ETA for the newer folks here - the idea of the cookbook was one of those things that came up over and over again when people mentioned favorite recipes. Eventually, VW, Deena, Raq and I ended up coordinating collecting old faves from tons of us and putting them into an actual book. Raq did some incredible artwork for it as well. We had them printed and bound at some copy shop and then shipped them out to folks - I don't think we were able to find an online source that worked for us.

It's a fantastic collection that I go back to all the time. Plus it's just so much fun to flip through and read.

Wait, the Buffista cookbook has a recipe for Dutch Babies/German pancakes? Oh yaaaaay! (Or perhaps oh dear, because I probably should not make them very often ...)

Question for the cooking hive mind: I have a small cast iron pan that I have no idea where it came from. (I'm serious. I don't remember purchasing it or being given it, and it's sitting in a box full of random stuff in the basement.) Would it be safe to use? If so, how do I go about cleaning and prepping it? I have this vague notion of needing to coat the inside with oil and putting it on a hot burner, but I don't know if that's true, or if it's just some wacky thing my brain made up.

Thank you Trudy!

Jilli, here's a site that tells you what to do- basically, you wash it in hot soapy water, grease it up with Crisco and put it in a low oven.

Jilli, you've remembered right, you should clean and season the pan. Google found me this [link] . See also the info at Wikipedia: [link]

I inherited a 10-inch skillet from my grandmother. She got it from her mother-in-law, who received it new as a wedding present in 1894. It's what I use whenever I am in the mood for cornbread.

Sophia, your tag is cracking me up "Cats to become a rabbit should gather immediately now here"

What is it from? It made me think of Mikeyway's cat.

[link]

Yay! Thank you Nora and dcp!

Trudy, I think it was a Japanese site with costumes for animals that was linked a few years back. Pretty hysterical.

OMG, Trudy! Is that Bunny Marie?!

Happy, happy, happy birthday to Nicole! With cake and hugs and love!

That IS Bunny Marie.

I am alarmed that we know the names of the pets of the guys in the band we like.

Oooh! I met Frank's chihuahua!