Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Friday, June 24, 2016

Bare Legs and Cast Iron

It's been a while since I was in the working world and I'm slow to notice fashion changes but bare legs for women is one that bugs me big time. I'm talking the First and Second Ladies on inauguration day. What is this country coming to?

I found a list of 10 reasons legs went bare, but I'm not buying it. I've never seen a pair of legs I thought good enough to go without hose when dressed in business attire. It also freaks me out because the thought of wearing shoes without hose or socks makes me shudder. I have to pay a fortune for my shoes and no way am I going to wear them on bare feet.

This is my quirk and I'm sticking with it. What do you think bare legs?
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Cooking with cast iron has been rumored to aid in preventing iron deficiency, Jean at Molly's Folks cooks a lot with cast iron and wondered if that could be among the reasons she always has a good blood count. I'm not an authority but I did find one article if you'd like to read about it you can click on 'iron deficiency' to see what one person thinks.

I have a couple of iron skillets but they don't get used much. Bob has mistreated the poor things until they need to be seasoned again. He's a Teflon man all the way. I hate Teflon. That's something else I will have cremated with him, all these blasted teflon skillets. It's next to impossible to get food to brown in one of those things.

I grew up eating food prepared in iron skillets and I will go back to iron skillets if given half a chance. What is your favorite cookware?

24 comments:

  1. I never, ever fry food but I grew up with cast iron. My mom was quick to go Teflon when it came on the market because of the easy clean up and lighter weigh. My older brother who learned to cook from her (I didn't) still uses them. I take that back, I do make grilled cheese sandwiches in a square cast iron pan made especially for that purpose.

    I could care less about the issue of bare legs or legs in hose. It just isn't on my radar to even notice what others are doing and I never wear dresses, skirts or hose.

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    1. It isn't just frying. I have a cast iron dutch oven. Great for cooking roast or soups.

      I was a long time noticing bare legs but once I zeroed in on it it was there to stay.

      Delete
    2. I still have my cast iron dutch oven but I use a mini crock pot now. But I did like the dutch oven when I was cooking bigger roasts.

      Delete
  2. First - I hate the whole bare legs phenomenon. About the only people it works for is the 18-30 range, and of those, only the ladies in peak physical condition.
    (A rare thing in America today)
    And I'll freely admit that I treat my iron skillet like any other skillet and it's doing just fine. Best thing in the world, by the way, to cook a steak. I'd forgotten about the whole vitamin benefit, but have heard it often.

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    1. Perhaps it's because I want to continue the tradition of working women with ingrown toenails from wearing hose. Whatever the reason I don't like bare legs in business or formal attire.

      Nothing like a good iron skillet for cooking cornbread.

      Delete
  3. Bare legs: I don't wear dresses or skirts anymore, but if I did I would feel undressed without hose. And bare feet in shoes - ugh. Only in the most casual sandals. On the other hand, I'm for other people doing whatever they want.
    Cast Iron: I don't like cast iron skillets for browning because they tend to stick, and are hard to clean without wrecking their "seasoning". I use teflon for top of stove or Stainless steel clad aluminum if the pan goes from stove top to oven. I do have a wonderful old cast iron dutch oven that I use for pot roast and stews. It is the best for flavor in slow cooking.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. No one has asked my opinion about bare legs so I suppose no one cares what I think.

      I enjoy, and prefer, using cast iron but it is so heavy I think I will have real problems with it as I age.

      Delete
  4. When I was a kid, I was chronically iron deficient. My doctor recommended that my mother cook with cast iron, give me some god-awful iron 'tonic' and a spoon of blackstrap molasses every day. I lived ...

    When I used to wear dresses, I had some little footie things to wear in my shoes, nylons made me break out.

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    1. What did they give Cod Liver Oil for, was that iron? I'd forgotten about blackstrap molasses.

      I could never find the little footie things in my big size so they never stayed on well for me.

      Delete
    2. Cod Liver Oil may have been for the vitamin D thing before they know all about it. Mom dosed us kids up with it every so often, we felt it was punishment, but I think she was trying to keep us regular. It was the late 40s and early 50s, Mom would hear about some new health thing and we were fed it. I didn't mind the wheat germ ...

      Delete
    3. Wheat germ, oh my goodness, hadn't thought of that in at least 40 years. Great fun remembering.

