life easier for those of us who prefer to use scales in the kitchen. My only quibble, and it is a small one, is that I would have loved more photos of the finished dishes. Other than than, I think this is a very nice book and I will be attempting quite a few of these dishes once I’ve seasoned my skillet.

Amazing cookbook. Lots of great background information. Everything from cornbread to roasting coffee in a cast iron skillet. Tremendous information on how to select, season and care for CI. Full review closer to publication.

This book is packed with delicious recipes, and it has inspired me to increase my collection of cast iron skillets. I want to try each recipe for breakfast foods, but I was surprised by the number of recipes for dinners, snacks, and desserts I found appealing, too. I appreciate the good index at the end, also. Perhaps I would like to see more photos of the food in the recipes, but that’s a minor caveat in the context of so many delicious recipes. I can hardly wait to get a printed copy of the book so I can keep it and cook from it.

There was a lot of useful information included in the book. Lots of good ideas on nice things to cook too

What a cool cookbook this is! Highly recommended as a millenial myself for the great techniques of using the cast iron - something that is becoming more and more popular these days. My husband loves these recipes!

This was such a neat cookbook! I love my cast iron skillet and it was fun to see new ways to use it. Thanks for the sneak peek!

The mark of a true cook is how they handle a cast iron skillet. The ability to use this basic kitchen must have is not something you learn by just wishing. I inherited my grandmother's skillets but was too intimidated by them to learn. I absolutely love this book and would recommend it to every one of my cooking friends.
The author will take you step by step from choosing to using to caring to an excellent choice of recipes designed for the skillets. This book should be sold with every new cast iron skillet!

Very handy book, especially for newbies. I know that the care and keeping of the skillet is always a consideration. The author debunks some misconceptions in that department.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide a review of Not Your Mother's Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook. I greatly enjoyed the introduction which provided some history of the cast iron skillet, useful information on cast iron care, and a section of tools and supplies. I have used cast iron skillets over the years but have just recently starting incorporating them into my every day cooking so I greatly enjoyed the wide variety of recipes provided in this book, the clear and concise instructions, and am eager to start cooking and see how they turn out.

When we moved into our new house this summer, I was gifted a box of cast iron by my mother in law. Most had been in her family for generations and were very special to her, including the famous one granny beat a man with.
Whether granny really beat a man or not, these skillets were incredible, but definitely needed some TLC and I had no idea how to even begin to clean and reseason them.
That’s why when I saw this arc on netgalley I knew I needed it, whether I was chosen for an early review or had to wait. Thankfully I was chosen! Thanks netgalley.
This book is useful from page one. It includes rundowns on how to buy your skillet, both new and used; utensils that you’ll find useful; and how to clean them. I’ve apparently been cleaning mine all wrong all this time.
Now, onto the main reason I wanted this book- the section on seasoning. It gives detailed instructions on how to season new skillets and repair and reseason old skillets, including descriptions of the various oils for the seasoning bake. I cannot wait to get these clean, seasoned, and on my stove.
To make these AMAZING recipes, of course. I can’t wait to have my in laws over for a meal cooked in granny’s skillets.
For sure a cookbook I’ll be referring to over and over, both for the recipes and the care instructions.

This book is great for a beginner and an advance cast-iron cook. The first part of the book introduces you to how to care and use your cast-iron then comes the great recipes from breakfast to dessert this cookbook will give you a recipe for every meal.
Let me just say the biscuit recipe alone is totally worth the Kindle price that is how amazing they were. I am not a newbie to cast-iron and have backed several different recipes of biscuits in my cast-iron but nothing like the amazing taste of these.
Recipes are easy to follow the only downside to the books was it just needed more pictures of the finished products.

This cookbook offers a fresh perspective on cast iron cooking. It includes a detailed section on the history of the cast iron skillet, vintage and modern skillet, recommended brands, tools and utensils for cast iron skillet cooking. The section also covers tips on heat settings, how to test to see if the skillet is hot enough, and how to maintain and restore cast iron skillets.

This book offers a wide variety of recipes including breakfasts, snacks, sweets & sauces and so on. There are over 150 recipes in this book, all developed and tested by the author. The recipes are sorted according to regions, for example, US, Mexican, European, Middle Eastern and Chinese. Each recipe lists a recommended skillet size and the main cooking method used. The book also includes tips on choosing the right ingredients.

