Cast iron, and the cornbread that comes with it
Our skillets are back in stock, and Meg is sharing the cornbread she makes in hers every fall.
Cast iron is the thing people ask us about most, and the thing they're most nervous to buy. The worry is always the same: that it's fussy, that they'll ruin it, that it belongs to somebody whose grandmother taught them. None of that is true. A skillet is the most forgiving pan in the kitchen.
Three things, and that's it
- Dry it on the stove. Wash it, then put it back on a low burner for a minute. Water sitting in the pan is what causes rust — not soap.
- Wipe a little oil in while it's warm. Any neutral oil, a paper towel, thirty seconds. That's the whole ritual.
- Cook in it. Seasoning builds from use. A pan that lives in the cabinet stays sticky; a pan that fries an egg twice a week gets better on its own.
If yours has gone rusty, bring it by. We're happy to look at it and tell you honestly whether it's worth scrubbing back or whether it's time for a new one.
Meg's skillet cornbread
This is the one that gets made at our house from September to March. It's barely sweet, which is the way it was made where I grew up, and the crust is the entire point.
Heat the oven to 425°F with the skillet inside. Whisk together a cup of cornmeal, a cup of flour, a tablespoon of baking powder, a teaspoon of salt and a tablespoon of sugar. In another bowl, beat two eggs into a cup and a half of buttermilk. Pull the hot skillet out, melt a good spoonful of butter in it and swirl it up the sides, then pour the leftover butter into the batter and stir just until it comes together — lumps are fine, and overmixing is the only real way to get this wrong.
Pour the batter into the hot pan. It should hiss. Bake 20 to 22 minutes, until the top is gold and the edges have pulled in. Eat it warm, with butter and honey if you like it that way.
The skillet does the work. You're just holding the handle.
Skillets are in store now in 8, 10 and 12 inch, along with the chainmail scrubbers and the little pot holders that fit the handle. We also ship nationwide if you're not in Austin.