I'm coming to this a little late, but I'll second the never wash your cast iron skillet with soap. Ours was handed down from her mom, and as far as I know it's never seen dish soap! What I do, start heating the skillet over a burner when you start making the batter, throw a little bacon grease (or lard, oil, whatever you got) into it and let it melt. About 15-20 seconds before you're ready to pour the batter in, scatter a small handful of cornmeal evenly in the skillet and let it JUST barely brown in the hot grease, then pour in the batter and slap it in the oven. NEVER sticks.