Outdoor Adventure USA

The net this week is on one of our very favorite topics - food. We will discuss different cooking methods including Dutch Ovens, pressure cookers, solar ovens, campfire BBQ, and good ol' stove top cooking. Whatever your favorite cooking method might be, the cooks job is not possible without the proper kitchen and utensils. Few things make for a more enjoyable camping trip than well prepared and tasty meals. Join us with your tips and suggestions!!

Here are some of our camp cooking set-ups:


Cooking methods

Frying chicken in cast iron
Pressure cooker
Camp fire BBQ
Portable oven
Dutch Ovens
Camp Kitchens

Product Spot Light

This layer cake baking pan makes a nice wind break for the coals under a 12" Dutch oven. Thanks to Brent bba for the concept. He was using the charcoal tray from a small BBQ. I could not find one but discovered this pan at Costco for about $7.00. It works well to block a breeze on the coals under the oven and it contains the ash so cleanup is easy. After you are done cooking slide it under your camp chair with a few reaming coals to make a cool night around the campfire very pleasant.

The Sandbar Flat Fire folding chimney works the same as a round charcoal chimney but folds flat for transport taking up less space. It is about 5 times the price of a
round chimney. It is much higher quality.
Sandbar is the company name - here is the web site.
http://www.sandbarmfg.com/

You can order one from Happy Camper at http://www.ahappycamper.com/products/bb ... index.html
Currently on sale for $54.99

Apple Cinnamon Delight

I thought I had posted this one already somewhere on the forum but can not find it so I am posting it (reposting it). It was good when I made it but a bit sweet for my taste. It went well with a cup of strong black coffee. The boys on the other hand thought it was just right. I am not sure where I would cut back the sugar. You could easily leave out the chocolate chips and the icing on top - or experiment with the amount of caramel sauce.

12 in Dutch Oven 25 coals – 15 on top / 10 on the bottom

Phillsbury Cinnamon Rolls with Icing 12.4 oz x 2 sticks
2 Can Apple pie filling
Cinnamon
Chocolate chips 1/3 to ½ bag
Caramel Sauce
Sugar (to make cinnamon & sugar mix)

Directions:
1. Cut up Cinnamon Rolls into about bit size pieces. Keep each pack of 6 rolls separate from each other.
2. Preheat and oil a 12" Regular Dutch Oven.
3. Put one layer of the Phillsbury Cinnamon Rolls on the bottom.
4. Next take one can of Apple Pie Filling and put over the top of that.
5. Sprinkle Cinnamon & Sugar over that.
6. Next drizzle over caramel sauce - as much as you would like.
7. Next repeat what you just did for the 2nd layer.
8. Put Chocolate chips on the top.
9. Put the lid on and start baking. If you are cooking on a table use 15 on top and 10 on the bottom.
10. You will see steam coming out from under the lid plus you will smell it too!!
11. Take the Cream Cheese Frosting and drizzle over each serving.
12. Cook for 60 -70 minutes; remove all coals from bottom at 50 minutes

Bowel Dutch Oven Charcoal
Wooden spoons x2 Lid lifter Chimney
Serving Spoon Lid Stand
Cookie Sheets x2 (protect ground from coals)

Sample of Dutch Oven Pot Luck at 2013 OAUSA Field Day

Dutch Oven Baking Pan Size Conversion

8 x 8 baking pan = 8 or 10 inch Dutch oven
11 x 7 baking pan = 10 inch Dutch oven
9 x 13 baking pan = 12 inch Dutch oven
10 x 15 baking pan = 14 inch Dutch oven

Temperature:
When I was looking for the conversion table above I found this information with it. Make your own decision on its accuracy!

Hold an open palm 6-8 inches above your Dutch oven, rotating your hand in a circle. If you can hold your hand there for the seconds listed below, the heat and temperature will be as follows:
Seconds Heat Temperature
8 Slow 250-350° F
5 Moderate 350-400° F
3 Hot 400-450° F
1 Very Hot 450-500° F

(Resource: Dutch oven Cookbook, Idaho State University)

I believe that cast iron cooking is the best! It is the way camp food should be cooked. That said, I am stepping up to the plate to learn the way of the Dutch oven (DO). Yesterday was not my first time using the DO but it is the first time I have used briquettes to cook with and it was worth experimenting! Made a Peach Pie Filling Oat Crumble that I thought I would share here.

Chicken Enchilada Pie:

Getting used to the setup is going to take the longest and will only come with experience or a good thermometer. Any good oven baked recipe should fair well in an outdoor scenario with a DO...if you have the right temperature.

looks good. We need the recipe! Suggest you post it in the outdoor cooking section so we can find it later too.