You know what’s blacker than Black Friday? Beautiful, glistening, well seasoned cast iron cookware.
Oh, yeah, baby. Screw waiting in line for some discount plastic crap or overpumped electronica that’ll be in a landfill in 6 months anyway. If you must shop, shop for something hewn from the living, molten rock of Earth. Something hefty enough to stop a bullet. Something that holds heat so well a steak will tremble and bow down before it. Something you can pass down to your grandbabies. Something strong and heavy and black enough to rival Black Friday itself.
Shop for cast iron. Something like this Lodge Five Piece Cast Iron Cookware Set. Or better yet, don’t shop at all. Enter to win this set without even having to even put on your pants. Hey, I have a three-year-old. I am well aware of how overblown pants are as a “thing” in our society.
Thankful, Joyful, Turkeyful, etc.
You may remember this set from the recent post on Skillet Brussels Sprouts. I couldn’t get it out of my head, but I couldn’t justify buying it for myself, given that I really do have quite enough cast iron, thank you very much.
Solution: Giveaway!
You see, as I type this post it’s Thanksgiving evening and I’ve had a few glasses of my husband’s excellent homebrew, so I’m feeling all “I love you, man!” towards my readers (except for the douche-waffles, but we are ignoring them). It is a screaming blessing to be the girl behind the keyboard of this blog, to be able to connect with, and inspire, and be inspired by other gardeners and productive homemakers. It is an honor to learn from you and to share what I’ve learned, and to help connect questions to answers.
So, this Thanksgiving I thought I’d give thanks for my readers by giving cast iron, which is – as we all know – the heaviest way to give thanks.
Enter To Win
Update: This contest is now over. Congratulations to winner Benita, who is “thankful that my 28 yr old niece was able to come home for Thanksgiving. She recently finished up radiation from her 3rd major diagnose of cancer since she was 23.”
To win this five piece set of Lodge cast iron, simply leave a comment on this post telling me what you are thankful for this holiday season.
This set includes a 10-inch griddle (excellent for pancakes, crepes, etc.), an 8-inch and 10-inch skillet (excellent for, well, everything) and a 5-Quart Dutch oven with lid (necessary for No Knead Bread). It’s a pretty awesome starter set of cast iron. There is very, very little you couldn’t cook on these pieces, and I say this as someone who cooks on cast iron about three times a day.
And look, I know I don’t have to convince you guys – you already know this – but nonstick is bullshit, ok? It’s not good for you or the people you feed (kids? grandma?). It turns out inferior food, and it scratches if you glare at it strongly enough. And according to the Environmental Working Group, “Toxic fumes from the Teflon chemical released from pots and pans at high temperatures may kill pet birds and cause people to develop flu-like symptoms (called “Teflon Flu” or, as scientists describe it, “Polymer fume fever”).”
Cast iron when well seasoned is also pretty dang nonstick but it doesn’t give you flu-like symptons. It just slightly boosts the iron content of your food which is, unless you are very atypical and drink liver smoothies for breakfast, a very good thing. It also goes from stove to oven to table without missing a beat and will help you cook like you really mean it.
So leave a comment and enter to win. I want to buy someone these cast iron pans.
Fine Print Stuff
This giveaway is for the cookware set described here. Contest entirely self-sponsored by Northwest Edible Life (that’s me!). Contest open until Thursday, December 5th 8 PM PST. Winner will be contacted by email. Contest open to residents of the US only, due to shipping costs. Sorry international readers. I still love you, but cast iron is really, really heavy. Fulfillment of prize via Amazon.com. One entry per person. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Void where prohibited by law, blah blah blah. Best of luck everyone!
Happy Thanksgiving, all y’all. Thanks for being the best readers a blogger could hope for.
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Sena C says
I am thankful for a healthy family and that the job opportunities that were presented to us this year.
Alicia says
I’m thankful for a loving and supportive family who gathers around the table at least once a year no matter what else may come. Happy holidays!
J. Derek Roberts says
I am thankful to be still taking life head on!
noreen says
I am thankful for healthy children and a new addition on the way!
Allie says
So grateful this day after Thanksgiving to be still standing after a few really difficult years of underemployment. Not only standing but feeling good, as if new possibilities and new horizons are possible again. Oh, the happiness and good cheer I could create in that dutch oven! 🙂
Anna says
I am thankful that, even though we are currently hundreds of miles away from our families, we have good friends to share the holidays with. And that modern communications technology makes the distances less noticeable 🙂
Anne F. says
Super thankful for our good health :: My husband and I have been veggie gardening as a couple for nearly two years now. It was just what we needed to get us off the couch (away from screens) and out in the fresh air. We are both stronger, lighter, eating WAY better, and full of joy! Who knew?
Thanks, everyone, for all the gardening info found on this blog and in the comments.
