The Chopping Block Cooking & Wine Blog | Lodge cast iron (2)

Use a Cast Iron Pan To Cook Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Dessert

I’m often asked when teaching a cooking class about the virtues of cast iron. It’s one of the easiest questions to answer, as well as one of the most difficult ones. Most home cooks love the thought ...

Caring for your Cast Iron

Caring for cast iron can seem daunting. There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about seasoning and cleaning cast iron, but I hope to clear those up with a few simple tips. Cast iron skillets and ...

Are You Baking in your Cast Iron Pan?

During my travels last month, I stayed with friends in their new house. As the curator of an amazing museum and an authority on rare books and maps, their lives are full of cool stuff. I expected ...

Cast Iron: Your Must-Have Camping Cookware

Taking a camping trip is something my husband and I have always wanted to do with our kids. We told ourselves that as soon as our little ones got a bit older and more independent we would take the ...

What to Do with an Abundance of Rhubarb

by Kelly K 5/9/25 10:30 AM

Rhubarb is thriving this time of year here in the Midwest, both in home gardens and in the...Read more

Chicago Bakeries Worth The Wait

by Kate A 5/8/25 10:30 AM

I’m always asked by friends, local to Chicago and those visiting, for the best places to eat...Read more

Summerween

by Lisa C 5/7/25 10:30 AM

Did you know that there is a large faction of people that celebrate Halloween in the summer?...Read more

What is Chinese Black Vinegar and How to Use It?

by Sara 5/6/25 10:30 AM

Believe it or not, in all my years of professional cooking, I had never used Chinese black...Read more

Crawfish 101: How to Boil, Peel, and Enjoy This Southern Delicacy

by Andrea 5/2/25 10:30 AM

It's the season of the crawfish boil, where flavors are bold, hands get messy, and the...Read more