Curing Cast Iron

If you're like me, you love cast iron so much you want to see it treated the way it deserves- frequently and with respect. Nothing breaks my heart more than cast iron that sits in the back of the cupboard, never used.

I rescued one of these pans, a 4 1/2 quart dutch oven with handle. It wasn't in bad shape, but had never been seasoned properly.

I already have a newer "Lodge" mini cast iron (just right for frying a single egg). They are already seasoned for you, but I figured I'd give it another coat if I'm seasoning the dutch oven anyway.

Isn't it fantastic? It's amazing what some people don't want. I sanded off the rusty spots and scrubbed the pot out with soapy water (this is the only time to use soap- before you season it).

Then I dried it over the stove top and covered the entire surface with bacon grease, both inside and out.

Put into a 350 degree oven for at least an hour. The house will get a slight metallic smell to it specific to curing pans, but once you make that association, it's kind of a comforting smell. Turn off the oven and leave the cast iron in until completely cooled.

Once it is cured, do not use soap when cleaning. This improved a lot, but could probably use another seasoning at some point. Luckily the more you use, the better the seasoning. Maintained cast iron will last your lifetime and well into your grandchildren's.

I never knew what the numbers meant, since it was clearly not an 8 quart pot. I found a chart by PanMan, listing each model number and capacity.

There are zillions of cast iron enthusiasts out there, but a couple other sites I found with helpful info and recipes:

http://ramblingsoncastiron.blogspot.com/

http://blackirondude.blogspot.com/

http://www.chuckwagonsupply.com/

Furniture Tour

Hey, art lovers. There's still one more tour we haven't seen from my wonderful day at the Met during my week in New York. And get ready, it's a nerdy one.

Royal furniture and stately rooms! I seriously can't get enough of this stuff.

The first stop was the Studiolo from the Ducal Palace in Gubbio, designed by Francesco di Giorgio Martini, though I think the craftsmen should get some credit. The entire room is wooden inlay, or intarsia, and uses the grains of wood to make the pictures look three dimensional. 

Notice the detail to use a different grain to cast a shadow.

Our curator shone light on one edge to show a better example of the 3D effect. This would be extraordinary if created now in the age of power tools.

Next came embroidery from Louis XIV. These are not tapestries, mind you. This was all done by hand, not loom.

Can you see the silver thread?

Another example of elaborate inlay using ivory, tortoiseshell and ebony.

Rococo chandelier.

Scallop shell armchairs with original tapestry from the mid-18th century. Take the oldest buildings in our country, and this chair is even older.

Lacquered desk of Louis XV, all part of a fascinating process of tapping trees in Southeast Asia for the effect.

Marie Antoinette's chair.

Can you see her insignia? It's in the center under the cabinet top.

A raised desk with compartments and a book slant for more comfortable reading. Kind of robotic for the neoclassic period.

By 1710 porcelain was made in France during the reign of Louis XV by the famed company Sevres. Porcelain was of particular interest with royal furniture because it retains its color over age. This furniture was intended for the women of the court.

The carvings on the side panels are Wedgwood.

I snapped these as I walked through Medieval art to catch up with the next tour.

Now I'm appreciating my Aunt Ettorina's wedding china she passed on to me. It has patiently waited in my father's garage for at least five years, and now it will be used everyday in my new little kitchen.

Stay tuned for the excitement! I don't think it's Sevres, but it's antique as far as I'm concerned.

Arts of the Islamic World

Okay, how much do you know about Islamic art? Because I know nothing.

So to continue with neato things from the Met, here are some snapshots from the tour of Arts in the Islamic World. Notice the importance of symmetry, arches, and the use of stone, tile, and woodcarving. This makes me want to jump on a plane and head to Morocco, or Iran, or the holy land, anywhere I can get more of this aesthetic and precision to detail.

Inlay.

Calligraphy- mostly found in Arabic for a traditional Koran.

Carpet weaving.

Blown glass.

At this point, I just started taking pictures of every pretty and/or shiny object my little camera could hold.

Highlights from the Met

It's been a busy couple weeks moving. I'm still coming up for air, so let me take this time to reflect on a day trip in New York I haven't shared with you yet. A jam-packed afternoon leaves us with art for days! (And that buys me time to unveil my new studio with you once I finish unpacking.)

During my visit to New York, I stopped in one of my favorite places in the world. For those of you who haven't been to the Met yet, put this on your list!

Just about every time I go, I hit up a tour or two, or in this case, three. Here's a glimpse from Museum Highlights, the best tour if you are new to the art or Met scene. I've taken this tour several times over the years, and each docent takes me to a different work. But each visit leads me to my personal favorites- the Louis Comfort Tiffany windows and the Egyptian Temple of Dendur.

The original entrance to the Met in 1880.

Have you ever visited the Met? What was your personal highlight?