OAUSA Net - 05/10/18 – Camp Dutch Oven Cooking

[toms]

Our net this week is on Dutch Oven cooking. We will discuss the use and care of a Dutch Oven, listen to war stories and swap tips and recipes.
We can include other cast iron cooking since they have similar features and need the same care.
Our guest to is Bruce KI6RZW. We can discuss the A to Z of the use and care of a Dutch Oven as time permits.

Our list of Dutch Oven users has grown over the past few years and we would like to hear your experiences. Post up your Dutch Oven results, pictures, tools, tips, and recipes.

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References
1. https://ahappycamper.com/dutch-oven-tips/
2. https://campmaid.com/
3. http://www.lodgemfg.com
4. http://www.socaldos.org/
5. http://www.chuckwagonsupply.com/

[lrsrngr]

Net check-in for the 05/10 net please, KK6CTT; present and accounted for... Call on me for a little Shooting Shack information.

I was blessed with the opportunity to volunteer a little time and effort at the 2018 NRA Dallas Convention...The 147th NRA Convention that netted 87,154 attendees and if there were 87 protesters...well you can count them present as well.

This is a great video that is no where near the energy found in the convention hall but you can get a sense of the pride that welled up in many of us as the guests speakers spoke. I saw some wipe their eyes, clear their throats and we all felt a sense of pride that is the core of our NRA. It was awe inspiring. https://www.facebook.com/NRATV/videos/1 ... wMzM3NTgy/ This is long but well worth the watch. Here are other snippets from the Institute for Legislative Action Forum: https://www.nratv.com/lists/2018-nra-annual-meetings

The resounding message: Get out and vote during the midterm elections. President Trump said, "Don't be complacent..."

There is nothing to apologize for if you are the NRA. Here are more examples:


https://www.nratv.com/episodes/five-mil ... -the-heart

https://www.nratv.com/episodes/five-million-voices-season-1-episode-1-stephen-willeford-its-not-the-gun-its-the-heart

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https://www.nratv.com/episodes/freedoms ... -my-rights

https://www.nratv.com/episodes/freedoms-safest-place-season-1-episode-6-my-rights

180505, NRA Convention 02 Ms. Josephine Byrd.jpg (130.49 KiB) Viewed 870 times

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_West_(politician)

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https://www.nratv.com/videos/2018-nra-i ... -guns-away

https://www.nratv.com/videos/2018-nra-ila-leadership-forum-kyle-kashuv-they-will-not-take-our-guns-away

180505, NRA Convention 04 Kyle Kashuv.jpg (108.02 KiB) Viewed 870 times

The often controversial Ted Nugent.

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Long time supporter Charlie Daniels and self-admitted 40 year life member Travis Tritt.

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[JackM-KK6WXQ]

Dutch Oven cooking is just my favorite way of cooking on off road trips. I usually try to limit large items that do not fit well in my Jeep but as you see in this picture I try to find a way to sneak my Cooking Table in when I can. Most of the time I use round baking pans on the ground but it is really nice to use the dutch oven table when I can. This picture shows three ovens sitting on a Camp Chef Dutch Oven Table. Here is a link to this table.

In this picture, you see two ovens stacked where one is cooking corn bread and the other is loaded with peach cobbler. The third oven on the right is simmering a batch of Elk Chili.

[JackM-KK6WXQ]

I struggled for a long time with charcoal starters before finding this one. Most of the charcoal starters I have used in the past made a mess, got squished, cut into things, and just did not pack well. That all ended with this version of my folding charcoal starter.

For starting charcoal I have this flat folding stainless steel chimney. It has a couple of features that I have found really nice. 1. It folds flat! 2. Once it is folded, it slides into its own nylon case to keep ash and dust from getting all over the place when stored. (Be sure to let the chimney cool down first to avoid an exciting experience with a melted bag!) 3. It is very heavy stainless steel so it holds up really well and is not as prone to the rust that is so common to other chimneys once they are exposed to the extremely high temperatures of the lit charcoal. It is a little spendy at $35 but I have gone through several of the other types and had I bought this one first, it would have saved me money!

I did not take a picture of the coal grate but it is a very heavy grate that folds down and locks the chimney in its open position.

Terrific product!

Here is a link to the chimney starter

[KAP]

This is my favorite Net. I love to cook and eat in the outdoors.

I have used many different products in the past to season my cast iron. I would like to offer this link to an interesting article about seasoning your cast iron. I tried it before field day in 2017 and it worked great for me with four ultra thin coats of Flax Seed Oil baked at 400 *F.

The seasoning on cast iron is formed by fat polymerization, fat polymerization is maximized with a drying oil, and flaxseed oil is the only drying oil that’s edible. From that I deduced that flaxseed oil would be the ideal oil for seasoning cast iron.

http://sherylcanter.com/wordpress/2010/ ... cast-iron/

Give Flax seed oil a try next time you season your cast iron.

