First Dutch Oven Dish

[Bobbie Mayer]

I brought frozen cinnamon rolls (Rhodes) for my first try with the Dutch oven. I put them in the oven last night, then this morning got up and baked them. Easy-peasy! As you can see, they turned out great. Next time I'll plan ahead and bake and freeze my own (which will be better) but these are pretty good so if I can find the dough I'll do a repeat on Saturday morning for our group. Though I also brought a coffee cake mix.













Other planned dishes: corn bread with corn relish and cheese

3-beans and smoked sausages and peppers (I had to buy new peppers when I was getting ice as I accidentally crushed the first two in the car door.)

green beans and new potatoes with bacon (found this one online)

[Bobbie Mayer]

PS- I ended up going with a 10 inch deep Lodge oven. I didn't want the heavier 12 inch but this has nearly the same volume (5 qts) and I figured was better for soups and baking. I also bought a set of nesting pots that (with the biggest pot left at home) fits neatly inside for travel.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Cool...

[Donna D.]

Good for you Bobbie I don't cook with a DO, but truly appreciate all the samples I get

[nam11]

Dutch ovens are the best. Google Dutch oven 7up cobbler, use fresh fruit and it is great.

[Reid Larsen]

When our group gets together for a camp out we almost always have strada for breakfast one morning done in a dutch oven. Put together the night before and cook it while we are doing the morning coffee thing. Often mac and cheese for a supper dish- I've also done dutch oven lasagna. They are a great way to cook for a crowd.

[Bobbie Mayer]

Blueberry crumb cake for dessert. Turned out great but took awhile to bake through- 40 minutes in a regular oven was the time on the box (without the blueberries.) Now on to main dishes. The Lodge oven came with a little book on how to use it that proved very helpful.

[HerseyBA]

Congrats! You are officially hooked on DO cooking. Next comes fire pit digging (where allowed) and wood splitting.

[Bobbie Mayer]

No thanks to digging, and I've split plenty of wood (used to heat my house with wood.) But this is fun, and it will be fun to think of new things to try.

[Bobbie Mayer]

I did beans and sausage for dinner- not impressed. It seemed to take forever to heat from the bottom so I ended up heating more from the top. Also, it never seemed to really simmer. Tasted okay, but took longer than baking and definitely longer than it would have over a propane stove.

I also have a question on washing- do you wash the ashes off the lid after each use, and if so, how? Or do you just let them sit and clean it off at the end of the trip, assuming you'll use it again?

[itlives]

My first (and only) meal I cooked in my DO was pork chops w/ peppers and onions. It came out great! It was last years Thanksgiving meal.
There are dutch oven societies all over. It may be worth looking up a local one and joining for a a while to really learn these wonderful cooking items.

[ShawnKK]

As far as cast iron goes, I always wash mine but never with soap. Just water and if needed a brush and dry with a paper towel. I spray Pam (oil lite coat) and heat it up again.
In the field I will just use a paper towel to clean unless it needs more cleaning. I cook on cast iron everyday. Everything just taste better since I found out about the non stick coating they put on pots and pans. Bad stuff!
I also have a cast iron pizza pan. Now that makes the best crust!

[Bobbie Mayer]

I just wondered about cleaning the lid between uses (when it is being used daily and gets covered with ash.) I left it this last time (though I washed the pot, warmed it, and oiled it, and wiped the inside of the lid clean and oiled it.

One of my fellow campers brought hers along and is going to do brownies tonight. Now if one could only make ice cream in a dutch oven!

[Wallo]

Check out this website
TOPONAUTIC Outdoor News-Events-Recipes

Rick has a couple of recipes a week. He is a great DO chef, and does a bang up job.

Alice

[ShawnKK]

Bobbie, I had to even look that one up to make sure I have been doing it right. If your going to use it right again "Just brush the coals and ashes off".
But I think your talking between meals and you wouldn't be using it for hours. If that is so I would think it goes back to cleaning your cast iron like you always would have cleaned it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUYhTb2aOZs

[ShawnKK]

Thanks Wallo, I never even thought about using a reg CI pan to make smaller pizzas. I will have to try that out now. My kids will thank you!

[Wallo]

CI is even good for heating up leftover pizza from Pizza Hut, et.al.

[Bobbie Mayer]

Shawn- the video is great but leaves out the part I had the question on- the top of the lid where the charcoal sits. And now two more questions on it-

well, the same question first, can it sit uncleaned between meals? It's covered with ash, weather is dry.

and

When you DO clean it, how do you get the ash off?

[Marg]

Marinate chicken pieces in red wine for several hours. Meanwhile cut up onions, garlic & potatoes. You can also use bell peppers, cut up. Drain wine from chicken, brown chicken, that has been rolled in flour, in Dutch oven in olive oil. Add marinade wine and all other ingredients. Let cook slowly for an hour or two. A little more red wine can be added if chicken mixture gets cooked down. If thickening is wanted when chicken mix is done, use corn starch. Flour seems to change taste. MMMmmmmmmmmmm good. Marg in NW CA

[theresa p]

i, too, used my new dutch oven for the first time this past week. i chose to cook up a pot roast. it turned out fantastic!! the roast, onions, carrots, turnip and a can of stewed tomatoes. yum..yum!
cannot wait until the next campout to try another dish.