How to Quickly and Easily Get a Wood Fire Going and Cooking On It

Welcome to The Cherry On Top.

I'm back with more tips on how to cook on a wood stove and I'll show ya how to get that durn fire started.

I was hoping I wouldn't need my wood stove after a lovely sunny, warm winter reprieve, but alas, no luck. Are you well versed with fire starting? I am new to the process and until yesterday, I was terrible at getting a fire started. It literally took me over an hour at times!

Check out this crazy easy step by step and then wag your finger at me for being so naive. I'm shaking my head at how simple it is.

First, get some cardboard, paper or paper stuffing. I often use the paper from Amazon packing boxes and other deliveries. I kind of fold the rigid paper to give it dimension so it's easier to light up and I ball up the thinner types of paper. Lay them on the bottom of your stove.

Strategically place part close to where you can light it.

Second, dump in a bunch of kindling. When I go for walks I pick up branches, dry grape vines and washed up smaller logs from along the river and in the woods. This way I do some nature cleaning and don't have to buy fire starters. It's free! Don't be stingy with this part. Fill the bottom of your stove with a sweet layer of your kindling at least several inches tall. You could add a few more pieces of paper if you want to be sure.

Third, add a few logs to the top and if you like, a piece of cardboard or 2 all in between. Fill your stove. I really like using those long wooden matches the best. They slide right through the grating and have great reach and of course, they just burn right in the fire.

Don't forget to make sure the thingy in the back is open (vent/damper?) so the smoke goes through the chimney. If it's getting smokey in your house, then it's probably closed. Speaking from experience! If you've got a regulator, make sure it's cranked up until your stove is nice and hot. Same with the vent thingy. Only close it when your stove is hot. Make sure the front door is closed tightly once your fire has been going awhile. I often open the front if my fire ain't raging. I prefer loading from the front and the hubs likes to add through the top. Just use caution, either way.

Heat your water for your tea and coffee, the dishes or if you need to add some to whatever it is cooking on the stove top, like mine pictured, below. You can make just about anything on the stove. The key is having very heavy pots and pans. Cast iron if you've got it.

We got an awesome tip from our chimney sweep. To clean your glass, simply dampen a rag, dip it in some of your wood ash and start scrubbing. You don't even need too much elbow grease to get it sparkling. Of course, ya might want to wait until everything is cool. Letting your fire rage can also clean your windows.

Look at the difference.

Get out a good, heavy pan. Cast iron is the best. I let it get nice and hot and slowly add my veg according to how long the veg needs to cook. For example, onions, peppers, garlic and carrot would go first and then shrooms, cabbage and things like spring onions that don't need as long to get tender. My hubs puts the meat on first and browns it well before anything.

I've got onions, garlic, pepper and bratwurst here. Then I added a little cabbage and shrooms. I've got the hot water kettle right there incase I need it, but I didn't this time.

I did bluss(?) the holy trinity with sherry before adding the meat and other veg. Just a little drizzle. You can also add porto to moisten a dish and add another flavor.

Finally, I add the small, fresh pasta. This is spatzle. You could use orzo pasta or any really.

Another tip to speed things up or if you're not a pro on using fresh or dry herbs is to use these fun, mixes. These are suppose to be used to make dips. I add the mixes to cream cheese for some zing and I use them all of the time for in my meals or even to season some meat before throwing it in the pan or on the grill. I bought these, beyond delicious mixes in Zell, Vino et Cetera-Weingut Haas-Lenz. You can get so many cool things in there. It's dangerous when I go in! They have super cool gift ideas, too. It's really fun to shop there. Sprinkle a little over your meal, take a taste and add until it is to your liking.

This is how my meal turned out. When I'm on my own, I often cook a larger meal so I can eat it over several days or put some in the freezer. This way I'm not always cooking. It's a new thing for me to cook well for myself. I know a lot of people don't do this and it's wrong. It is! No more excuses. I wrote a blog about this if you want to check it out. I have no regrets since I started.

The second time I ate this meal, I reheated it on the wood stove and added some older, spicy cream cheese that needed eating and sprinkled some fresh shredded cheese over the top. Delish!!! Since I'm on my own, I even ate right out of the pan.

Thanks for popping by The Cherry. 

Best of luck with your wood stove and future meals from the stove's top.