Cornbread Chili Casserole

     From Wolf Brand Chili, as this hearty casserole cooks, the chili and cheese sink down and bake right into the cornbread.  A very easy recipe and good for camping, just be sure to oil your dutch oven well so you'll have a nice crispy crust on your cornbread.  In my 10 inch dutch oven, the casserole baked for a total of 40 minutes with 10 coals in a ring around the base of the oven, 14 briquettes around the edge of the lid with 6 spaced evenly in the center.  This is bound to become a campfire classic, serve it while it's hot and garnish with your favorite chili toppings.

Cornbread Chili Casserole
1 2.5 oz package corn muffin mix (Jiffy brand)
2 eggs
1 11 oz can whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, drained (Mexicorn)
1/2 cup regular OR reduced-fat sour cream
2 Tblsp sugar
1 15 oz can Beef with Beans Chili
1 cup shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese

     Lightly oil or spray 10 inch dutch oven.
     In large bowl, combine corn muffin mix, eggs, corn with peppers, sour cream and sugar.
     Spread batter in bottom of prepared dutch oven.
     Spoon chili evenly over top of batter, up to 1/2 inch of sides of dutch oven.
     Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese.
     Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.
     Top with remaining half cup of cheese.
     Bake for 10-15 minutes more or until bubbly and edges are brown.
     Makes 4-6 servings.

Leave 1/2 inch between chili and sides of dutch oven

Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of cheese

Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes before adding
remaining 1/2 cup of cheese

Bake for 15-20 minutes more or until bubbling in the center
and brown around the edges

Cornbread and chili conveniently bake together
in one very tasty casserole

Cast Iron-Roasted Red Potatoes with Rosemary and Onion

     Having all the ingredients leftover from the holidays, I thought I'd put my trusty dutch oven to good use and whip up a batch of these Cast Iron Roasted Potatoes.  The original recipe calls for making them in your cast iron skillet in a 350 degree oven, but I decided to pile on the coals and roast them outside in a searing hot oven.  In my 10 inch dutch oven, they roasted for 45 minutes with 12 briquettes in a ring around the base of the oven and the lid piled with roughly 22 coals. Roasting them in a blazing hot oven will allow the crispy crust to form on the potatoes.  Stir them only once, you need to allow the bottom heat to work it's magic.  Serve them for breakfast, lunch or dinner with red, white or blue potatoes, every spud lover should have this classic in their recipe file.  From The Lodge Cast Iron Cookbook, A Treasure of Timeless, Delicious Recipes.   

Cast Iron-Roasted Red Potatoes with Rosemary and Onion
1 1/2 lbs unpeeled red potatoes, cut into one inch pieces
1 large sweet onion, chopped
2 Tblsp olive oil
1 tsp fresh rosemary leaves or 1/2 tsp dried
1 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper 

     Lightly oil or spray dutch oven.
     Add potatoes and onion, drizzle with olive oil.
     Add the rosemary, salt and pepper to taste; stir until well combined.
     Roast at 400 degrees, stirring halfway, until the potatoes are browned and tender when tested with a knife, about 45 minutes.
     Makes 4-6 servings.

Toss potatoes and onions with olive oil, rosemary
salt and pepper

Roast at 400 degrees for 45 minutes, stirring halfway

A blazing hot oven ensures brown and crispy potatoes

Upside-Down Banana-Walnut French Toast

     I apologize for tempting you with this luscious recipe so soon after making your resolutions to eat healthier in the New Year, but it was so incredibly delicious I just couldn't wait to share it with you.  This French Toast from Betty Crocker is by far, one of the best things I've made in my dutch oven.  They need to invent an Upside-Down Banana-Walnut French Toast candle because the scents and smells lingering in your dutch oven and kitchen will positively delight you.  After assembling the dish, I let it sit for a good hour before lighting the coals.  On a cold and blustery day it baked for a total of 45 minutes with 12 coals in a ring around the base of the oven and 24-26 briquettes spaced evenly on the lid.  Pack a spatula and a big spoon in your chuck box, after you dish it up you won't want to waste a drop of the sugary nuts and topping. 

Upside-Down Banana-Walnut French Toast
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup chopped walnuts OR pecans
3 bananas, sliced
1 loaf (about 1 lb) sliced, unfrosted, firm cinnamon bread
6 large eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
Powdered sugar, if desired

     Lightly oil or spray 12 inch dutch oven, line with parchment paper if desired.
     In large bowl, stir brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and walnuts until smooth.
     Gently stir in bananas.
     Spoon mixture evenly into prepared dutch oven.
     Reserve ends of bread for another use because they don't soak up the egg mixture very well.
     Arrange 2 layers of bread over banana mixture, tearing bread slices to fit if necessary.
     In medium bowl, beat eggs, milk, cinnamon and vanilla with wire whisk until well blended.
     Pour egg mixture over bread.
     Allow to sit in a cool place in dutch oven for 30 minutes to an hour.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
     Serve portions upside down, spooning sauce from bottom of dish over each serving.
     Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
     Makes 6-8 servings.

Spoon banana mixture evenly in bottom of 12 inch dutch oven

Place two layers of bread slices over bananas

Pour egg mixture over bread and allow to sit for
30-60 minutes in a cool place

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until knife '
inserted in center comes out clean

The ultimate French Toast bake and don't forget a big
spoon for the topping