The Dutch Oven Cook-off Is ON For Revdezvous

[okieboater]

Credit for this one goes to Vernon Seaman, at our DustBowl Chapter DO DOG each November Vernon sets up his tripod and in a cast iron pot over a open fire makes a big pot of this for us cookers to enjoy while we get the DOG going. Very tasty!

As usual, I modify any recipe I am privileged to get to cook. I added in my comments. The neat thing is modifications are easy to make for individual tastes. Hard to mess this one up and it is super easy and fast.


Vernon's quick DO Chili

one pound ground beef
one small onion chopped
two or three cloves garlic, minced
nineteen ounce can of black bean soup
one or two cans fifteen oz black beans drained
one cup medium or hot chunky salsa
one and one half cups water
one can tomato paste

1 Brown meat with onion and garlic, drain grease

2 Stir in soup, tomato paste, beans, salsa, water

3 Bring to a easy boil - cook 15 to 20 minutes

4 garnish with green onions, sour cream and cheese

Dave's feedback for what it is worth.

Vernon advises to brown the meat, onion, garlic etc at home and put in a ziploc bag. Just dump all the stuff in the pan at camp

I add in at least one can of Rotel and less water (make it mild as this is hot!) lately have been doing a couple cans Rotel. By the way, always do Rotel Brand the others just do not taste anywhere as good. In Oklahoma cooking, Rotel is one of the required food items!

I add a bunch more ground beef (the largest package I got the money to buy at the time), cumin spice as well

Note: first version I used 16 oz chunk salsa, big onion, large green pepper - I now add more on onion size (at least two onions) and less amount of green pepper sometimes leave out the green pepper. also added chili powder (a lot) and small amount of cumin. Only water I added was to wash out the cans. Note: I lightly saute onions (more onions the better for my taste) and peppers. I also put in a big ole jar of chunky Salsa, depending on what is on sale. I do two cans of black bean soup normally one can of black beans. I don't know why but the black bean soup really adds to the flavor. Altho I have put in multiple cans of hot chili red beans as well. Both black and red beans work.
Longer it simmers, better it gets - but beans will break down longer you cook.

Chili is really good by itself.

add in note: Garlic needs to go in the pot in the last half of the cooking process as it will lose its whomp if cooked too long. Oregano will become bitter with too much cooking, so it too needs to go in toward the end of the cooking time.

I normally cook up a cast iron DO or (at home) cast iron skillet of cornbread which makes this chili an awesome meal. By the way, freeze the chili and second time around it is better. I will sometimes cook up some brown rice and ladle out a bunch of this chili over the rice when I am too lazy to do corn bread.

[Crane]

Thanks! Anyone else care to share a Dutch Oven recipe?

[Roger]

Dave
Edible? Palatable? Digestable? Food-like?
We need details.
Delicate and "chilli" don't belong in the same sentence.

Naw, Crane be talking about himself!!!

[Crane]

Apple or Peach DO Dumplings
2 Granny Smith apples
Pealed, cored, & cut into 8 slices each
2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls
2 sticks margarine
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 ½ cups sugar
1 12oz. Mt. Dew soft drink

Place 1 apple or peach slice in each triangle of crescent dough. Roll from larger end to smaller end, placing all rolled up slices in a dutch oven. In a small pan, melt margarine, mix with sugar and cinnamon. Pour sugar mixture over dumplings. Pour Mt. Dew over all. Bake approx. 45 min. at 350 degrees... Enjoy!

[okieboater]

Agree, Crane - I have made those dumplings and they do make a tasty treat!

[Crane]

Okay... here's a hint as to the identity of our "Media Cook of Note" judge for the DO Cookoff... this coming Thursday morning (Sept. 1st) on the early show on Chanel 11... Be there! Crane

[summerbee]

Clarification please: for as long as it is cooked in a DO, no matter what it is, it will be accepted in the competition? No matter how it is cooked, for as long as it is cooked in a DO...?

