Spicy Black-Eyed Pea Cornbread

     Adapted from a recipe I found on the Jiffy company's website, this one bowl cornbread is a fun and filling way to usher in the New Year.  Eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day is a Southern tradition that dates back to the Civil War, insuring prosperity and good luck in the upcoming year.  In my 12 inch dutch oven the cornbread baked for a total of 50 minutes with 12 coals around the base of the oven, 18 in a ring around the outside of the lid and 8 coals spaced evenly in the middle.  I omitted the jalapenos but I'm sure they would give it a real kick.  Somewhat like a spoon bread, the creamy peas, melted cheese and creamed corn make this a very moist cornbread.  Serve it with a tossed salad for a light dinner or New Year's Day brunch.  Happy New Year!

Spicy Black-Eyed Pea Cornbread
2 8.5 oz packages 'Jiffy' Corn Muffin Mix
1 lb spicy pork sausage meat, cooked and crumbled
5-6 scallions, chopped
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 8 oz. package Cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)
1 15 oz can black-eyed peas, drained
3/4 cup cream style corn
1 4.5 oz can green chilies, chopped
1/4 cup canned pickled jalapeños, chopped and drained

     Lightly oil or spray 12 inch dutch oven.
     In large bowl beat eggs, buttermilk and oil.
     Add muffin mix, stirring until mixture is just moistened.
     Batter will be lumpy.
     Stir in sausage, scallions, cheese, black-eyed peas, corn, chilies and jalapenos.
     Pour into prepared dutch oven.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until lightly browned.
     Cool for 15 minutes before cutting into squares.
     Makes 8-10 servings.

Spread batter into well oiled 12 inch dutch oven

Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes

A 'lucky' cornbread chock full of flavor

Christmas Coffee Cake

     This coffee cake from Susan Branch has all the flavors and smells of Christmas morning.  In my 10 inch dutch oven it baked for 40 minutes with 10 coals in a ring around the base of the oven, 13 placed on the outside of the lid with 5 more briquettes spaced evenly in the center.  If you decide to make this in your conventional oven, bake it in an 8 inch square pan.  Loaded with soft apples, crunchy walnuts and tangy cranberries, it's a moist and delicious cake that is perfect for a cold winter's day.  Have a very Merry Christmas and a joyous holiday season!

Christmas Coffee Cake
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups cored, peeled, chopped apple (2 apples)
1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, melted
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
powdered sugar for dusting

     Lightly oil or spray 10 inch dutch oven; line with parchment paper.
     Sift together flour, soda and salt; set aside.
     Combine remaining ingredients and mix well.
     Stir in flour mixture.
     Spread in prepared oven.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until tester comes out clean.
     Let sit 15 minutes before removing from oven.
     Cut into squares, sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve warm.

Spread batter into parchment lined 10 inch dutch oven

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes

Happy Holidays!

Potatoes Wrapped in Bacon

     I was thinking of this recipe today while I was swimming, it's terrible, I know, to be obsessing about food while you're trying to burn off calories but since anything tastes good wrapped in bacon, I thought, why not potatoes?  I searched the Internet and found that various versions of this recipe have been around for a while now.  If you only have large potatoes you can cut them into wedges, wrap them tightly with bacon and basically cook them the same way.  In my 10 inch dutch oven, they baked for 55 minutes with 10 coals in a ring around the base of the oven and the lid completely covered with briquettes.  I started with a blazing hot oven and left it undisturbed for almost an hour, when I smelled the bacon I knew they were done.  Double or triple the recipe if you're feeding a crowd.   Crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside, serve these dressed potatoes for breakfast, as an appetizer or as a side dish with dinner, I guarantee they will fly off the plate.

Potatoes Wrapped in Bacon
12 New or fingerling potatoes, washed and dried thoroughly
6 slices of bacon
Salt and pepper to taste

     Lightly oil or spray dutch oven.
     Cut bacon strips in half.
     Wrap each potato tightly with halved bacon strip.
     Place wrapped potatoes side by side in dutch oven.
     Add salt and pepper to taste.
     Bake at 400 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until bacon is crisp and potatoes are tender.
     Serve warm with sour cream, chives or softened butter.

Wrap potatoes with bacon and place in a single layer
in dutch oven.

