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    The Lodge Cast Iron Cookbook is a nice compilation of recipes from kitchens all over the country, from family recipes to those additions of more famous chefs. 

    Those  who love cooking in old fashioned cast iron will appreciate the sentiment expressed in the writings that accompany each recipe.  Aesthetically, the book is attractively illustrated and includes lovely old photos scattered about the pages.  Although it is a soft cover, it has a nice water-resistant matte finish. 

   On the other hand, if you are looking for a great, home-style recipe book for foods like Grandma used to make in her cast iron skillets and Dutch oven, then you might not enjoy this one so much.  The recipes are a twist on traditional recipes, and finding something you'll actually want to make from this book might be challenging.

   Also, the organizational structure of this particular book is lacking.  For instance, the "Main Course" chapter features recipes for fish, chicken, muscles, and red meat, but there are not sections for each and they are not listed in alphabetical order, or even by type of meat.  There is not an order to the size or type of pan either.  It feels as though the book was assembled from a stack of recipes, rather than having been carefully planned to maximize usefulness for the reader.

   I love cooking with cast iron, because of the even heat distribution, weight, nostalgia, and durability.  Lodge cookware is one of my favorites, and I'm glad they have offered a cookbook.  Hopefully, they will try again soon and offer a cookbook that more cast iron users can benefit from. 

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Rating (1-10 with 10 as the highest possible):

Does this cookbook cater to any Special Diets?

No. 

What skill level of cook is this book intended for?

This cookbook will be of great interest to anyone with a cast iron skillet.  The more pieces of cast iron cookware you own, the more recipes you'll be able to make, as many sizes and types of cookware are required for the recipes in this book.

How easily are ingredients to find?

The ingredients used in this book are easily found in grocery stores.

How expensive are the ingredients?

The ingredients used in this book aren't expensive.  Some recipes are more economical than others. 

What was your first impression of this book?

I'm happy to see that there is a Lodge cast iron cookbook.   The book is full of the type of home-style recipes you would expect from a cast iron cookbook.  It's a nice book.  The format is soft cover, but the cover smooth to the touch, and slightly water-repellant, so I'm happy with it.

Does this book teach anything about the culture behind the cuisine?

There is a little bit of the history of Lodge cookware written in the first part of the book.  Small histories are included with most of the recipes.

Are there any interesting stories included?

A few short memoirs of cooking with cast iron garnish the pages.

Are the recipes all written by the author?

No, this is a compilation of recipes from various sources.

Does the author provide any new information or techniques?

There is a short section for caring for cast iron cookware, which tells what to do if you acquire an old skillet that is highly rusted as well as how and when to season your cookware.

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