Several years ago we were able to go on a camping trip with some wonderful fellow homeschooling families, amidst all of the domino games and gorge stomping, I was introduced to a skill that I would use for years to come. The ladies on the trip were cooking up these wonderful dishes in huge black pots over the fire. This fascinated me! Cooking and being outside, two of my favorite things rolled into one activity? I was hooked! I didn’t go on many camping trips after that without “my pots” as my family calls them. I must admit they do add a bit of extra weight to all of the other “gear” we lug with us, but it is so worth it! While other families are eating sandwiches or hot dogs we are eating like kings! It gives a whole new meaning to roughing it!
Dutch ovens were an absolute necessity to our pioneer ancestors. As they moved from place to place in wagon trains they carried these versatile ovens with them across the prairie. They were often handed down from one generation to another. In fact, it is documented that Martha Washington left her “iron furniture” to her heirs. That just goes to show you how important they were to our ancestors! I’m sure the presidents’ wife had all kinds of valuable things to leave to her children but she deemed her Dutch ovens a very important thing to bless them with on her passing.
Dutch oven cooking has a small learning curve, but it’s actually not as hard as you would think to use them. You can use wood chips or charcoal as your fuel source. I usually try to keep the fire going to some extent when we are camping so I always have available hot coals when it’s time to cook. It’s usually very easy to adjust heat by placing a certain number of coals on the bottom of the oven and some on the lid to allow the food to reach the desired temperature. Part of the learning curve is timing your meals well. Dutch oven cooking is not extremely fast but that’s what gives the meat the tender flavorful taste. You are also able to stack several ovens on the top of each other which allows you to make a main course, bread and even dessert all at the same time! We’ve enjoyed roasts, barbecue chicken, mountain man breakfasts, rolls and cherry cobbler around the campfire! Getting hungry just thinking about it!
To me, this is not only a fun pastime but also a valuable one! I have the confidence in knowing that I don’t have to have electricity or an oven to feed my family. Just a few iron pots, a piece or two of wood and some food and I can cook up a meal for us. I love that feeling! More posts to come with demonstrations and recipes!
I love cooking in a dutch oven in the fire pit! I don’t wait until we go camping, I do it right in my back yard. I also use cast iron frying pans and a griddle and cook things like bacon and pancakes out there. There is no use letting a good fire go to waste! You’re post should be an inspiration to everyone! Who knows when these skills could come in handy. Old dutch ovens can be picked up at flea markets and garage sales pretty cheap!
Julia, we must be kindred spirits! I have a little place right outside my kitchen door so I can cook at home to! It’s not an actual fire pit but works just fine for using my oven 🙂 It’s really fun isn’t it?
We have one of those store bought fire pits that you can move around the yard. It works great! I saved an old rack for our last oven when we remodeled and I use it in place of the bbq too! I love it for getting rid of twigs and stuff and the kids love to be able to throw some burgers, k-bobs, hot dogs, whatever on there at the same time.
I’d love to get one of those! It sounds like it works great! The only thing is that I like to stack my pots and make a few different things. Do you think the grate on one of those would hold up to that?
Yes, you could stack stuff up. The frame is wrought iron. Our was actually a curb find. Someone set it out because the a few of the ceramic tiles around the edge had come loose. Hubby grabbed it up and we’ve been using it 3 or 4 years now. It’s extremely heavy and heavy duty! I saw the same one at Old Time Pottery for about $100.
Awesome! I may have to go check that out! Thanks for the tip 🙂