Science Facts Sundays: Maximizing Iron Absorbency, Part 8: Beverages & Cooking in Cast Iron

Welcome to Science Facts Sundays.

These are some notes I took when reading Iron Rich Foods: Unlock the Iron in Your Food and Fight Iron Deficiency by Amanda Rose, PH.D.

My daughter knows why we don’t drink milk with an iron-rich meal. She can tell you, “calcium inhibits iron absorption!”

I don’t see the point of eating foods and not being able to absorb them and utilize all their benefits. What a shame to waste the iron in our foods when we eat them with dairy products. Simply knowing to separate the foods for ultimate utilization can be helpful for combating low iron levels.

You may find this geeky - so be forewarned! If fermentation doesn’t appeal to you, check back in a few weeks and I’ll have moved on to something else that you may be interested in.

This week we learn how the beverages we consume can interfere with iron absorption, how white wine does not inhibit iron but red wine does, what to do if you still want to drink milk, wine, coffee and tea, how the timing of your beverage consumption affects iron absorption, what to do about desserts, how cast iron can help enhance the iron in your foods, and more… Continue reading

Lodge Cast Iron - Made in the USA - It ROCKS!

Today my Lodge 5-Quart Double Dutch Oven arrived. Happy mail day! I am so impressed! It’s super thick and heavy-duty, yet easy to carry. I like that I can loop my fingers under and hold it well - easier on the wrist than the handles that stick out straight like the one here.

I couldn’t believe the deal I got on this, too. Just $34.97 (including shipping!) and right on amazon. Since I am an Amazon Prime member I got it in just two days! [Edited to add this exact dutch oven has risen in price. You can find another Lodge 5qt Dutch Oven here for $29.99].

Not only is this a wonderful casserole dish, but I can use the lid for a skillet. I can’t wait to try this out with my “bucket sourdough” artisan bread. Continue reading

High-Protein Pancake Recipe

Mmmm, now who doesn’t love pancakes?

I used to only serve pancakes on Saturday mornings. Even though I made my own pancake batter, I still wasn’t thrilled about the lack of protein.

However, due to the large amount of eggs our chickens are producing, I have been looking for recipes calling for more eggs. So what a blessing that my good friend Miriam asked if I was interested in a high-protein pancake recipe. She got it from our mutual friend Ruth (thanks, Ruth!). I tweaked the recipe a little, adding 8 eggs instead of 4, doubling the flour, and omitting the vanilla extract. These are soooo yummy! My kids are happy they don’t have to eat scrambled eggs…again…and I am happy that we are still using eggs for breakfast. Continue reading

Cast Iron vs. Non-Stick Pans - a challenge!

Do you own cast iron cookware?

Yes, but do you use it? Or do you reach for the light-weight Teflon-coated pans instead?

You may not reach for it so quickly because yes, they are heavy. But there are good reasons to use cast iron cookware that may outweigh (pun intended) their awkward handling. Continue reading

28 Uses for Baking Soda in the Kitchen

Chopping garlic or cleaning a fish can leave their “essence” on your fingers long after the chore is done. Get those nasty food smells off your hands by simply wetting them and vigorously rubbing with about 2 teaspoons baking soda instead of soap. The smell should wash off with the soda. Continue reading