Filled with mouthwatering photos that will tempt the reader to grab a cast iron skillet and try out some of these recipes. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Lucy Vaserfirer, Quarto Publishing Group – Harvard Common Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is an eye opener on what you can use that heavy cast iron skillet for. There is a brilliant section on the modern cast iron skillets available and a brief history of it's past. The images are fun, like the stack of different sized skillets or the bakers rack hanging with a huge variety of shapes and sizes of cast iron, other photos are useful in showing the tools and cleaning implements that should be used, and so very tempting when you dive deep into the recipe pages. Some old time recipes have comical names, ie dutch babies, or strange combinations of ingredients, such as jalapeno-maple butter for your corn cakes but any recipe book that covers such a wide range - from Scotch Eggs to Pot Stickers and Hot Wings to Squash Blossoms - is awesome in my opinion. It sure made me open my cupboard and give my skillets a fresh look.
Full Disclosure: I was allowed to read a copy of this book for free as a member of NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not influenced to give a positive review.

I enjoyed the recipes in this cookbook. I just got a cast iron skillet for Christmas so it was perfect timing to read a whole book full of recipes for it.

A wonderful cookbook to add to my collection,! I have not yet used the recipes, but they look well written and easy to follow. Thank you

There are those who love cooking in cast iron, and those who don’t. Personally, I think a lot of the people who don’t like cast iron are those who just don’t understand it very well. Cast iron comes with its own rules. Don’t wash it in water. It needs to be seasoned, and sometimes stripped and reseasoned. It can be heavy and awkward and difficult to use. But cooking in cast iron has a lot of positives too.

Cast iron holds heat well and distributes it evenly. It can be used on a stovetop, in the oven, on a grill, or on an open flame. It lasts forever. It’s fairly inexpensive, especially compared to other pans that can last a lifetime. They come in a variety of sizes and styles, and they’re not all as heavy as they look. And as far as all those crazy rules, all you need is the right guidebook to help you find your way. Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook is that guide.

Lucy Vaserfirer is a big fan of cast iron, and her down-to-earth writing helps you put all your concerns about cast iron aside. She goes into detail about what to buy and how to care for it, and she names names. She tells you what to use to clean it, what tools work best with it, how to store it, and how to use it to cook just about everything (her one exception: bacon; she bakes it). Basically, she breaks it all down and makes it accessible as she shares her passion for cooking with cast iron.

And the recipes! She includes over 150 recipes for everything from breakfast to dessert, including starters, snacks, mains, sides, sweets, and even sauces. You can start off with a Fluffy Omelet or Biscuits and Sausage Gravy, move on to Falafel with Lemon-Yogurt Dipping Sauce and Potato Latkes, to Beer-Battered Fish and Pork Carnitas, to finish with Funnel Cakes or a Pear Tarte Tatin. And that barely begins to cover the breadth of recipes here. Basically, Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook is worth its weight in gold. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to get more out of their cast iron!

Galleys for Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cooking were provided by Quarto Publishing Group through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I love my cast iron pan, and I am always looking for more ways to use it. This book has amazing recipes!! My only flaw is that there needs to be more photos. There should be one photo for each recipe. Because of that I really should give only 3.5 star, but the recipes are good, so I will give 4.

A great book about cast iron skillets and how to best use them. Included are tips on use, how to clean and great recipes. This book would make a great gift along with a cast iron skillet.

Easy to follow recipes that actually turn out as good as they look. I found myself utilizing this book more than once when planning menus for the week.

I have cast iron cookware that came over to New Mexico on covered wagons from Illinois and Missouri with both of my Grandmothers, some of the cast iron collected by my Mother, and what I have aquired on my own, so technically some of it IS my Mother's Cast Iron. As I have gotten older and my nest empty I have passed on to my children - both excellent cooks - that CI that I feel is unsafe for me to lift safely or feeds a large group, but I still have a special pull out 'safe' for my cast Iron and the favorites stay on the stove top. I have been cooking about 60 years, and cook in cast iron about 5 days a week and three meals a day when camping.

When I first saw this book I was skeptical that I would find new info but was interested to see if there were new items I might want to acquire. I was so wrong. There are several hints and recipe suggestions that I must try out - ASAP before my old mind forgets! - plus some new lighter versions of the old standby CI I no longer have.

I received a free electronic copy of this recipe book On February 22, 2019 from Netgalley, Lucy Vaserfirer, and Harvard Common Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

This cookbook presents various recipes that may be prepared in a cast iron skillet using different methods. However, prior to the recipe section, the reader is provided with a lot of valuable information on the care, use, and maintenance of the cast iron skillet. For newcomers to cast iron use, this is valuable information. For experienced users, this is a great review. The range of recipes demonstrates the versatility of the cast iron skillet and provides great opportunities to the user.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that was provided by the publisher through Net Galley. However, the thoughts and opinions presented here are my own.

