The Chronicles of the Dutch Oven

So, if you know my dad, you know that in his garage you can find just about anything you could ever need or want.  And so a few years ago, I raided the garage in hopes of locating some camping gear.  On one of the many shelves of stuff I found a beautiful cast iron dutch oven, patented in 1910.  I imagine this probably belonged to one of my grandmothers. The pan needed a little work, since it had rusted. But, with a lot of scrubbing and a some good old-fashioned cast iron seasoning I restored it to just like new!  Thanks, You Tube, for all the help!! 

So I decided this past weekend I would start to practice using it. I love to cook, but cooking over an open-fire, well it can be a challenge.  So here is my first attempt at open-fire dutch oven cooking.

Homemade Cornbread

Step 1:  Preheat dutch oven on coals.

  
After pan is preheated.  You place cornbread mix (I made mine ahead of time and then just added the wet ingredients) in the lightly greased pan.  Place the pan on top of 10-12 hot coals and then add 10-12 hot coals on top.  Note: only about 6 coals fit on the top of my oven.  Then wait 30 minutes...or at least that is what the recipe I was following said.  The thing about cooking in a dutch oven is checking on your items is difficult since every time you open the lid you expose your food to smoke and ash!

So how did it turn out...

Top looks okay...maybe a little brown

Bottom is completely black...sigh...  next time not so many coals on bottom, and maybe only about 25 minutes or so.

But....the middle and top was perfect consistency and so with a little bread shaving....

We have cornbread!!!

  It wasn't perfect, but it was edible.  Next time I will get it.  Anyone have any good recipes for the dutch oven?