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I don't think I'm obsessed...

PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2015 2:50 pm
by Hoosier Daddy
OK, Readers Digest version of the last 24 hours events with a short intro....
15 years ago I married a wonderful woman who's family is straight out of the hills of Kentucky, literally, her Mom was one of 18 kids of a Coal Miner. If you wanna eat well, marry a Hillbilly. Trust me, will make you throw rocks at Cracker Barrel!
When we were wed, she brought to our home two old CI pieces, a large skillet and a deep chicken fryer. While she was working one evening I thought I would do her a favor and clean those nasty old things up... and hour with an SOS pad and I had them nice and shiny. Needless to say she was not impressed! A pound of bacon and several hours in the oven, I was let out of the dog-house.
:oops:
Fast forward a decade + we start Camping. I now know how to care for CI and want to cook over an open fire. We take the one Skillet in the old Pop-up and keep the Chicken fryer in the house for Sausage Gravy (see above statement on Hillbilly cooking). My Mom brings us a Lodge DO she found NEW at an auction for $10. I get out the Crisco and seasoned it, built a tripod out of some steel I had and we have been using those 2 every since.

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Then the addiction really started I guess...I began really watching for CI to be had cheap. Along came the hand-me downs from the MIL who had gotten to be of the age where she wasn't cooking anymore with the onset of her dementia. These are TREASURED! They probably came from HER mom since they were dirt poor but we will never know for sure.

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Found a couple of "Made in USA" sauce pans at a garage sale for $3. Then a Skillet or two here and there, lead to more pieces.
But we all have our favorites right? These are better than any Teflon coated aluminum crap out there and LIVE in our TT camper.

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A while back I had picked up another Chicken Fryer. This one for the TT since the original is for the Sausage Gravy from Heaven and must NEVER leave the house after my near escape from death with it. While searching here yesterday, I found Stacie Tamaki post on using one for a DO with Bobhenry's reply on http://www.buygoodwill.com and was searching for a lid when the Wifey came up and said "Don't you think you have enough?"

Hmmm I dunno, never really thought about it that way. So I gathered up all my pieces in one spot for a photo shoot.....
All are vintage CI with either Griswald or Wagner stampings except for the two wooden handled pieces on the right, they are from Taiwan and are to be used on the Camper stove top only. We got them for a buck each at a thrift shop.

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Well, NOPE! They are all different shapes / sizes, each have their own personality, and some have yet to be seasoned "properly".
I still need a lid for that Chicken Fryer. I'd like to find an interlocking lid for it and I'm tired of sharing a lid with the original Lodge DO because what if I want to use them BOTH.
And I want a small DO for deserts.
And I'd like a DO with legs to set in the coals.
And maybe a kettle for water.
And...

On another note, If I ever want to adjust the tongue weight all I have to do is move some cooking utensils! :roll:

Re: I don't think I'm obsessed...

PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2015 8:10 pm
by deleted
:applause: :applause: :applause:

Love your stories and collection.

Now that I have my DO figured out I need to find a small'ish pot to roast raw coffee beans in. The hunt is on!

Re: I don't think I'm obsessed...

PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2015 8:21 pm
by Woodbutcher
Welcome to the forum. You have a nice start of a collection there. The reason I say start is you have a problem that needs to be addressed. There are all those special pieces out there somewhere that you don't have yet. I see you have a list of wants. You might add a waffle iron and a couple griddles. Maybe a big 14" fry pans for when the family comes back. So much cast iron, so little time. I make you a bet. When you see a nice piece at a bargain price it WILL follow you home. Have fun collecting!

Re: I don't think I'm obsessed...

PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 4:45 am
by Hoosier Daddy
Ooohhhh... a GRIDDLE!

Re: I don't think I'm obsessed...

PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 6:13 am
by bobhenry
And I don't see anything with feet on them either........ :?

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It was $5.00 ( The guy had no idea what he had )

An ancient rat tail legged skillet

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I love using it to bake in

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And for odd ball of the month Does any one have any idea on this little pot. The rat tail has a flattened end on it I guess you could use it as a crow bar or maybe to take off your old style hubcap :lol:

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Re: I don't think I'm obsessed...

PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 11:25 am
by Hoosier Daddy
Yea.. Feet. That's what I meant by a DO with legs to set in the coals. Thanks!
That skillet is friggin awesome!
Depending on how big that last one is Bobhenry, if I saw that in a swap meet or antique store, I'd think it was to melt lead in to make ammo for a musket/ muzzle-loader in the olden days.

Re: I don't think I'm obsessed...

PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 11:31 am
by Hoosier Daddy
Hey Stacie...
Try searching "cast iron bean pot" on eBay or shopgoodwill. I think that is what you are looking for!

Re: I don't think I'm obsessed...

PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 12:58 pm
by bobhenry
Hoosier Daddy wrote:Yea.. Feet. That's what I meant by a DO with legs to set in the coals.


NO FEET NO PROBLEM !


Get one of these...........Image

and you will have a flat bottomed skillet with artificial legs :lol:

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Re: I don't think I'm obsessed...

PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 5:58 pm
by Hoosier Daddy
Is that a burner grate from an industrial (restaurant) gas stove?
BRILLIANT!
Bob did you see my guess on the mystery pot of yours?

Re: I don't think I'm obsessed...

PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 7:33 pm
by wagondude
Hoosier Daddy wrote:Is that a burner grate from an industrial (restaurant) gas stove?
BRILLIANT!
Bob did you see my guess on the mystery pot of yours?


You can get any gas stove burner grate. I asked at the local appliance repair/sales store and they gave me one for free! And I think you are right about Bob's mystery pot. I would have guessed a smelting pot as well.

Re: I don't think I'm obsessed...

PostPosted: Sat Jul 18, 2015 8:48 am
by indycamper
Regarding Bob Henry's small pot:

First thought was that it was a melting pot for lead, since it resembled one my dad had many years ago. BUT - his had spouts on either side so that the lead could be poured exactly where it was needed. Searching the internet, I find what appears to be Bob's pot. It is called a POSNET - which translates "small pot"! They appear to have been used primarily to melt butter or make sauces.

Re: I don't think I'm obsessed...

PostPosted: Sat Jul 18, 2015 2:11 pm
by Redneck Teepee
[quote="Hoosier Daddy"]
We take the one Skillet in the old Pop-up and keep the Chicken fryer in the house for Sausage Gravy (see above statement on Hillbilly cooking). :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

My mother was from Missouri, and she made the old fashioned sausage gravy (no such thing as "White" sausage gravy) The wall paper paste they serve in most restaurants is not fit to eat. Once you eat the real thing..... you can't enjoy anything but the real southern stuff.

:D :D :D Making me hungry!

Re: I don't think I'm obsessed...

PostPosted: Sat Jul 18, 2015 3:24 pm
by dales133
If you want one with legs try to find a south African shop and get a poikie.
There is varied spelling of it but every self respecting south African has one and they are great to cook in.
Even better if you can find an old one

Re: I don't think I'm obsessed...

PostPosted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 7:12 am
by Hoosier Daddy
Oh my dales133... Those are COOL!

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You are right a little research shows several spellings.
poikie , potjie...
The search is on!

Redneck Teepee: Make you throw rocks at "Cracker Barrel", won't it.

Re: I don't think I'm obsessed...

PostPosted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 7:11 pm
by deleted
I need one like your wood handled pots or the ones on the far right in your image.

The longer handle is needed so you can hold/brace the pot while whisking the coffee beans for 18 continuous minutes. :frightened:

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