This is a wonderful book for helping you cook and bake with a cast iron skillet. It provides detailed information about caring for a CI skillet, and uses and techniques for cooking with a CI skillet. A huge bonus is these are all ONE PAN recipes. This is a dream come true for me. The recipes are easy to read and clearly explained. I own two CI skillets, but I don’t cook with them. I bake different variations of cornbread in a CI skillet weekly, but that’s it. I thought CI skillets weren’t good to cook in because you can’t cook acidic ingredients in them. This book says only long cooking acidic dishes, such as tomato based sauces, should not be cooked in a CI skillet because it will react with the skillet. I didn’t count, but the book says there are over 150 recipes. That’s an impressive amount of one pan recipes to build my CI skillet cooking skills.

Cookbook is packed with recipes that keep up with speciality diets The book offers buying tips and seasoning the skilletr. very helpful.

Everything you wanted to know about cast iron, plus some instructions on how to season your pans (Valuable information in itself) and one reason alone to own this book, but throw in some One pan Meal recipes and pictures, and leave the reader licking their lips and you have the start of one heck of a cast iron skillet cookbook!! Count me in!

Honestly, I am not the audience for this book. So for me, it came across as a bit scattered and confusing. THAT SAID: It is actually a great book for most home cooks and/or libraries. I could see this book being used a lot in a public library collection or as a gift with a few cast iron skillets.

I have always been raised around cast iron cooking, so for me this was a no brainer. This is a great collection of new recipes to challenge the most experienced cast iron cook, but also a nice primer for those new to the art. Which, by the way, this is totally an art. For the unexperienced, this can be intimidating. One good thing is that the beginning has tips and advice on cast iron cooking, the benefits, how to use them, seasoning, the proper way to clean them (which is a religion), skills one needs to do it well. Some will find that starting out there is a learning curve. This provides the information to get someone well on their way. Everything I am saying comes from one who has a lot of skill in this area. If you are a novice cook the recipes could possibly feel a little overwhelming. That is a fair warning. Another benefit though is that the recipes are able to fit many different eating plans and lifestyles.

Thank you for a cookbook I am glad to add to my collection and share with others. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the honor of reading this ARC.

TLDR: Good cookbook for teaching you how to maintain - and restore if need be - cast iron cookware and lots of great recipes to boot!

I recently got an old, well-seasoned cast iron skillet after years of trying to find a decent new one. Around the same time, this cookbook became available for review on Netgalley. Good timing! I'm not new to cooking with cast iron cookware. In fact, I grew up in a household that cooked everything in cast iron, but I <i>still</i> learned from this book. I've heard the "don't use soap, it'll ruin the seasoning" mantra for decades, but the author explains why this isn't the case with modern soaps. Just in case you do mess up the seasoning, though, this book has you covered.

The recipes are appetizing and range from really easy to quite ambitious. When you think of cast iron cookery, you may think of heavy, mostly Southern cooking such as biscuits & gravy and fried everything. This book has some classics like that - and teaches you how to do them well - but also some lighter fare. Yum!

Recipes: 10
Text: 7

I am looking at the ARC and so the awkward sentences, typos, and other artifacts that grate as I read may have been cleared up. If not then I have to say that Ms Vaserfirer is a better cook than writer and Quarto editors did not help her to make the text smooth and error free.

But buy the book anyway. There is a lot of info on choosing, using, and caring for cast iron cookware. (Someone along the way decided that the abbreviation "CI" is ok in the text. I don't agree.) There's a nice discussion of ironware brands, and a great deal of information on how different cooking methods – like baking – translate into cast iron cookery.

The recipes are very nice. They are drawn from a range of ethnic and regional cuisines and there are some exciting pantry staples to make from scratch. I'm looking forward to trying the unsmoked bacon that mimics smoky bacon through the use of smoked salt and sweet paprika. There are recipes for American-style Italian sweet sausage and homemade tortillas, among others.

As you can imagine, many of these recipes can be made without using cast iron ware, but I thought it was an interesting idea that one could equip a kitchen with a microwave with convection oven, an Instant Pot and a few cast iron skillets, and never have to buy any other cookware. I might give it a try next time I go on a long-term assignment.

Cooking for only two people can be challenging. I enjoy leftovers, but I hate the dishes. If I can make a delicious, filling meal with one pan, I’m all for it!

