Cast-Iron Cooking: From Johnnycakes to Blackened Redfish (Paperback)

by A. D. Livingston (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
"I hide my favorite frying pan whenever my mother-in-law comes for a visit," reveals Livingston ( Good Vittles ) in his preface. Why? Because "the woman means well, but, of course, scrubbing a cast-iron skillet is wellnigh (but not quite) the worst thing that you can do to it." Livingston is right, yet his pages are so filled with backwoods machismo that his book could as well be titled Iron Man Cooks with Iron Pan . A Southerner fond of hunting and fishing, the author is most at home on a campsite, not in the heat of a kitchen. For example, instructions for sourdough biscuits baked in a cast-iron Dutch oven detail raking coals over the lid--but give no instructions for adapting the recipe for a conventional oven. Most camp cooks don't use cast-iron cookware, due to its heavy weight; for those who cook in a well-stocked cabin or trailer, cast iron is well suited to searing fish and game. Livingston helpfully outlines techniques for blackening foods, from chicken, beef and hamburger to redfish. He knows the lore and care of cast-iron equipment, providing instructions for seasoning (or "sweetening") cast iron to ensure that it serves as virtually a nonstick surface. And his list of mail-order resources for cast-iron cookware is comprehensive. Still, how many consumers will take the time to prepare a recipe for "Sheep Stew" that calls for 60 pounds of fat lamb, just for starters? Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
Nothing cooks like cast iron, and Livingston tells you why, with seventy-five delicious recipes.


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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (March 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558211152
• ISBN-13: 978-1558211155
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #182,122 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get the most from your cast-iron cookware, July 31, 1997

By A Customer

Mr. Livingston does an admirable job of explaining how to use and care for your cast-iron cookware. Whether using a skillet to scramble a few eggs for breakfast, or preparing for a LARGE crowd in a special piece of cookware, this book covers all the bases. If you've never used cast-iron cookware, this is a good introduction to the subject-- cast-iron cookware is different from the other products on the market. If you are a cast-iron afficionado, this "sermon for the choir" will give you some new ideas for good things to do with your treasured skillets and dutch ovens. Warning: the recipes are not all low-fat, low cholesterol, trendy, 90s kind of recipes. They are, however, good! This book would make a great add-on gift with a cast-iron skillet

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good stuff!, August 13, 2003

By	"glenn20379" (salem, or United States) - See all my reviews

Livingston is fun to read - an ol' guy with down-to-earth smarts who has an appreciation for the subtle humor this subject offers, and a gift for phrasing it - you can tell you'd like to have him for a friend.
but not as much info on using cast iron cookware on a daily basis as i'd like - lotsa outdoor stuff, backwoods cookery, etc.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back to Basics Classic, July 28, 2006

By	Reader Views "www.readerviews.com" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Reviewed by Juanita Watson for Reader Views (7/06)

"Cast-Iron Cooking: From Johnnycakes to Blackened Redfish" is a great little cookbook, that contains everything you'd ever want to know regarding the world of cast iron cookery. It features over 75 easy-to-read recipes, and plenty of tried and true tips for cooking with this traditional cookware. Though many have chosen to forgo their cast iron for more modern kitchen pots, skillets, and pans....A.D. Livingston brings the viability of cast-iron cooking back to the forefront. Just one glance though the delicious recipes and drawings of cookware available today, may just inspire you to reach for that old cast-iron that lays somewhere in the far reaches of your cupboard.

With plenty of humorous wit, A.D. Livingston has managed to add much personality into "Cast-Iron Cooking." I really enjoyed reading the personal cooking tips and gained more knowledge that I expected regarding this traditional form of cooking. I feel I am well prepared to cook with cast-iron both in my kitchen, and over a fire on a future camping trip. And ultimately, why not cook with cast-iron....it makes food taste much better, and that's all I need to change my cooking habits.