Re-Seasoning Your Cast Iron Grill - Beginner's Guide



My son calls himself the Pancake King. As a bachelor, he cooks what he likes. And what he likes... a lot, is pancakes. Unfortunately, he did not have the proper tools fit for king. 

Using a standard frying pan that could only fit maybe two good-sized pancakes at a time, he had his work cut out for him. This was no way for a king to live, so we helped him out. 



We gifted him with a Pre-seasoned Cast Iron Double Burner Reversible Grill/Griddle. That's a mouthful, isn't it? But it's the best thing since sliced bread! He's flipping 6-8 pancakes at a time. 

Because the grill covers two burners, we were concerned about heat distribution, but this pre-seasoned grill distributes heat evenly.  It cleans right up with mild soap and water.  I think his life just got a whole lot easier. 

If you're wondering what's meant by "pre-seasoned", let me break it down.

What is Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron?

Pre-seasoning is the process of conditioning cast iron surfaces with oils as a means of providing additional protection from rusting. It is sometimes done by the manufacturer, but it is widely recommended that you as the purchaser do it yourself and repeat the process as your cast iron cookware ages. 

How Do I Re-Season My Cast Iron Grill?

So, I re-seasoned our grill because I really didn't know to what extent it had been seasoned by the manufacturer. To re-season our grill, I followed these steps:
  • Coat both sides of the grill with cooking oil. I used vegetable oil.
  • Place in the oven at 375 degrees ( Use a cookie sheet on the rack below or cover the rack with aluminum foil to catch oil drips). Oil will drip, trust me!
  • Bake for one hour. Remove from oven and let cool.


It turned out great! I love the sheen and I hope my son has many years of pancake-making on  his new reversible cast iron grill/griddle!

If you have experience with pre-seasoned cast iron and if you've ever re-seasoned cast iron cookware, drop me a line!




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Outdoor Fire Pit Ambience - Propane Fire Pit Review


It's a great time to try an outdoor firepit! I've wanted one, like, Forever! Last summer I broached the subject to hubby that I wanted to try a DIY brick firepit. I even went so far as to research the types of bricks to use; the size of the firepit and where to construct it in our backyard.

My biggest problem with putting a firepit in our backyard, is placement. Ideally, I would have located the firepit right in the middle of our yard, but there was one thing holding me back. A huge tree.

If you saw my DIY rock garden video, you might have seen glimpses of the tree in question.

This tree was not only an obstacle for my firepit placement, but it provided so much shade that we ended up with huge bare spots all around it. I can't tell you how many times we have talked about cutting it down. Okay, only I was talking about cutting it down, but hubby thought he would make one last ditch effort to grow grass around it. And with prayer and a lot of TLC, the grass grew!

So what about my outdoor firepit?

Thank goodness I found a sleek firepit that's portable enough to fit on my backyard deck. This one is powered by propane which attaches to a line.  It's so simple to operate. Ignition is as easy as pushing and turning a knob.  The flame is adjustable and can be set at high or low. It's smokeless and ash-free.  It's a great alternative from the wood-burning outdoor firepits.  


Our new firepit adds instant ambience to our outdoor space.  On chilly evenings, we've cuddled on our deck, warmed by the flames and lava rocks from our new firepit. When not in use, we just cover our new firepit with its weatherproof cover and set it aside.  We love it! It's a great alternative to the wood-burning firepit or the in-ground DIY that I originally planned.

If you love outdoor firepits or bonfires, drop me a line! I'd love to hear from you!



Disclosure: Links may contain affiliates. When you buy through one of our links we will receive a commission. This is at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Life on Greenwood and allowing me to continue to bring you valuable content

Thrifted Clothing Is Hard to Style: Unpopular Opinion About Thrifting




Thrifted Clothing Is Hard to Style:  Unpopular Opinion About Thrifting. When I thrift for myself, I look for clothing that fits my style. My style is conservative. Nice lines. Silk blouses, tailored blazers and slacks. I shy away from tight-fitting and revealing clothing. As I thrift for myself, I think about how I can style my thrifted finds and how they would compliment my existing wardrobe. That's one strategy.

Here's another strategy: Some people thrift for clothing that they can totally re-imagine. They envision that a blouse can be worn as a skirt and a long cardigan can be belted and worn like a dress. This requires a little imagination. I get that. But a quick how-to is as close as your smartphone.