My first experience with cast iron cooking didn’t go so well, because I was so accustomed to cooking with nonstick pans. I ended up throwing the pan away because the chicken I tried to cook melded to it! I've since learned to thoroughly preheat my pan first! Because cast iron cooking can seem a little fussy at first, the first forty pages provide information on preparing, using, maintaining, and storing your cast iron pan.

Not Your Mother's Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook More Than 150 Recipes for One-Pan Meals for Any Time of the Day features a wide variety of dishes, from quick meals to meals suited for company. There are recipes for the Southern comfort food I typically associate with cast iron cooking, but there are also dishes inspired from a variety of ethnic cuisines. In a quick flip-through, I saw recipes with Korean, Indian, Mexican, Japanese, French, Spanish, Chinese, Middle Eastern, North African, and Mediterranean origins. I am most excited to try CI Skillet Bibimbap (cover), Saag Paneer, Pork, Shiitake & Water Chestnut Lettuce Wraps, and Chicken & Couscous with Pine Nuts, Golden Raisins & Moroccan Spices.

The recommended skillet size and cooking method are noted at the top of each recipe, which I found extremely helpful. I usually pick recipes based on photographs, so I was disappointed that there weren't more photos. The full-page pictures that were included were mouthwatering. I recommend this cookbook to anyone looking to step up their cast iron cooking game.

The author blogs at Hungry Cravings.

This is a new first for me, a review about a cookbook.

I am not one who is adventurous when it comes to food. I like pub fare, the meat and potatoes stuff. My bathroom scale is well equated with my tastes in food. But this is not just a cook book. It’s a book about cast iron skillets and the recipes that work well in them. Lucy introduces us to the Cast Iron Skillet, traditionally used in our grandmother's day (if you’re as old as I am, then in your mother's day as well). My wife has one her mom gave her. We never used it much except to make home fries/hash brown potatoes. I knew it had to be seasoned, and the book talks about how to season the skillet. Lucy also writes about the history of the cast iron skillet, how it is casted, what to look for when shopping for a pan, especially those flea markets. The skillets also come in many sizes, from 3 inches to 20 inch and every size in-between. They are types, such as chef skillets, deep skillets, divided skillets, wedge skillets, small square skillets and large square skillets. She also gives us many tips and techniques.

So, how's the food?? A cast iron skillet can be used to prepare just about any dish. Lucy published 150 recipes of all shapes, sizes, meals and ingrediencies’. I did not try them all, and to be truthful, there is only about 15 recipes that I would try, and I got three made so far, omelets, corn bread and egg battered pork chops. If I delay this review any longer, I will add a couple more. Everything I tried came out well and no complaints were heard around the table.

I did receive an ARC in exchange for a review.

I have 3 cast iron skillets and they will be in use. Loved this book.
I would recommend this book. It's full of information.

Filled with tips on using, cleaning, and seasoning cast iron pans and even the different ways to cook in one, from sauteing to poaching, the guide at the front of the book is helpful for even the greenest of beginners. Wherever you are in your culinary skill, this book can teach you something new and exciting.

The recipes are categorized in an easy-to-follow method of breakfasts (from savory eggs to sweet dutch babies and pancakes, and even an elevated bacon recipe), starters and snacks (such as mozzarella-stuffed arancini, candied nuts with spices, and potstickers), mouth-watering mains (chicken-fried chicken biscuit sandwiches, mushroom and herb-stuffed pork chops, perfect seared sea scallops, shrimp etouffee, veal saltimbocca, mussels and chorizo in saffron broth, and garlic-rubbed tomato melts), elegant side dishes (asparagus with brown butter, orange, and herbs; charred broccoli with lemon and pine nuts; sausage and herb cornbread dressing; loaded crispy smashed potatoes; elotes; risotto milanese with peas and prosciutto; southern fried okra), and sweets and bakes ( funnel cakes, two kinds of cornbread, pear tarte tatin, and a free-from apple pie).

The ingredients in these recipes are sometimes highly specialized and a bit overly specific, when a simpler substitution would be just as functional. However, the title sort of belies the author’s preference for fancier fare than our mothers presumably made.

The recipes include a wide cultural variety, from all-American hot wings, to Southern biscuits and sausage gravy, to Chinese flaky green onion pancakes, homemade Mexican chorizo, Middle Eastern shakshuka, Jewish latkes, beef dang myun, and French frisee aux lardons.

