Cast Iron Collection & Fire Cooking

[OTRA15]

Sounds good . . . interesting that the cast iron pan is to be pre-heated. I have a cast iron cover someplace that should also be pre-heated I would guess. Maggie do you have any tricks for doing something like this on an electric or gas range burner? Not burning the bottom would be the challenge IMO.

Thanks,

Peter

[MMCMRET]

Originally Posted by GCinSC2

I didn't set out to collect this group, it just happened. The Cast Iron prides of the fleet are the Lodge 20" skillet and 11 Qt Camp Oven. The 20" is discontinued and it is a pancake making machine, both were purchased from Lehman Hdwe. in Kidron OH. The coffee boiler on the pot crane (homemade crane) is an 11 Qt Wear-Ever coffee boiler, no basket. You get it boiling, reduce to an easy rolling boil and add grounds, 6-7 minutes of boiling and then let it rest for a few to settle the grounds, then ENJOY! The 2nd largest skillet does double duty for a pizza pan in the house. The Dutch Oven fleet has done stews, chilis, beef roasts (big favorite) deserts and the 11 Qt make a great chicken frier. I purchased the hand made tripod from the Black Smith at Mountain Craft Days, Somerset PA a couple of years ago. Plans are to remake the fire box, larger and using proper materials, but it has seen MANY backyard campfires and cookouts. Missing from the pic's is my cardboard box oven, forgot to get it out. No, all of this is not used every time or even carried each time in the AS.

This is in my backyard camp, the haze just visible in the right side of the group shot is from a smoker with a pork butt in it, today ribs. Got on a smoker kick this weekend.

If you have wanted to try campfire cooking but didn't want to mess up a cast iron skillet, don't worry about the outside, if it starts smoking before the food is in, that's telling you it's getting a bit too hot, it doesn't take as much fire to use cast iron as you might think. Aluminum pots can be kept clean, look at the big boiler, shines like a vintage Stream, before you put it over the fire coat the OUTSIDE of the pot with dish soap up to just below the "food area" cook and them cleanup is an easy task not a big chore, tune up every so often with a Brillo pad

Campfires and outdoor cooking are an intergal part of camping, let me give credit to BSA Troop 186 and the Scout Leaders that planted this life long enjoyment of fire cooking.

Now, how about your campfire cooking stories and hardware.

I had a similar set up for feeding 18 to 32 scouts in all kinds of weather. That lodge cast iron requires minimal care and is virtually indestructible. Thanks for sharing that picture.

[Lily&Me]

No tricks, really, but I do pan bread on a propane burner when I am traveling, and once the dough is risen I start it on a moderate flame to get a good rise from it, turning the heat down a bit once I flip it over to be sure it cooks all the way thru.

I would guess the cast iron skillet is preheated for cornbread here so the dough seizes up when it hits the hot pan.

A wet dough like cornbread started in a cold pan over a flame like that might stick.

On the same principle as for a pancake onto a hot griddle.

Maggie

[GetawA-S]

I’m afraid I’m not very good with searches. Over the course of ten years and 382 posts, has this thread addressed cooking on a pizza stone?
My experience is that they work much better when set on top of a cast iron skillet of the same size.
Thanks.

[nitzo]

Hey everyone, great thread. We have just started to learn about dutch oven cooking and would like to find a really good cookbook. Which one do ya'll recommend? I included a couple of pics, remember we are beginners.....LOL.

Thanks

[Lily&Me]

Looks pretty good!

This guy has a lot of great information and recipes...

https://www.khassett.com/BSA/MeritBa...enRecipes.html

Maggie

[GCinSC2]

I've got a few but diving in with your meal plan is an idea I favor. Somewhere I found a coals on top coals under the oven temp guide. That is a starting point for diving in.

We even did a lasagna but cheated slightly we lined the pot with parchment paper so cleanup was lift and dump.

And if a big cut like a beef roast is in the plans, do it but maybe use a remote thermometer to monitor for doneness.

Gary

[tallytwo1994]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

This in the Mother Earth newsletter today...

Cornbread and pie filling stovetop on a wood stove.

https://www.motherearthnews.com/real...vRRn33aS01V_QQ

Maggie,

The skillet cornbread recipe, at the link below, starts on the stovetop but is finished in the oven. But the biggest difference is that this recipe is made without sugar, and of course is the correct way to make cornbread . At least it is if you’re born southern. 😎 Of course there are other types of cornmeal based breads we could discuss, but this really is one of the best. Instead of shortening though, I use cocoanut oil. Give it a try with a pot of homemade chili and you won’t look back.

Carol

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food...let-cornbread/

[Lily&Me]

Yum!

That’s a nice looking cornbread recipe, and a small cornbread, relatively speaking, with only a cup of cornmeal and 1/2 cup flour.

And made with buttermilk, one of my favorite ingredients.

I may have to try it, with a little butter and drizzle of honey.

Maggie

[Hittenstiehl]

And we're cooking with fire.

[GCinSC2]

A special dinner, my retirement in 2019 with Tom & Wendy, Don & Betsy. This is a 6 lb boneless prime rib. Cooked in a 10qt Lodge Camp Dutch Oven. I put a very small notch in the lid and oven to prevent crushing the Weber remote thermometer cable. It took three heats and finally the Weber said it's time.

A home run.

[GCinSC2]

Beef pot pie, camp style. The top is just Pillsbury biscuits.

Yeah the parchment paper made this an easy cleanup, think camp lasagna.

Turkey breast. Not concerned about browning the top. Cooked at home but same procedure as if in camp.

And last up a seafood medley from Alan, he picked this up near Wilmington NC. Take a close look, that skillet is the Lodge 20" monster. Oh yeah it was good.

Hungry?

[Lily&Me]

Looks wonderful, Gary!

Makes me want to dig out my outdoor DO and do something with it.

Maggie

[GCinSC2]

DOG = Dutch Oven Gathering at least in this post.

We had fellow campers over for campfire last year and they mentioned going to a DOG this Feb at a nearby SC SP. DOG? says I? oh yeah a Dutch Oven Gathering. A group of campers that get together and cook with Dutch Ovens. We're IN! They schedule several DOG events each year.

Now let's get to the program. Fri eve a meet and greet with campfire time. Sat early cooks started about 8AM making some breakfast items and setting up at the pavilion. Making a camp kitchen with the fixings, tools and stuff is a nice part of the DOG.

The Dinner is served pic our turkey pot pie is front right. The topping is a biscuit separated into two halves and layered.

A nice group and we enjoyed a long weekend.

Gary

[Por Sonia]

Great post and photos Gary!

A reminder that there is a Dutch Oven thread:

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f48...ing-40090.html

Peter