I've seen thrift hacks that are absolutely amazing! Youtube and Instagram have tons of tutorials on how to style thrift finds. There is a popular Instagram influencer that does AMAZING clothing transformations by using safety pins and rubber ties. She's very crafty at tying and tucking so that the item takes on a whole new look. She's an expert at taking vintage skirts and dresses and totally revamping them with a little roll here and a little tuck there. Let me tell you, this girl's hacks will really inspire you!

So, let's recap. I've given you two strategies for styling thrift finds:
  1. Look for clothing that compliments your existing wardrobe, or
  2. Check out a few styling hacks before you go thrifting. Then use your imagination! Remember, roll, tuck and pin!
I hope these tips inspire you to get back out there!



 Disclosure: Links may contain affiliates. When you buy through one of our links we will receive a commission. This is at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Life on Greenwood and allowing me to continue to bring you valuable content

Thrift Stores Never Carry My Size - Unpopular Opinion About Thrifting






Unpopular Opinion About Thrifting: Thrift Stores Never Carry My Size. Most people understand that shopping at a thrift store is about the hunt. Unlike retail, you'll rarely find more than one of anything. That's the nature of thrifting. In my opinion, that's also the beauty of thrifting. Finding that unique item. That one-of-a-kind. I have a few recommendations if you have difficulty finding thrifted clothing in your size.

TRY SIZING UP

I always recommend that you try multiple sizes and departments when you're hunting for thrift clothes. For example, if you usually wear a size Medium, go up the rack a little to the next size and check out the inventory. If you know your actual measurements, you will find that items labeled as Large sometimes fit like a size Medium. And there's the possibility that some pre-owned clothing has been altered by the previous owner, so you cannot always rely on labels.

Here's a tip: Take a tape measure with you when you thrift. It comes in handy when thrifting for clothing (especially if you don't like to try on clothes) or hard goods like furniture and wall art.


SHOP IN THE MEN'S DEPARTMENT

The men's department is a treasure trove! Often overlooked by women shoppers because, well, because it's the men's department. But why can't we wear men's sweaters and jackets? You can!



Don't sleep on the men's department! If you're ever at a loss and not finding what you want in the women's area, like a sweater, shirt, jacket or even slacks, check in menswear. I've found beautiful tailored jackets and shirts that could easily transform any wardrobe. It just takes a bit of imagination.

You got this!
















 Disclosure: Links may contain affiliates. When you buy through one of our links we will receive a commission. This is at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Life on Greenwood and allowing me to continue to bring you valuable content

Thrift Stores Are So Messy and Unorganized: Unpopular Opinion About Thrifting




Unpopular Opinion: Thrift stores are messy and unorganized. Not all stores. Many thrift stores are neat and organized. You'll find items tagged and organized by size and sometimes by color. In most cases, thrift stores use shelves, bins and clothing racks to display items.


I've shopped at some well-kept thrift stores that resemble vintage boutiques. The items were curated and displayed in such a way that at first glance it was hard to tell that the store was selling second-hand goods.

So before painting all thrift stores with a wide brush, try a few shops in different areas of town. Venture outside of your neighborhood to get a flavor of how different thrift shops are organized. I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you find.


 Disclosure: Links may contain affiliates. When you buy through one of our links we will receive a commission. This is at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Life on Greenwood and allowing me to continue to bring you valuable content

TableTop Pre-lit Christmas Tree

 


If you're planning to scale back on your Christmas decor this year, let me recommend a tabletop pre-lit Christmas tree. It makes a great statement and is mobile enough to fit on your coffee table, counter top, entryway display or inside a bay window.

This 18-inch Christmas tree is adorned with cute pine cones and berries. A battery-operated timer controls the sparkling string of lights.

If you are not scaling back for the holidays, this tabletop tree will add just the right sparkle to your holiday decorations.  Placing several around the home or office instantly ushers in the holiday spirit. 



I'm loving my tabletop tree on the center island in my kitchen. Surrounded by a couple of cute Christmas decor pieces, it's perfect for the holidays!



Disclosure: Links may contain affiliates. When you buy through one of our links we will receive a commission. This is at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Life on Greenwood and allowing me to continue to bring you valuable content



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