I am very much looking forward to cooking my way through this entire book, from elegant or easy dinners for my family, to fun new cultural foods for my friends, as well as traditional favorites with a new twist. And with the cleaning tips, meal clean up will be much simpler.

Last year I have decided to introduce cast iron skillets to my kitchen. When I came across this cookbook from the publisher, I was very excited and went ahead to obtain a review copy and see what it offers.

The first 20% of the book is extremely helpful and informational to any newbies to using cast iron cookwares. Abundance of tips and knowledge on using and caring for the cookwares as they are more tricky to use than the regular non-stick or ceramic cookwares. While online sources sometimes are confusing and even conflicting, this cookbook provides everything cast iron users need to know in one stop.

The recipes, mostly, are simple enough but there are still a good number of them that are not for quick, daily meals. Lack of pictures is another issue, to me, because pictures of the final products make cookbooks attractive besides the mouth-watering recipes. The great varieties of recipes (118 of them altogether,) however, do compensate the scarcities of photos. And I wish the recipes provide prep and cook time because this minor information would help readers to plan ahead without reading all the text to guess the time estimation.

The cookbook provides recipes for 6 major categories:
1- Eggs and Breakfast
2- Starters and Snacks
3- Main courses
4- Sides
5- Sweets and Bakes
6- Spices and Sauces

Most recipes are meat dishes so vegetarians might have to use this cookbook creatively by combining different recipes together and tweaking around to make it perfect for them.

There are some surprises in this cookbook and would make a great collection of recipes to cast iron users (with some cooking experiences for example) but by no means a Cooking 101 crash course for those who is new to cooking. In terms of contents, tips and information, this is a solid and useful cookbook.

Think cast iron skillets are dated and out-of-style? Think again. This heavy cookware is enjoying a surge of popularity and there are dozens of reasons. You can learn everything you need to know about cast iron cooking – history, pros and cons, care and upkeep, and most importantly, how to cook delicious dishes, in Lucy Vaserfirer’s book Not Your Mother's Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook:More Than 150 Recipes for One-Pan Meals for Any Time of the Day. Vaserfirer’s expertise shows through in this cookbook, and there are dozens of recipes that will appeal to almost everyone.

Many think of cast iron as the pans to use when cooking old southern dishes, but Vaserfirer has included dishes from all over the world. Her recipe for CI Skillet Bibimbap has already become a favorite, as well as her version of Shakshuka. We loved the Corn Fry Cakes with Jalapeño-Maple Butter as well as the Bacon-Wrapped Pork Filet and Egg Battered Pork Chops. Everyone loves Home Fries, and Vaserfirer’s version is fabulous. Always looking for good vegetable dishes, Skillet-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts, Shallots & Bacon is luscious.


This excellent cookbook includes several recipes for homemade seasoning salts – much better than the commercial brands - as well as sauces like Chipotle Dipping Sauce and Charred Tomato Sauce. Every one tried so far has been great.

The one drawback to this cookbook is that there aren’t very many photographs of the dishes. The included photographs are nice, but there simply aren’t pictures of every dish, which there should be.

After reading and testing the recipes in this book on my own family, I’m in love with cast iron and use it constantly. Yes, it’s heavy, but that’s one of the reasons food cooks so well in it. You wouldn’t take your expensive cookware camping, but cast iron is virtually indestructible and can be used on your stovetop as well as your campfire.

Although there are dozens of good cast iron cookbooks out there, this will most likely become the favorite. It has everything you need to know, and is highly recommended.


Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

This is the perfect book to go with the cast iron skillet I got for Christmas. I love all the recipes and can’t wait to try them.

Having owned a cast iron skillet for years but not used it much, it was a joy to be able to pick my way through this book sampling some fabulous recipes. It is well written with clear instructions though I would have preferred more pictures but that does not detract from the quality of the book. Definitely a book that should come with every skillet.

This cookbook offers more than 150 one pan meals for your Iron Skillet. The book is divided into six sections: breakfast, snacks and starters, main, sides, sweets, spices and sauces. She starts with the history of the cast iron skillet, collection information, recommended brands, types and usages, cooking terms, and how to clean and season your skillet. Examples of recipes included are Dutch Babies, stuffed French toast, biscuts and sausage gravy, spicy carnival corn, hot wings, potato latkes, chicken with lemon and green olives, seared duck breast, herb stuffed pork chops, seared trout, shrimp etouffee, chicken piccata, coconut shrimp with mango sauce, onion straws, flour tortillas, cornbread, almond tea cakes, and pineapple upside down cake.

