My new cast iron pan. Like all beautiful things, it has a story. I’ve wanted a cast iron pan for a long time. Every day for the past few weeks, I used to walk past Brown’s Paint-Hardware on Franklin Street on my way to work at the Center for Civil Rights. And, after stopping at The Bookshop to admire the cute little kitties who sleep in the window book display, I’d stop at the Brown’s shop window, with my hands and face pressed against the glass, salivating at the cast iron pans and Dutch ovens hanging in the window.

Okay, maybe not that bad, but I used to stop and look every day. Unfortunately, it was always closed in the morning when I walked by.

So one day last week, I left work early and went in. Lights flashed, a breeze blew through my hijab luxuriously…..okay, again, exaggerating. But it was a big moment for me, I’m allowed to romanticize it. I got a beautiful, 10-inch pre-seasoned cast iron pan for $18.95 + tax. Can you believe it? Here, compare prices.

Oh, it was beautiful. I picked it out, went to the cash register, and this little old guy who owns the shop said “That be all, Ma’am?” I nodded happily. “Yes thank you I’ve been passing by here every day for so many days but youre always closed at that time and i saw the pans in the window and ive always wanted a pan and now i have one and thank you so much!” I stopped for a breath and looked at him. “Well I’m sorry you had to wait so long,” he said as he handed me my new shiny pan. I walked out grinning from ear to ear and promptly called Ayesha to share my excitement.

Today, I took my friend Angela there because she mentioned she wanted a Dutch oven for all the awesome soups she makes, and of course, I had to take her back there. The guy said, “Hey, I remember you!” I was quite pleased.

This evening, I made steak in my cast iron pan. I won’t tell you how, because I’m not sure how I made it. I horribly undercooked it at first (It could be because Ameir was standing behind me going “dontovercookit, dontovercookit!” So after I let it rest and sliced it, I saw that it was *barely* rare. I put it back in the pan, and then it got slightly overcooked, but still pretty good to fulfill the steak craving I’ve been having for a week.

I served the steak with buttermilk-spinach mashed potatoes, sauteed mushrooms with garlic, quick-sauteed tomatoes, and caramelized onions (the best part). I’ll keep practicing and trying again, because I really enjoyed the process and I hope to get it perfect soon.

And I love my cast iron pan.

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