John Davidson - Grandpa Johns Famous Dutch Oven Recipes

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I think cooking in a Dutch oven is one of thepleasures of life. Its not easy to duplicate the feeling ofcooking outdoors in a big pot over hot coals. Its not easy toduplicate that flavor too a cross between using a slow cooker andcooking over a fire. Dutch ovens have been around for decades anddecades. Now that many people do their daily cooking indoors inmodern ovens and on stoves, Dutch oven cooking seems like is morefor campers and hobbyists. Its a lot of fun and if you have notenjoyed Dutch oven cooking as the eater or cook, you have beenmissing out a lot! Cooking with a Dutch oven might seem a bitcomplicated or intimidating.

I totally agree! However, what you putinto the Dutch oven is pretty uncomplicated and simple; the cookingpart is where it can become a bit tricky. There is a littlelearning curve to understand the temperature and timing, but onceyou cover these two things, youll be set. Dutch ovens are incredibly versatile you canbake or cook practically anything. So, the time has come to pullout your most favorite recipes and a pen and paper and start takingsome notes! You will have to borrow or buy a few thingsto get ready for the Dutch oven adventures. You do not need a tonof tools, but there are a few a must-haves that you dont want tobe without. Here is a list of the essential tools you will requirefor your Dutch cooking.

ToolsNeeded Here are the essentials of Dutch ovencooking. Dutch ovens (one or more if you are cooking for acrowd) Charcoal chimney starter Charcoal briquettes Barbecue lighter or matches Lid lifter Something to put the lid on (a muffin tin isgreat) Heavy leather gloves Straw broom Cooking supplies Eating utensils High heat resistant gloves Scrapers, paper towels, and nylon scrub pads Lighter fluid, optional Preparing & Seasoning Your Dutch Oven Just as with anything, Dutch oven cookingadventure requires some preparation and planning. Purchase a Dutchoven earlier enough to ensure youve adequate time to season it; aDutch oven that has been seasoned well makes it easier to cook andclean up. Dutch ovens should be treated just like pans and castiron skillets; its the same process of preparation and care. There are many ways of seasoning a Dutch oven, butthey all have the same basic approach. Seasoning a Dutch ovenprevents the metal from rusting, creates a nonstick surface makingit easier to clean up, and adds a tasty subtle flavor thatsunsurpassed by other types of cookware.

Season your Dutch oven well and rub theinside with a small amount of oil each time you use it. Simply poura little oil in the bottom of the Dutch oven and wipe the entireinside with a paper towel. You dont need to wipe the outside withoil again before cooking. In addition, you dont have to preheat aDutch oven before using, unless a particular recipe has preheatingas part of the directions. Always line the inside with a foil if cookingsomething that is sticky like fruit cobbler or when you are usingacidic ingredients such as wine, lemon juice, tomatoes, or vinegar.This is because acidic ingredients can remove some of the seasonedinterior. However, you can still not use a foil when using acidicingredients, but you must be careful not to allow the food in theDutch oven for a long time after cooking.

Cleaning Your Dutch Oven As far as cleaning is concerned, if youseason your Dutch oven well, it will be a snap! You will just wipeout; simply toss any aluminum foil you might have used. You may usea little water or oil combined with salt to clean your Dutch ovenif the food you prepared was too messy to be wiped out with a papertowel. The mixture will help scour the inside of the Dutch ovenwithout causing any damage to the seasoning. After cleaning, allowthe Dutch oven to dry completely before rubbing inside and out withoil. Hamburger Stew and Fresh Rolls Buyinga Dutch Oven Dutch ovens are designated as multipurposepieces of cookware. You can use them to make stews and soups, bakebread and cook meat by roasting or braising.

Two types of Dutchovens exist: those used for outdoor cooking where coals and openfire is used and those used for indoor cooking with an oven orstove. The two types are made from different materials that arebeneficial according to your use. The following are the steps on how topurchase a Dutch oven. Buyingan indoor Dutch oven Make a decision on whether you need a Dutchoven made of stainless steel, anodized aluminum, or enameled castiron. Anodized aluminum dose not rust and is lighter in weight, butenameled cast iron requires less care and distributes heat moreevenly. Choose an oven thats thick around the bottomand the sides with an equal thickness all the way round.

Choose a Dutch oven with ovenproof knobs andhandles, which are important features especially if youll becooking your food in the oven. Buy a Dutch oven that has a lid that fitsproperly. Make a decision on the size of the oven youwant to purchase. A bigger pot will be required if youll becooking for a crowd. Choose a Dutch oven with handles that areeasy to grasp. Buyingan Outdoor Dutch oven Just as with the indoor Dutch oven, decide onthe material of your outdoor Dutch oven.

Decide on the size of your Dutch oven. Ensure the Dutch oven you buy has nofractures and cracks. Also make sure the thickness of the oven isconsistent before purchasing it. Choose an oven with a handle on the lid toenable you to open with a lid lifter. Check the Dutch oven bail to ensure it hasthick, heavy wire that wont break when you lift the pot full offood. Buy a Dutch oven with legs that are at least1 inch long with no deformities or cracks.

The legs should also bestrong and sturdy. Consider buying a Dutch oven that has beenpre-seasoned. Such an oven is more convenient and doesnt have tobe seasoned regularly. Tipson Cooking with Your Dutch Oven 1. Avoid pouring cold water into a hot Dutch oven tocool it off, youll ruin it. 2.