My husband and I just received a cast iron skillet for our wedding. We had no clue where to begin and how to take care of this expensive kitchen tool. We tried one recipe and then retired our cast iron. This cookbook has made me decide to bring the cast iron out of retirement. So excited to try all the recipes and read about the care of a cast iron skillet.

I thought there were some excellent recipes in Not Your Mother's Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook. I love that there is an entire chapter devoted completely to breakfast, my favorite meal of the day. There are some traditional recipes, but the book is also filled with modern day dishes that would make any foodie salivate. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cooking and wants to try some new and innovative dishes in their home kitchen.

I found several recipes in this book that my family will and has enjoyed. The recipes had ingredients that most kitchens have and the directions were very easy to follow. Really nice cookbook and it inspired me to drag out my cast iron

Es ist, als würde man noch einmal kochen lernen - die Fülle an Informationen scheint einen fast erschlagen zu wollen, kaum zu fassen, wieviel es zu diesem Thema noch zu lernen gibt...
Ran an den Herd, nur Mut und Rezepte ausprobieren: Genuß pur!

Beautiful photographs and well-thought-out advice for a new-to-cast-iron cook! I inherited my grandmother's cast iron pans, but I was stuck because we lived too far for me to see her cook much with them. This book helped me avoid mistakes, make tasty meals, and feel closer to her!

This was a good book with a lot of information at the beginning of the book about how to take care of the cast iron. I myself have been cooking with cast iron my whole life. My father cooked with them I got his when he passed. I added those to what we already had. Different sixes liked she spoke of in the book. I will say not all of her recipes were ones that I might try but I did like her desserts and some of her breakfast ideas. I just found that this is a good book for those who want to start using cast iron. The people like myself who have been using them for close to 50 years I will try new things but Brussel sprouts still never touch any of my cooking wear I don’t how you want to cook them. Cooking s’mores in cast iron I do and have done for my children and they love it. Overall not a bad book.

Skillet cooking has always been a favorite in my family and passed on from generation to generation. If we were going camping we were using the cast iron skillet. I love that the author gave detailed information about the care of a cast iron skillet and how to maintain it along with history. The recipes brought back a lot of memories I would of liked more pictures but it doesn't take away from the book.

I really enjoyed this cookbook. The first part of the cookbook is full of helpful tips on buying Cast Iron and how to care for it. The directions are clear. Most of the recipes are quick and easy. There are some more involved recipes for more experienced cooks. There are not a lot of hard to find ingredients. I really liked the information on all the uses for the different types of cast iron pans. Each recipe includes a suggestion for the correct pan to use. I do wish there more illustrations. I have been using Lodge Cast Iron for many years and I am looking for word to trying out many of these recipes. Enjoy this delicious cookbook

I was intimidated by the heavy and huge cast iron skillets my grandma used to cook with. And it doesn’t help that she preferred to teach me to cook using her set of stainless steel pots.

Then, I asked my stepfather to show me how to cook some of his German recipes. And as nice as he is, he showed me more than just German recipes, and any time I was invited over for dinner, he would call me to sit close by and would talk about what he was doing. Right there is where I became less intimidated by the cast iron skillet. So, I slowly began to use it.

But I found myself making many mistakes. I didn’t know I had to season it. I didn’t even know how to season it!

Eventually, with the help of dear Mr. Google, I found some answers. (I think is Mr. Google, could it be Mrs. Google?). Yet, I’m still a newbie when it comes to cooking with the cast iron skillet. I can make some basic stuff, and honestly, I love it. So I was extremely happy to get my hands in this book and learn more thing to make with it.

As I read the section on getting started, I giggled a lot. I remembered that I made almost all the newbie mistakes listed in the book. Of course, I laugh now, but it was frustrating in the beginning. I also learned new things of course, since I am just a regular cook.

I did feel bad when I found out that the quality of the new cast iron skillets isn’t as good as the old ones. I might have to follow the author’s advice and go look in thrift stores and find me a good ol’ fashion cast iron. Or never try it and be happy in my ignorance that there is something better. Since I didn’t really cook by myself with an old fashion cast iron skillet, I’m not experienced enough to know any difference, and maybe is better that way.

Besides all the wisdom about caring, seasoning, and using your cast iron skillet, you then go to the most important section (in my opinion), the scrumptious recipes!

The photography is so spectacular that makes my mouth water. Someday I will try every single recipe. I loved the cornbread recipe, but I have to admit that I changed the recipe, as I don’t like onions.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting to take their cast iron skillet to the next level and use it to the maximum potential.