49
taste of
the
south
/
january
february
2013
Allan Benton is right. Cast iron does give
Southerners sparkles in their eyes. Enjoy these
cast-iron stories, memories, and love letters from
some of our favorite food friends.
TO
When you start talking about cast iron in the South, people get
sparkles in their eyes. It’s more than just a utensil.
If I could have only one type of cookware, without a doubt,
it would be cast iron. I have some skillets that have been in my
family for generations; I don’t even know how old they are. I’m
very proud of an old cast-iron pot that was hung on a crane and
used to cook over an open fire. Each of my great-grandmothers
owned this cast-iron pot at one time. One of them sold it
to the other. I acquired the pot through my mother’s side
of the family, and she told me the story of how one great-
grandmother sold it to the other. Did they know their children
would end up marrying? I don’t know. I certainly wouldn’t part
with it. One of my children will end up inheriting it.
Owner, Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country
Hams, Madisonville, Tennessee
Allan
Benton