Roast at 400 degrees for 50-55 minutes

Serve these crispy spuds with your favorite toppings

Thanksgiving Leftovers Casserole

      If you're tired of reheated Thanksgiving leftovers in the microwave give this easy but oh so filling casserole from Kraft a try in your dutch oven.  More like a Shepherd's Pie, the layers of stuffing, turkey, vegetables and potatoes are topped off with melted Cheddar cheese.  If you're not a fan of mayo, mix the veggies and turkey with gravy before spooning over the stuffing.  In my 12 inch dutch oven the casserole baked for a total of 45 minutes with 12 coals around the base of the oven and 28 briquettes spaced evenly on the lid.  I added the cheese during the last five minutes of cooking time, dotting the potatoes with pats of butter would also be a good way to add even more comfort to this fluffy and creamy casserole.  Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Leftovers Casserole
1 6 oz package Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Turkey OR 4 cups leftover homemade stuffing
4 cups chopped cooked turkey
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 24 oz package of prepared refrigerated mashed potatoes OR 3 cups leftover mashed potatoes
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
1/8 tsp paprika

     Lightly oil or spray 12 inch dutch oven.
     Prepare stuffing as directed on package; spread onto bottom of prepared oven.
     In large bowl combine turkey, mixed vegetables and mayonnaise; spoon over stuffing.
     Mix potatoes and 1 cup cheese; spoon over turkey mixture then smooth surface with back of spoon.
     Sprinkle with paprika.
     Bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until heated through.
     Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese, continue cooking until cheese has melted.
     Makes 6-8 servings.

Layer stuffing, turkey and veggie mixture and
cheesy mashed potatoes in 12 inch dutch oven

Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes before adding
remaining 1/2 cup of cheese

Bake for 5 more minutes or until cheese has melted

The perfect meal to come home to after a hard day of
Black Friday shopping

Grands Green Bean Casserole

     I was looking for something different to make for Thanksgiving this year and thought I'd test this Green Bean Casserole from Pillsbury in my dutch oven before serving it to my family.  In my 12 inch dutch oven, the casserole baked for a total of 40 minutes with 10 coals in a ring around the base of the oven and 28 on the lid.  The biscuits baked for 10 minutes before I spooned on the bean mixture.  After 25 more minutes the casserole was hot, bubbly and ready for the final coating of onions.
     I pre-cooked the frozen green beans in my microwave but you could also use 4 15 oz cans of your favorite green beans, drained, right out of the can.  Use your more traditional green bean casserole recipe if you like but do try it sometime on the biscuits, it's a good combination and a fun way to dress up an everyday side dish.
                                                                                                                                         
Grands Green Bean Casserole
24 oz frozen cut green beans, cooked and drained
1 16 oz can Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1 18 oz can Progresso Vegetable Classics creamy mushroom soup
1 1/2 cups French's fried onions, divided
Salt and pepper to taste

     Lightly oil or spray 12 inch dutch oven.
     Separate each biscuit into 3 layers.
     Press biscuit layers in bottom and up sides of dutch oven.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until set.
     Meanwhile, in large bowl, mix green beans, mushroom soup, 2/3 cup fried onions, salt and pepper.
     Spoon over biscuits.
     Bake 25-30 minutes or until mixture is hot and bubbly.
     Sprinkle with remaining fried onions.
     Bake 5 minutes more or until onions are golden brown.
     Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
     Makes 8 servings.

Cover bottom and sides of dutch oven with biscuit segments

Bake biscuits at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until
set before adding bean mixture

Bake for 25-30 minutes before adding final topping
of fried onions

Like an upside down veggie pot pie

Turkey Cranberry Enchiladas

     It's turkey time again and I couldn't be happier.  This enchilada recipe from Midwest Living is an easy and unusual way to use up some of your Thanksgiving leftovers.  In my 12 inch dutch oven the enchiladas baked for a total of 50 minutes with 12 coals in a ring around the base of the oven and 28 spaced evenly on the lid.  They can also be made with chicken, the tangy, sweet and spicy flavors in these creamy enchiladas are uniquely delicious.
 
Turkey Cranberry Enchiladas
2 1/2 cups shredded cooked turkey
1 16 oz can whole cranberry sauce, divided
1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups bottled salsa, divided
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar and Monteray Jack cheese blend, divided
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
3 scallions, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
8 7-8 inch flour tortillas
1 tsp bottled hot pepper sauce

     Lightly oil or spray 12 inch or larger dutch oven.
     For filling:  In a large bowl stir together turkey, half of the cranberry sauce, beans, 1/2 cup salsa, 3/4 cup of the cheese, sour cream, scallions, cilantro, cumin, salt and pepper.
     Spoon about 2/3 cup filling on each tortilla.
     Roll up tortillas around filling.
     Place tortillas, seam side down, side by side in prepared oven.
     For sauce:  In medium bowl stir together remaining cranberry sauce, salsa and hot pepper sauce.
     Spoon sauce over filled tortillas.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
     Top with remaining cheese, continue cooking for 5 minutes or until cheese has melted.
     Sprinkle with additional cilantro and scallions.
     Makes 4-6 servings.

