cooking suggestions

[bear dad]

Hi I am about to try some ducth oven cooking, have never done this before. Been doing some reading on it, most of the reciepes been looking at are using a 12" oven. Was given a 8" for free,any body got any tips or suggestions for food to cook in a size like this or tips in general? thanks

[bear dad]

correction size is a 10" oven

[boomerscout]

ten inch is fine. google on over to "macscouter" or "usscouts.org" they have D.O. cookbooks to download

[HobcawChaos]

The Scout's Outdoor Cookbook is well worth the $14 and has lots of dutch oven recipes. Basically anything you can make in a home oven can be done in a dutch oven. Just add coals.

[Basementdweller]

Start with dump deserts.

 

dump in a couple of cans of fruit in lite syrup

Dump in a couple of boxes of yellow cake mix

 

 

ta da.

 

I would not waste my money on cookbooks. Most of the recipes are terrible. Do a quick google search for Dutch oven recipes and print them. While not completely free it is better to create your own cook book with recipes you might actually enjoy.(This message has been edited by Basementdweller)

[bear dad]

thanks for the help

[Scoutfish]

WOW! I don't want to be a kill joy, but how about some beef stew? Toss some cut beef or roast, cut up some potatoes and carrots and add a dash or ten of salt and pepper?

[HobcawChaos]

One advantage of having a couple of cookbooks around to start with is that you can toss them to your patrols. The books give them ideas to either do the recipe as written (many kids are more comfortable starting that way) or to jump off and create their own as they get more experience. It seems to help move them beyond hot dogs and mac n cheese. Can be an actual book or handouts - no matter.

[SMT224]

I would highly recommend "The Scout's Outdoor Cookbook" by Christine & Tim Conners. It is written for Scouts and Scout Leaders and has a number of excellent Dutch Oven recipes, along with lot's of great other camp cooking ideas.

 

As others have said, the best way to get going is just to do it - find a recipe that looks good and try it out.

 

Each of our Patrols have their own Dutch Oven and cook something in it nearly every camping trip. They cook their meal and then a cake in a DO. The adults always cook in a DO

 

Here's a couple recipes that have worked well for us...

 

Most Basic Dutch Oven Breakfast

* 1 lb. bacon or sausage

* 2 or more cups of cheese

* 5 whole potatoes

* dozen eggs

Directions: In Dutch Oven, cook the bacon or sausage. Add diced potatoes and brown. Add eggs and cook until done. Put cheese on top and let melt. Feeds 5-7 people.

 

Hamburger Stroganoff

* 1 Lb. Hamburger

* 1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup

* 1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup

* 1 Small Container of Sour Cream

* bread (optional: toast over fire)

Directions: In Dutch Oven, cook and drain hamburger. Add both cans of soup, stir until blended and hot. Add sour cream to taste. Serve over bread or toast.

 

Beef Stew

* 3 Lbs Beef Stew Meat (CUT UP AT HOME!!)

* 2 strips bacon cut up (CUT UP AT HOME!!)

* 2 Cups Water

* 2 chopped onions

* 5 Chopped Potatoes

* 5 Chopped Carrots

* Seasonings

Cook bacon slightly to get some grease. Add meat and brown. Add water and seasonings. Simmer for about an hour, then add vegetables and cook another 30 - 45 minutes or until done. Serves 6-8 people

 

Pineapple Dump Cake

* 1 can crushed pineapple

* 1 box yellow cake mix

* 1 can soda (coconut soda is great or cream soda)

Line Dutch over with foil. Dump in pineapple (including juice). Dump cake mix on pineapple. Sprinkle with soda. Put more heat on top than bottom, and cook for 30 - 40 minutes until brown.

 

[Stosh]

Any crock pot recipe will work in a DO.

 

Any casserole will work in a DO.

 

Heck, any cooking you want to do can be done with a DO.

 

Find your favorite recipe and if it calls for a 9x13 cake pan, just use 2 9" pie plates and do it in 2 DO's.

 

My boy's favorite recipe is chocolate chip cookie cheese cake. Up against even the best cobbler, they win.

 

To win at a DO competition, look and see what everyone else is doing, then go get your best recipe and adapt it and go with something new.