~Anne
Stephanie (G.G.) White says
I am grateful for my life. Without the support and knowledge of everyone around me, I would not be alive and breathing to delight in another day.
Olga says
My boyfriend and I just moved to the NW and we are very thankful for all the bounty of the region, the welcoming people that we’ve met, the wonderful home we’ve been able to build in our new location, and that we have good jobs.
Brooke says
I am grateful for family–real family and my roller derby family, as they each support me in their own ways–the ability to be working my dream job as a farmer, my puppy, and the ability to be celebrate turkeyday with family around our own homegrown ham, hard apple cider and apple pie!
Cin Martino says
Let’s cook!
Amy says
I am thankful for ….well….a necessary change in outlook that took place a while ago. I am truly thankful for the shift in perspective in my life.
And I’m always thankful for food, shelter, my family, many aspects of my job and what a pretty amazing year 2013 has been!
I am also most thankful to you for your blog – your fierce and passionate writing is a pleasure to read and I’m learning *so* *much* from your posts! I love reading this blog.
Joan Blurton says
I’m grateful for my friend and her huge family who made me feel like one of them Thanksgiving Day. I’m grateful for my own family who give me a sense of worth. I’m grateful for friends who care and watch out for me. And, of course, beautiful sun to grow things….and this give away!
Rachel Triplett says
I am thankful for the time to spend with family and thankful for a job that allows me to do so. I am also thankful for the sweet couple who, upon finding out that I’d never owned a cast iron skillet, donated a skillet of their own to me, without which I’d still be making sad, half-burnt pancakes 🙂
Charmain LaReau says
I am thankful my family is not homeless this year
Eva says
I would love to have a set of these pans. I ADORE cast iron (and your website/fb page).
Tom says
I am most thankful for that God has seen fit to bless me with my wonderful wife! In February I lost my job, a week later she was laid-off. We live in rural Middle Tennessee and the unemployment rate here is quite high. But, even though we’ve been unemployed, we have been able to get by without any sort of assistance. It has really been a great year for the two of us relationship-wise.
Diane Lapierre says
I am thankful for my faith and the friends in my life. For reading and gardening as well. I do have a few pieces of Lodge, I’m thankful for them they get continuous use.
Denise Treat says
I am thankful that my step-son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, and grandson have just moved in with us. That we get to watch the grandchildren grow on a daily basis right in front of our very eyes, and be and integral part of their upbringing. We know that this is not the ideal situation for them, but with the health issues (Kidney disease and on Dialysis) of my step-son and the financial constraints this causes it is the best thing for them.
megan davis says
thankfull for my little guy max , my miracle!
Vonita Franciso says
I’m thankful for my work from home part-time job. It’s just enough money to for outtings with my preschooler and adding to our garden.
Candace says
I am thankful for an amazing family and blessings too many to count. Life is messy but always beautiful.
Randi says
Life is good. I’m thankful to have a job I like, good friends, solid physical and mental health, and a partner I love. I’m thankful the wildflowers I planted in October are finally starting to come up.
Aimee says
We’re thankful for our Etsy business. We’re able to stay home with our 3 kids. No daycare for them! 😉
Katie Jan says
I am thankful for my faith. It challenges me to look for the face of Christ in all those I meet.
Sharlene says
I am thankful to be alive. Many times this year I wasn’t sure if I would be.
Heather says
I am thankful that I’m still in my pjs and have no intention of leaving my house today.
Sarah Z says
I have everything to be thankful for! A beautiful family, wonderful friends, and a home in paradise on this good green earth.
Beks says
I’m very thankful for my parents. When I graduated college and couldn’t find a job in my field, they opened their home to me and told me as long as I was working, they were proud of me. I found a job waitressing, followed by a job working in an office, and they’ve continued to be supportive. I’ll be moving out soon, and into a house with my sister. Finally able to hold our own again. Looking forward to it, but thankful for the lessons my parents continued to teach me, even as an adult.
Jillian Cross says
I am so thankful for everything that has happened this year. This year, my better half and I became first time home owners and each started a new job. It’s been one heck of an adventure and I’m so grateful he’s been by my side throughout. So blessed 🙂
Carla says
I’m thankful for my children and my husband and this beautiful place we get to call home, and how even when it seems like we don’t have much, we always have everything we really need.
Happy holidays and thanks for the great blog!
Dorien Peterson says
When I married my husband 31 years ago, he came with a 4-year old son. It’s been an up and downhill ride being that boy’s stepmother. Some years more a battle than others. Many years, a battle. But, I’m so thankful to say that now that he’s one of the best parts of my life. At 35 for him and 60 for me, we’ve both gained a maturity within ourselves and a love and respect for each other. I know he thinks of me now more as his mother than his step-mom. He gave me my first grandchild and even moved closer to us to have my husband and I in their lives. Yesterday, we sat down for Thanksgiving dinner and I was full of gratitude for his welcoming of me into his life and heart. Also, his fiance tells me they need new frying pans because he always ruins them and I remember his ex-wife telling me the same! He can’t ruin these!