Place filled tortillas seam side down in prepared dutch
oven then cover with sauce

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes

Sprinkle with cheese and continue cooking for
5 minutes or until cheese has melted

So long hot turkey sandwiches, hello enchiladas

Three Ingredient Pumpkin Cake

     When a friend told me about this cake I could hardly wait to try it in my dutch oven.  It's a perfect camping recipe, none of the ingredients require refrigeration and all you need is a bowl, a spoon and a can opener.  I found several variations of this dessert online, you can also make it with a spice or angel food cake mix and eliminate the spices.  You might prefer an apple cider glaze or dusting it with powdered sugar over the frosting, for convenience the canned icing cannot be beat.  In my 10 inch deep dutch oven the cake baked for 35 minutes with 10 coals in a ring around the base of the oven, 14 around the rim of the lid with 6 spaced evenly in the center.  For a cake that has absolutely no eggs, oil or butter in it, it is surprisingly good and probably a little healthier for you too.

Three Ingredient Pumpkin Cake
1 15.25 oz package yellow cake mix
1 15 oz can pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice OR cinnamon
1 can prepared cream cheese frosting

     Lightly oil or spray 10 inch dutch oven, line with parchment paper.
     In large bowl, combine canned pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and cake mix, batter will be thick.
     Spread batter evenly in prepared oven.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until tester comes out clean.
     Cool completely before removing from oven, frost with canned icing.

Spread thick batter in parchment lined 10 inch dutch oven

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes

Allow to cool before removing from oven and frosting
with cream cheese icing

Pretty darned good for a cake mix and a can of pumpkin

Ghoulish Black Bean Chili Casserole

     I really love a good, mix, dump and bake kind of recipe.  This casserole from Pillsbury can be made with chorizo, Italian sausage or even soy crumbles if you're a vegetarian.  You can brown the sausage in your dutch oven or make it easy and cook it on your kitchen stove beforehand.  I couldn't find the Mexican stewed tomatoes called for in the original recipe.  Plain stewed tomatoes worked just fine but if you want to add some heat, toss in a small can of diced, drained, green chilies.  I baked this in my 12 inch dutch oven with 12 coals around the base of the oven and the lid completely covered with 28 briquettes.  After 55 minutes I added the cheese and let it sit for 5 more minutes to allow it to melt.  Be sure to give this cool weather casserole a try and have a hauntingly good Halloween!
   
Ghoulish Black Bean Chili Casserole
1 lb chorizo or Italian sausage, casing removed if necessary, crumbled, browned and drained
1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup regular long-grain white rice, uncooked
1 8.75 oz can corn, drained
1 15 oz can black beans, drained, rinsed
1 14.5 oz can chicken broth
1 14.5 oz can stewed tomatoes, cut up and undrained
1/2 cup water
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

     Lightly oil or spray 12 inch dutch oven.
     In large bowl or dutch oven combine all ingredients, except cheese.
     Bake at 375 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until rice is tender.
     Sprinkle with cheese, bake for 5 minutes more or until cheese has melted.
     Makes 8 servings.

Mix all ingredients, except cheese, and pour into dutch oven

Bake at 375 degrees for 55 minutes then sprinkle with cheese

Bake for 5 minutes more or until cheese has melted

Top this ghoulishly good casserole with sour cream
and chopped fresh cilantro

Bacon Cheese Pull-Aparts

     Since we're having the first real cold snap of the season I was in the mood today for a hearty, stick to your ribs kind of breakfast.  This recipe from Pillsbury was not only a cinch to prepare but warm and filling as well.  In my 10 inch dutch oven, the biscuits baked for a total of 23 minutes with 10 coals in a ring around the base of the oven, 14 placed around the outside edge of the lid with 6 briquettes spaced evenly in the middle.  I removed the center coals during the last 5 minutes of cooking time as the center was starting to brown too quickly.  This is a very good campfire recipe with ingredients that won't take up too much room in your cooler and you can even stir everything together in your dutch oven if you don't want to dirty an extra bowl. 

Bacon Cheese Pull-Aparts
1 egg
2 Tblsp milk
1 16.3 oz can Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers Refrigerated Original Biscuits
1 2.1 oz package precooked bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions (4 medium)

     Lightly oil or spray 10 inch dutch oven.
     In large bowl, beat egg and milk with wire whisk until smooth.
     Separate dough into 8 biscuits; cut each biscuit onto quarters.
     Gently stir biscuit pieces into egg mixture to coat evenly.
     Fold in bacon, cheese and onions.
     Spoon mixture into prepared oven; arrange biscuit pieces in single layer.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 23-28 minutes or until golden brown.
     Cut into squares, makes 4-6 servings.