 

Stosh

[Scoutfish]

Just found this rcipe, so I don't know how common or "been done" it is:

 

Taco Soup

 

Brown 1 pound lean ground beef, sautee onion, drain, add taco seasoning packet In sauce pan, add 1 can of corn, pinto beans, blackeye peas, black beans, diced tomatos, rotelle tomatoes w/chiles, 1 package of hidden valley ranch original, Add water as needed. Add in ground beef mixture. Cook on medium to low for a...bout 30 minutes.

Serve: Top with cheese and sour cream.

 

Obviously,this is just a small family recipe made in a kitchen, buts looks like it could easily be adapted for a DO and more eaters.

[SMT224]

Scoutfish - We make almost the same stuff, but dump it on top of Frito's in bowl and call it Frito pie! The Scouts love it!

[ScoutNut]

No cooking - Walking Taco Salad

 

Do all prep work at home (brown grd beef, cut up onions, grate cheese, chop lettuce, chop tomato, drain beans, etc)

 

At camp put out stuff along with snack size bags of Fritos.

 

Scouts can choose which ingredients they want in their bag of Fritos. Eat from bag.

 

You can also get big bag of taco type chips and put everything on plate.

 

This is good for groups with picky eaters, or with a combo of veggies and non-veggies.

[WAKWIB]

**sarcasm phaser set on stun**

 

WARNING- Carrying 4-5 Dutch ovens, 20 lbs of charcoal, charcoal chimneys, and coolers to carry perishable foods into a campsite bring you into the realm of "Car Camping." Please be advised that car camping is on the top-ten list of the lastest edition of "The Purist's Guide to Scouting Heresies."

 

**sarcasm phaser returned to holster**

 

Back to reality, the dutch oven is God's gift to outdoor cooking. Even the beginner can produce great, no-fail goodies. A great way for boys to learn that cooking can be fun!

[OldGrayOwl]

Here are a couple of our troop favorites:

 

Coca-Cola Chicken in a Dutch Oven

 

8 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

3 cloves garlic; minced

1 can Coca-Cola (not diet) (or 1/2 can coke and 1/2 can Mountain Dew)

1 Tbs. Salt

1 tsp. Fresh Ground Pepper

1 Tbs. Onion Powder

1 cups ketchup

1 Tbs. Chili Powder

 

1. Arrange chicken breasts in an oiled 12" Dutch oven.

2. In a large bowl add remaining ingredients and stir to mix well.

3. Spoon sauce over chicken.

4. Cover oven and bake using 8-10 briquettes bottom and 14-16 briquettes top for 60-75 minutes or until chicken is cooked through basting with pan juices every 15 minutes.

 

Serves: 8

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Then for Dessert:

 

Troop 27s Award Winning Dutch Oven Ice Cream

 

Ingredients

1 small package instant pudding (any flavor) (The flavor of the pudding will be the final ice cream flavor)

2 cup heavy cream

1 cup milk

cup sugar

1 egg

tablespoon vanilla

teaspoon lemon juice

1 can evaporated milk

 

Directions

1. Mix together pudding, 1 cup heavy cream, & milk.

 

2. In a second bowl mix sugar, egg, vanilla, and lemon juice.

 

3. Add 1 cup heavy cream and evaporated milk, stir until smooth.

 

4. Add about 2 of crushed ice and rock salt into either a tub about 18 to 20 inches in diameter or into an ice chest that can hold the Dutch Oven.

 

5. Put the lid onto the oven.

 

6. Put the Dutch oven into the tub or cooler and fill the sides of the tub with more crushed ice and rock salt and leave it sit for about 5 minutes to chill the Dutch Oven.

 

7. Mix in the pudding mixture and pour into a 12" Dutch oven.

 

8. Fill the lip of the Dutch oven lid with crushed ice (NO ROCK SALT ON THE LID!!!).

 

9. About every 5 minutes or so remove the lid and stir and scrape mixture from the walls of the Dutch Oven using a rubber spatula. It will begin to solidify and freeze in about 15 minutes.

 

10. After it has frozen to a point where it is very hard to stir, let it sit and continue to freeze.

 

11. Total freezing time is 45 to 60 minutes.

 

Hope you enjoy Dutch Oven Cooking

 

OGO