What are good brands of cast iron cookware?

If you are looking for an old-school, durable type of cookware, cast iron is your best choice. It's a great conductor of heat and is naturally nonstick. It's heavy, heats up slowly, but retains heat for a longer time compared to stainless steel. 

Cast iron gets better with time. Once it's seasoned, it will retain a permanent nonstick surface as long as it is not washed with soap. It also releases a small amount of iron into foods, which is good for the body, especially for red blood cell production. 

Here are two brands of cast iron cookware that have passed the test of time: 

Lodge Cast Iron

Lodge Manufacturing is the oldest and longest-running cast iron manufacturer in the United States. It has been producing the finest iron cookware in a little town in Tennessee since the early 1800s. Family owned and operated, Lodge offers the most extensive selection of cast iron cookware on the market. These include skillets, grill pans, griddles, Dutch ovens, fryers, and bakeware as well as enameled cast iron cookware, pots, and casserole dishes in great colors. Its products are durable and long lasting--the company claims some of its pieces are still in use after 100 years. 

Lodge cast iron products are available online and at home and kitchen section of department stores. 

Iitala Hackman

Iittala Hackman is where form and function meet. The company offers post and pans of the highest quality and great style, created by a handful of award-winning Finnish designers in collaboration with world-class chefs and materials specialists. With its signature thick base, this cookware has superb heat retention. And here's a bonus: It's preseasoned! Pots, pans, and skillets are available in a few versatile sizes. 

Iitala products are available online and at fine culinary and home stores.

Cast iron is durable: It's an enduring material that, once seasoned, can last a lifetime if it is well cared for. Scour it with very hot water and coarse salt. Dry it thoroughly and completely after washing to prevent rusting and corrosion. 

[Beauty & Skincare] Kiss My Face All-Natural Body Care Products

If you are looking for effective, all-natural body care products, look for brands that are formulated with ingredients from nature. For example, you may want to check if these products use ethically sourced vitamins and minerals, as well as plant-based ingredients from organically grown botanicals. They contain no artificial colors, chemical additives, or animal ingredients. No animal testing is done either. 

Kiss My Face products use only natural preservatives and use only pure essential oils for fragrance. Other products may contain vaguely identified fragrances that are derived from natural sources. Some formulations may use synthetic paraben preservatives. 

You can choose from a selection of facial moisturizer or cream, facial cleanser, facial serum, facial mask, scrub and exfoliant, eye treatment, lip treatment, body moisturizer, body lotion, body wash (in liquid and gel), bar soap, shaving cream, and SPF products. 

Browse through their bestsellers on Amazon - https://amzn.to/4iDQhe0

4 Ways to Effectively Reduce Waste in Your Household

Photo by Alexas_Fotos/Pixabay

Producing waste is part of everyday life. Much of this waste goes down to the landfills, into the oceans, and eventually do harm to human and animal life. 

But, there are ways to reduce the amount of garbage we produce every time. By consciously making small, significant efforts, we will be able to help curb the excessive production of waste in our planet. And we can start from our own households. Here are tips to follow: 

1. Choose products wisely. When buying products, go for items that are high in quality and made with recycled or reclaimed packaging materials. It is also important to consider if the product itself uses less toxic materials or is made with biodegradable materials.

2. Reuse items and buy reusable goods.  Favor cloth over paper whenever possible, or wood over plastic. Use refillable water bottles, reusable coffee filters, and refillable pens and pencils. When shopping, bring your own bag. You can also bring your own bowl or cup when buying food or a drink. 

3. Take care of products to maximize their life span. If you buy well-made items, there's a good chance that they will last a long time. Maintain the good condition of your household appliances, such as washers, dryers, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, and air-conditioning units. Wash your clothing with care and be sure to have your car regularly checked. 

4. Recycle materials and maintain a compost bin. Recycle containers and packaging. Compost everything you can. Recycle or donate electronics for reuse, repair, and repurposing. Recycle or donate appliances. 

* For as low as $55, you can have your own Bokashi Indoor Compost Starter Kit. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned composter, this bokashi composting system, combined with the foodcycler process, ensures that your garden receives top-tier, nutrient-rich organic compost throughout the year.

The 4 keywords to remember are: reduce, reuse, extend, and recycle. If we put into daily practice the tips above, we can eventually make big changes in the way we consume and manage the things that we have.

Read more Green Living articles from A Home to Keep.