Dominique Oppenheimer says
I’m thankful for a husband that encourages me to follow my dreams even when it results in things like the kids and me being in pjs for days on end (also known as the great pantry clean out). And for kids that are learning to be makers and not consumers, and for a community both in person and online of people who are learning with us! Oh and good wine chocolate and books!
Stefanie Richardson says
I’m so grateful for my amazing family and friends that always seem to love and accept me and each other unconditionally! I’m thankful for the world and it’s beauty that it provides, grateful that I have the ability to appreciate the beauty while others may walk by! I’m grateful for the society that I live in and the opportunity for education, and the ability to make changes that lead to a healthy happy body and family! I love to cook and these would be amazing, thank you for the opportunity to win! Happy happy thanksgiving all!
Toni McGarvey says
Thank you for your blog xox. It gave me a place to go and escape when I was battling breast cancer this year. I wasn’t feeling much like my foodie self, and wasn’t cooking at all, but I could go to your beautiful site and take in all the wonderful recipes and beautiful pics vicariously. Now that I am finally cancer free (boy did I give thanks yesterday!) and back to cooking I would love a set of cast iron pans, reminds me of the ones we used when I was a kid. Plus I super like Brussels sprouts and promise that I would take good care of the set and keep them seasoned as they should be. I hope you had a wonderful holiday xox. Take care.
Sharlene says
I am thankful to be alive. So many times this year I wasn’t sure I would be.
Angie Jones says
I REALLY want to win this amazing set!! Looks awesome!
Stephanie says
I am thankful for my friends and family, my community. I am thankful that there are people in the world that want to live sustainably because it gives me hope for humanity.
Rachel Hoff says
I am thankful and feel absolutely blessed for all the amazing people in my life-friends and family alike. Oh and baby goats. Definitely the baby goats.
Rory says
I am thankful that in a land where not everyone has enough, my family has enough to do more than get by. And that my girls understand that helping others is not a thing to do only at the holidays.
Martha says
I am thankful for the Lord up above who is always with me no matter what I choose to do, my family in which life would be worthless without, and the ability to see what this world is becoming and change my course of life to ensure that my family will be safe. I am learning new things everyday to ensure that. Thanks for the opportunity to win things to help in our quest to free ourselves frombthe chains of society.
Doreen says
I very thankful for the family and friends that I have … one of my sisters passed away less than a week ago so it’s a reminder of how important family and friends are
Sue says
I’m extremely thankful that nobody was harmed in a house fire where my son lives!
Jenette says
I am thankful for my family and extended family. Truly blessed with all the help I have been given this year.
Kathleen Reeves says
This year, oddly enough, I’m thankful for Arlo Gutherie and family (and of course Pete Seeger). My late husband and I went to as many of their concerts as we could.
Every year, my husband would cook a Thanksgiving dinner (that couldn’t be beat) for all our friends who had no one to spend the day with. He loved sharing the love (and food and drink). He made sure to play “Alice’s Restaurant” while he was cooking.
I still play it every Thanksgiving. I also play “Fools Rush In” (aka I can’t help falling in love with you) from his concert at Wolf Trap on August 8, 1993. We were at that concert, and that song can still transport me back. If I close my eyes, I can feel Rick sitting by my side, singing along.
This year, I went to a friend’s house. Despite not having much cookware, she made dinner for stray folk like me. I’d love to be able to gift her with this set. She, too, made Rick’s favorite holiday something to celebrate again. I’m thankful she was there, and willing to do it.
Simrat Khalsa says
I’m thankful for the couple of older, well seasoned cast iron pans I already have.
Even more than that, I am very grateful to have found a wonderful country place to live.
Thankful for my two amazing children, my patient and persevering husband, and my brother & sister, who I love from the bottom of my heart.
Erin Nadeau says
I am thankful for the day I got to spend giving out the most incredible Thanksgiving baskets donated by generous community members, to people who really needed those meals. I am thankful that I had an abundance of food, and didn’t need to ask for help, and I am thankful that I was able to share that abundance with others.
Jennifer Bloodworth says
I am so very thankful for my family. Without them, I wouldn’t strive everyday to be a better person and leave this planet a better place than I found it.
Michele says
I’m thankful to spend Thanksgiving with my family and the chance to win this cookware!
Khadijah says
The children and I compiled our list together. We are thankful for each other, always, and having a home to live in and the excitement of never knowing what the future holds. We are also thankful that the one of us who is now overseas is, for now, safe.