favorite things - my cast iron grill pan

It really is the simple things in life.

This past weekend a friend brought over steaks for dinner (with a homemade balsamic & onion reduction...be jealous, it was awesome) and I got to use the Lodge cast iron grill pan that I got this year for Christmas. It's not aged quite like my grandmother's, but it came pre-seasoned, and I'm working on giving it some flavor.

look at the pretty, pretty grill marks

If you don't know Lodge Manufacturing, they are a family owned, local/regional company that was founded by Joseph Lodge in 1896, and operates out of South Pittsburg TN - not far from where I am in Chattanooga. I own 2 other pieces of Lodge cookware: an ears of corn shaped cornbread pan that is awesome (and I use whenever I make cornbread), and a 3" mini-skillet that was a favor at the Chattanooga Junior League Cookbook Launch Party. (My sister worked on the layout of the Cookbook, and used a Lodge Skillet & seasonal herbs for the cover.) Everyone I know that has used Lodge cookware has loved it, and slowly but surely I plan on adding to my collection.

The other cool thing about Lodge is that they, along with Martha White Flour, sponsor the National Cornbread Festival & National Cornbread Cookoff in South Pittsburg each year. I've never been, but every year my dad's office gets the newsletter with the winning recipes, and I promptly oogle over it. This year the festival is April 28th & 29th, and I think I might go. It would be worth it for the taste testing alone, and come on, who can resist a cornbread festival??

Let me know if you're in the area and up for a road trip!