Spread biscuit mixture in single layer in well oiled oven

Bake at 350 degrees for 23-28 minutes

Stash this recipe in your camping recipe file,
it's easy and very tasty as well

Raspberry Bubble Bake

     If any of you wonderful people out there in dutch oven cooking land are still following my blog, I apologize for not keeping up with your nice comments and for generally falling behind on posting any new recipes.  Thank you for your patience and I hope you have been enjoying cooking in your black pots while mine have been collecting dust.  Life has been a good kind of busy lately but now that the weather has cooled off I am really feeling the urge to fire up the coals and try some new recipes.
     This Raspberry Bubble Bake from the Rhodes site is just about as easy as it gets.  A great recipe for the beginning dutch oven cook, the hardest part is waiting for the dough to rise.  When you add the pie filling, it may look a lot but after the dough rises, the rolls will poke through.  In my 12 inch dutch oven, they baked for 30 minutes with 12 coals in a ring around the base of the oven, 18 placed around the outside of the lid with 6 briquettes spaced evenly in the center.  If you don't feel like going to the trouble of making the icing, sprinkle the rolls liberally with powdered sugar. Substitute with your favorite pie filling, as a dessert or coffee cake, these ooey, gooey, rolls are totally delicious.

Raspberry Bubble Bake
12 frozen Rhodes White Dinner Rolls
2 21 oz cans raspberry pie filling, or your favorite flavor
2 Tblsp butter
2 Tblsp milk
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar

     Lightly oil or spray 12 inch dutch oven, line with parchment paper if desired.
     Place twelve frozen rolls in prepared oven and allow them to thaw until softened.
     Once softened, using kitchen shears or a sharp knife, cut each roll in half and then cut each half into three pieces.
     Spread two cans of your favorite pie filling evenly over the pieces of dough.
     Cover and allow dough to rise until doubled in size and the dough starts peeking through the filling.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bread has turned golden brown and holds its shape when lightly touched.
     For icing: heat butter and milk until butter is melted. 
     Gradually add powdered sugar until the icing's consistency is thick but pourable. 
     Drizzle glaze over rolls, serve while still warm.

Allow frozen rolls to thaw until softened

Cut each roll in half then each half into thirds

Spoon pie filling over rolls, cover and allow to rise
until doubled in size

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes

Drizzle icing over hot rolls

So sweet, gooey and good

Caramelized Pear Cake

     When I saw this recipe for Caramelized Pear Cake from a 2000 edition of Bon Appetit, I rushed right out to get what I needed to make it in my dutch oven.  I would definitely categorize this cake as cook-off worthy, it's not only visually impressive but the aroma of ginger and cinnamon makes you positively heady. 
     First I mixed the batter, lit my coals, then quickly peeled and arranged the pears for the topping.  You may want to slice and place them with more precision than I did, especially if you're trying to impress the judges.  The cake baked in my 10 inch oven with 10 briquettes in a ring around the bottom, 16 in a ring around the edge of the lid with 6 spaced evenly in the center.  After 20 minutes I removed 2 of the center coals and in exactly 40 minutes my tester came out clean and the cake was done. 
     Once you have your ingredients organized, it's really not that difficult to make and infinitely better than a packaged mix.  One of the absolute best recipes I've made so far in my dutch oven, the cake is so moist and with a hint of ginger, cinnamon and orange, topped with sweetened fresh pears, it's a definite blue ribbon winner.

Caramelized Pear Cake
Topping
6 Tblsp unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
4 Bosc pears, peeled, cored and sliced
Cake batter
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
3 Tblsp minced crystallized ginger
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp grated orange peel
1 cup grated peeled Bosc pears (about 2 medium)

     Lightly oil or spray 10 inch dutch oven; line with parchment paper.
     Pour melted butter into prepared dutch oven.
     Sprinkle evenly with brown sugar.
     Arrange sliced pears in flower design atop sugar, cutting some pieces to fit center if necessary.
     Whisk flour, 2/3 cup sugar, crystallized ginger, cinnamon, ground ginger, baking soda and salt in medium bowl until well combined.
     Whisk eggs, oil, vanilla and orange peel in large bowl to blend.
     Mix in grated pears.
     Mix dry ingredients into egg mixture.
     Carefully pour batter over pears in dutch oven.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until cake tester inserted into center comes out clean.
     Cool cake in dutch oven for 30 minutes.
     Carefully lift cake out of oven using parchment paper and invert onto plate.
     Serve warm.

Arrange pear slices over melted butter and brown sugar

Carefully pour batter over topping

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until tester comes out clean

Parchment is a must for removing the cake

Bound to impress the judges or anyone else who tries a slice