Dutch Oven Gathering: Dog Gone Good!
Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
Recipes from the episode: Peach Cobbler
Director’s Journal
Sometime last fall my husband and I visited a nearby sporting goods store, looking for some camping gear. It was a beautiful day and my window was down as we drove into the parking lot. My nose caught some wonderful aromas—somebody was cooking something, somewhere. I spied some ez-ups near the entrance of the store. Hey Fred, let’s go check that out before we go in.
What we discovered was a group of very dedicated Dutch oven cookers (I later found out that the store invited them over to demonstrate cooking on cast iron). I swear by my cast iron fry pan— it’s home is the stovetop, and seldom does it get put away because it’s always being used for something. But I’ve never cooked in a cast iron pot—a Dutch oven—inside, let alone outdoors. I was interested.
After our shopping, we stopped by to talk to the cooks (there were 4 or 5 of them) and sample their creations. The dishes were all different from each other and all very yummy. Writing about that day 6 months later, and not knowing at the time I was going to write about it, I don’t remember the details of what exactly they cooked and served, but I do retain the memory of how good it all was and how amazed I was with the diversity of meals they made.
As we chatted I learned that they had started a group and got together to cook and share food outdoors during each of the 4 seasons, come rain, snow, or too much sunshine. Even in the winter? Yup, even in the winter. Their love for the Dutch oven prevailed. I took a mini-flyer about their group, thinking this was something I’d like to do too.
Months later I started filming for Cooking Up a Story, and I remembered my Dutch oven experience. I found the flyer and I called about filming their next DOG. The next one was scheduled for the first weekend in March. It had been a beautiful early Spring day, but as the sun set, the temperature gave a quick reminder winter was still close by. Nothing deterred these folks. Most were old hands at it. Up went the tables, charcoal was lit, ingredients were put together, and into the pot they went, where the magic happened. As the ‘food table’ grew and people ate, one of the cooks said you’ve got to put that camera down and eat. As I hesitated he said, There’s always time for food. Y’know, he was right. I stopped and filled a plate and was amazed, again, at the variety and the taste.
Inside or out, it works.
—Rebecca
Additional Resources
- Lone Star Dutch Oven Society
- International Dutch Oven Society
- Lodge Manufacturing Company
- Camp Chef
- Maca Supply Company
- Macscouter.com
- Ovens HQ
- Byron Bills Dutch Oven Cooking
- Wikipedia: Dutch Oven
August 1st, 2006 at 12:38 am
I know you dutch oven folks have your own recipes! Come on, email me some of your tried and true recipes that you created: mailto: recipes@cookingupastory.com
We will do our best to post them on this show’s recipe page. Don’t forget to add your name, and if you like what (dutch oven) organization you belong to.
And thanks!
June 18th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
I’ve got a lot of good dutch oven recipes and experiences at my blog, http://marksblackpot.blogspot.com
MRKH