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When I cook with cast iron, I like to use avocado or coconut oil as they hold up well with high heat. The coconut oil does impart some tropical flavor so use it wisely. I also use it to coat the pans after use and it has never left a sticky residue.

The key with seasoning and protecting your cast iron is only use an ultra thin coat of oil. I see articles that suggest putting your pans upside down to prevent puddling of the oil in your pan. If you have puddles or runs, you applied too much oil.

[KAP]

Two of my favorite cast iron pans along with my 12” skillet

Crepe skillet on left and Aebleskiver pan on right. Both will make an appearance at Field Day 2018!

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[KAP]

Here is an additional link to cast iron cookware with tons of info, history and recipes.

https://whatscookingamerica.net/Informa ... onPans.htm

Kevin
KK6DGL

[KAP]

Utensils for cast iron.

The benefits of Bamboo utensils is that they won't damage the non stick surface of the Cast Iron, they can be used to scrape stuck on food, they are a stable wood(technically a grass). In addition, they can be sanded down to match the profile of a particular pot. They also just feel right when used with and iron pot.

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It’s all about the food.

The chicken dish at the top was cooked in a cast iron skillet while the carrot cake on the bottom occupied the Dutch oven.

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[lrsrngr]

You gotta love Dutch oven cooking and better yet, eating the products of this kind of cooking...great stuff. Other than bulk, DO cooking is such a great campsite activity.

As a teaser; some tenets about DO cooking:
1. If it is a great home cooked oven meal at home you can turn it into a great out of doors DO meal as well!
2. If you need some insight into where to start (besides OAUSA) Lodge and Camp Chef have great websites that deal with the entire gamut of cast iron cooking and care.
*Camp Chef website: https://www.campchef.com/recipes/catego ... utch-oven/
*Lodge website: http://www.lodgemfg.com/recipes?search= ... en+recipes
3. They all have cleaning and care techniques and I'm sure someone will cover this just remember the following and you should be okay:

A. Any abrasive cleaners (pads) and soaps in general are a no-no.
B. Water and subsequent rust can kill your cast iron wear...always clean promptly and heat-dry your cast iron with a light coat of oil added for that protective kicker. By the way, I have been camping and left cast iron wear out...consider the dew and potential for rain; another concern that should not, under normal conditions, be a big deal but it could and should be a consideration when thinking about the care and protection of your cast iron investment.
C. Do not let others, who are less familiar with cast iron, mess with your stuff! If you, personally, mess up the finish of your CI gear, that is one thing but to have a well intending person show up and use scouring powder and a Brillo pad it is hard to fault them but easy to want to strangle them as you smile and say, "Thank you for the help" through grit teeth and a false smile!

Stacking and conserving coals in the process. Really neat to see a few coals go a long way.

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A layered enchilada mix with corn tortillas, browned ground turkey, onion, olives, cheese and enchilada sauce.

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Grand Biscuits, chocolate chips and icing of your choice to make a little dessert.

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Borrego Fest 2016

The modern day road warrior chuck wagon.

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The tools found at Borrego Fest = good food and good times.

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Triple chocolate cake care of Tom!

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[toms]

Dutch Oven Tools

Here a few basic ones. Post up what you use. I will post more if time permits.

What to get your pot and lid back? What to keep the same lid and pot together? Attach a Dutch Oven tag to each one.
I put my initials on the tags and then assign a number to the pot and lid. The Lid gets the same number as the pot.
These are Stainless steel from Happy Camper and are $4.oo per set with the hook. If you have only one pot order 2 or 3 sets because you will have more!
https://ahappycamper.com/product/dutch- ... l-1-round/


1.

Dutch Oven Tags

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These are the Mair Lid lifters. Two sizes. The short one is best IMO for working over charcoal. The longer one is too long unless you have a hot wood fire. I have seen a few other designs and maybe someone can comment on them / usefulness.

2.

Mair

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A pair of gloves are nice. I like the color of these but your winch or welding gloves will work. Pictured is another lid lifter - kind of the standard. It does not give you as much control as the Mair but has worked for years and years.

3.

Gloves

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You need a place to set the lid with out burning a hole in the table or picking up any dirt. This one folds and will fit in under the bottom of a 12" pot for storage. The tongs pictured are a bit short for picking up coals and rearranging them. They work ok with gloves. The main advantage is they fit in the storage box or bag.

4.

Lid stand

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The cake pan under the Dutch oven has a number of benefits. It acts as a wind break, keeps the coals off the ground, makes for easy clean up of coals and can protect the bottom of a soft DO storage bag from having the legs punch through. I have found that I can consistently find one at Smart and Final stores. There are other options as see in other pictures that work from drain pans to BBQ pans.

5.

Cake pan wind break
Cake Pan Wind break

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When it is time for clean up these scrapers are handy. From Lodge at $3.00 for the set of 2.
6.

Scrapers

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