[Crane]

Hmmmm... Are you a lawyer? I figure that whatever it is will need to be cooked using charcoal in the traditional sense of Dutch Oven cooking... but, what do you have in mind? Remember that everything having to do with rulings in this event is at the total, complete, absolute discretion of the Organizer... and that's meeeeee! Thus, parse rules at your own risk! Otherwise, you and everyone else'll be welcome and we'll all have a fun, congenial time:)

BTW, did anyone watch Anthony Michaels on Chanel 11 this morning? He said he plugged Rendezvous and the DO Cookoff a lot! Crane

[Deuce]

Hmmmm... Are you a lawyer? I figure that whatever it is will need to be cooked using charcoal in the traditional sense of Dutch Oven cooking... but, what do you have in mind? Remember that everything having to do with rulings in this event is at the total, complete, absolute discretion of the Organizer... and that's meeeeee! Thus, parse rules at your own risk! Otherwise, you and everyone else'll be welcome and we'll all have a fun, congenial time:)

BTW, did anyone watch Anthony Michaels on Chanel 11 this morning? He said he plugged Rendezvous and the DO Cookoff a lot! Crane

I was hoping it was Anthony Michaels and not another THV regular who was doing something culinary related yesterday. Nothing against him. Incidentally, I think puttin' the dutch oven in an oven oven is blasphemous :myday", not to mention cheatin' . Don't matter though. Deuce and Little Deuce will be all over it.

[Crane]

Yep... Anthony will be our "Star" judge and, having eaten his BBQ and steaks more than onct, I know he'll do us proud! Now, our job is to have a buncha entries of fine DO-cooked food to fill him up and make him sharpen his scoring pencil and get that "I can't make up my mind" look on his face!!

I was thinking I might ask him to do a demonstration on cooking steaks during the cooking portion of our contest... just so I... uh, we... could sample a small one about the size of a mule's head from its ear to it lip... just, you know... because. But I haven't asked him yet... we'll see... mmmmmmmmm...
Crane

[Deuce]

I'm stoked. First Rendezvous.

[summerbee]

Lawyer? Now, that's funny.
NOPE, I ain't telling what I'm scheming ...errrr, hoping to prepare for our lovely judges...HOWEVER, I am experimenting and allowing my culinary creativity to run amuck.

[Crane]

Creativity counts! Good luck!

[Crane]

FYI, our "Star" judge, Anthony Michaels, indicates that tomorrow morning (Thursday, Sept 8th) he will once again feature Dutch Oven Cooking in his 7a.m. segment on Channel 11. He also said he planned on plugging the Rendezvous and the DO Cookoff... Prospective contestants might watch to get an idea of how one judge views proper DO fare:) Crane

[Crane]

2011 Dutch Oven Cookoff Rules

Two (2) catagories: Entre' & Dessert

Each Judge scores up to 100 points for each entry at their sole discretion. This means that THEY CAN SCORE ON TASTE, LOOKS, SUGAR CONTENT, ALCOHOL CONTENT, OR ANYTHING ELSE... IT'S UP TO THEM!

Judges are selected in the sole discretion of the Organizer (Crane).
In case of a tie score in any catagory or on Grand Champion, the Organizer (Crane) breaks the tie at his sole discretion.

All entries must be cooked on-site using a Dutch Oven and charcoal. (Pre-assembly of ingredients off-site is permissible.) Cooking must be complete and judging will begin at 5:20 p.m… sharp!

Contestants may enter one or more dish in either or both catagories. FOR EACH DISH, THEY MUST PROVIDE AT LEAST FIVE (5) PORTIONS FOR JUDGING, including plates or bowls for serving each portion to the Judges and utinsils for the Judges to use in sampling each dish.

Contestants must provide their own charcoal, lighter, starter, and tools. All contestants must have an aluminum container to start coals in and in which to cook. Our goal is to leave no trace behind when the event is over!!

All contestants are urged to cook with a goal of having substantial portions left over to be shared at the community dinner...

That's the rules…
Crane