      Delete
  5. I almost never wear dresses or skirts. The most recent occasion where I felt compelled to do so was at a very formal wedding 2 years ago. So I wore pantyhose; ugh, so uncomfortable! I did notice that most women at the wedding had bare legs, except for a few older women such as myself. I did notice that the bare legs were much more youthful and appealing to look at than mine!

    Haven't used cast iron for years. I used to cook fish on it over a gas grill. Just too heavy, impractical for me now. My favorite cookware for baking is the old fashioned cornflower Corning Ware. Not sure if they even make it now. I still have my set from the 70's. For stove top cooking I like my Calphalon pots and pans.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Michelle Obama is a very tall lady so no doubt she finds pantyhose to be uncomfortable.

      I bake in Corning Ware (solid white) and Pyrex. I use Saladmaster stainless cookware we bout probably 50 years ago. It will never wear out. Some things though I like cooked in cast iron.

      Delete
  6. I went casual skirts and dresses with sandals and bare legs a lot. My lifestyle is definitely on the casual side. If I am going to a dressier do, I put on the pantyhose. I really don't notice the lack of hose...but maybe now I will start since you put that worm in my head.

    I still use my cast iron pans although I do have stainless steel all-clad as well. I find the cast iron, seasoned well, are very easy to clean. The biggest size frying pan is heavy, but for my cooking needs the smaller sizes are just right. I needed the iron boost in my younger days. I don't really know of anyone who really needs a teflon boost to the system, but I have one omelette pan with it, or some kind of non-stick anyway.

    I amazed myself with how quickly I returned my way versus our way of doing certain things -- mostly around cooking -- after Mike died.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. It's very casual where we live in Oregon, no need for hose here. In general I don't find bare feet and legs attractive.

      Your comment about how quickly you returned to your way versus our way of doing certain things, mostly cooking, after Mike died. I suspect I will do the same.

      Delete
  7. I hadn't noticed the bare leg phenomenon, but I would not be comfortable with it. The only time I skip the hose is on very casual and very hot days. I think the First Lady shouldn't be TOO casual. But that's just me.

    I tried cast iron skillets way back but they were too demanding for me. Do I scrub with soapy water of just wipe with a paper towel? I never mastered the art of re-seasoning and ended up feeling conquered by them. I use stainless steal that I can scrub with no ensuing guilty conscience. :) Also haven't used Teflon for ages, it chips and scratches and maybe leaches nasty chemicals into the food, or at least so I have been told.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I suppose if the First Lady goes without hose that makes it okay but what if she chose to wear a bathing suit on inauguration day? Would that be the next fashion trend?

      I don't like Teflon but I'm stuck with it as long as Bob has access to the kitchen. I like cast iron but it's awfully heavy.

      Delete
  8. I have enjoyed bare legs since I left the banking business 40 years ago. Ahh. I hated panty hose, especially living in hot Florida. As long as the legs aren't hairy, it doesn't bother me.
    I wish I would take the time to use my iron skillets. I know it is healthier for me. Maybe you have prodded me to make the move. Lets hope.

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    1. Hose in Florida would be bad. Hose in Texas are bad unless you were in air conditioning.

      You need to pull out that cast iron cookware and eat healthy. You'll build up muscles lifting it.

      Delete
  9. I wore hose to work every single day, back in my working days, as a secretary. I would have awful without them. I have two cast iron skillets that I use just about every day. Looking back I worry about all the Teflon we've eaten over the years. I would use a Teflon frying pan until the Teflon wore off. ?? I like the stainless steel pots and cast iron pans much better.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Glad someone agrees with me. I can't imagine going to work without them.

      I don't feel very good about using Teflon but I think I'm stuck because that's all Bob will use without we get in a knock down drag out fight.

      Delete
  10. I was also one of the working pantyhose wearing women of the past. I hated hose most of the time because they were so miserably hot here in the South. However in my dating years I enjoyed the feel of a good pair of silky stockings and garter. I haven't had a cast iron skillet since I gave up good fried fish. I always liked them. Don't know why I gave them up.

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    1. My office was so cold hose felt good, until I went outside and almost died from the heat in Texas.

      I've really been surprised how many of the comments indicate women are not using cast iron skillets anymore. I thought all cooks used a cast iron skillet.

      Delete
  11. I totally agree with you! I love hose! Even my legs look good in hose! I haven't seen anyone with pretty bare legs other than my Amber! Don't know where she got such good skin! Logan got the same good skin and hair genes!

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