Show off your cast iron cooking skills Sept. 13 at a Cast Iron Cook Off at Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal. This family-friendly event will showcase the tradition of using cast iron to cook over a campfire. It’s not just for skillets, either – expect to see a lot of cast iron Dutch ovens.
Louisa Picard, a cast iron fan from Freeport, will give a demonstration on cast iron cooking and talk about cooking set-ups and methods. Fritz Appleby, park manager, will talk about the history of cast iron cookware, as well as its proper care and cleaning. Appleby, whose family cooks with cast iron every day, said he organized the event because “I just wanted to share my love of cast iron.”
He’s also hoping to increase interest in fall camping in the park. Contestants must be camping at Bradbury Mountain that weekend in order to participate in the cook-off, but anyone is invited to watch.
To register and reserve a camping spot, call the park at 688-4712 by 5 p.m. Sept. 10. Registrations after that will be one a first come, first served basis.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners in each of the three categories: entree, bread and dessert. There will also be a cast iron skillet toss. (Really.) Sponsors are Lodge Manufacturing, L.L. Bean, Get Real Get Maine and Wicked Joe Coffee.
Park admission is $3 for adults; $4.50 for non-resident adults; $1 for children ages 5-11; $1.50 for non-resident children and seniors 65 and older; children under 5 and resident seniors 65 and older get in free. For rules and the day’s schedule of events, go to maine.gov/bradburymountain.
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