Modern Cast Iron

This is a very well written and lavishly illustrated guide. . . . Five stars.

-- Nonstop Reader

This easy-to-digest reference will be a boon to home cooks new to cast-iron cooking

* Publishers Weekly *

Jones' message of food and family resonates even more at a time when so many of us are staying home and sharing more meals as a family.

-- Rochelle Koff * TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT *

This is a great book for anyone who is interested in expanding their cast iron knowledge. If you are a pro, or a newbie, you'll find a new piece of information in this book, guaranteed.

* Stuffed Shelves *

The author writes in a warm, personable style—and with great love of subject. After reading Modern Cast Iron, not only will you be hungry, you will understand why cast iron cookware becomes a family treasure shared through generations.

-- Virginia C. * Booked Solid with Virginia C *

Cast-iron cookware is far from just dark, heavy pieces of metal that come to life when heat and food are added. In its own way, cast iron purveys sustenance, comfort, family memories, and a sense of 'home.' I have cast-iron skillets in every size, and I use at least one almost every day. Nothing better than cooking my Grands recipe in her skillet to make you fill right at home. This cookbook covers all the basics from buying, to seasoning and then cooking and keeping it in good condition to pass on to the next generation.

-- Lisa K. * Lisa's Everyday Life *

Most people who are strongly against using soap on cast iron products had the lesson passed down to them from a parent or grandparent. There was a good reason for that, according to Ashley L. Jones, author of Modern Cast Iron: The Complete Guide to Selecting, Seasoning, Cooking, and More ($22, Amazon). "Our grandmothers told us to never, ever use soap or it would remove the pan's seasoning," Jones tells FIRST. "They were right, because the soap used back then contained lye which will strip a cast iron pan down to the silver." However, Jones explains that today's dish soap is a much milder detergent that she claims is perfectly safe to use on cast iron. "And if you're cooking up a pan full of shrimp alfredo, you're definitely going to want to wash it before baking a cobbler for dessert!"

-- Jess Catcher * First for Women *

Everything you ever wanted to know about cast iron and more! That's what you'll get in Ashley L. Jones' Modern Cast Iron: The Complete Guide to Selecting, Seasoning, Cooking, and More. . . . This excellent cookbook is "Cast Iron 101" and should be sitting on everyone's cookbook shelf. The recipes are excellent, they work well (at least the Peach Dutch Baby, Robby's Quiche (yum), and Shirley's Rice were perfect so far), and the instructions are easy-to-follow. . . . You'll want to pick up a good set of cast iron cookware to start cooking; the book will tell you what you need, and then when you get it, start using it, and find you love it, the book will tell you how to take care of it so that it will last several lifetimes. Highly Recommended.

-- Karen Hancock * BellaOnline *

Every proper Southern kitchen requires a few essential tools, and a good cast iron pan is foremost among them. Perfect for everything from frying chicken to baking cornbread to searing steaks, this do-it-all vessel produces flavor that today's nonstick pans just can't duplicate. "Cast-iron connoisseur" Ashley L. Jones, a Tallahassee-based blogger, professes her own love for this cookware in this beautifully photographed volume filled with classic recipes and tips.

-- Kelli Bozeman * inRegister *

The recipes within are simple, but since one of the main obstacles for home cooks is how to adapt their recipes for cast-iron cookware, this is where Modern Cast Iron proves its worth. A useful primer for a cook just starting out with cast iron.

-- Suzanne Krohn * ShelfAwarene