Ham Party Sandwiches

     Now that the dog days of summer have officially passed, it is high time I dust off my iron pots and get back in the swing of outdoor cooking.  I have had this recipe stashed away for years, you can find many versions of it online and also on the King's Hawaiian Roll website.  I don't often cook in foil in my dutch ovens but thought this would be a good recipe to assemble in advance at home, tuck into your cooler and bake at your destination.  In my 12 inch dutch oven, the sandwiches baked for a total of 30 minutes with 10 coals in a ring around the bottom of the oven with 20 spaced evenly on the lid.  I can see why this recipe is so popular, the sweet, buttery, pull-apart sandwiches would be a great party appetizer or tasty lunch for just a few campers.  For a crowd, make a double batch and bake them side by side in your 14 inch oven.

Ham Party Sandwiches
1 (12-count) package King's Hawaiian rolls
1/2 pound shaved ham
8 slices Swiss cheese
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp poppy seeds
1 1/2 Tblsp Dijon mustard
2 Tblsp dried, minced onion

     Using large serrated knife, cut the entire pack of rolls in half, horizontally (keeping all top and bottom halves separately intact).
     Melt butter; add Worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds, mustard and minced onion.  Mix until well combined.
     Place rolls on large sheet of aluminum foil.
     Drizzle half of butter mixture over bottom half of sliced rolls.
     Cover with layers of ham and cheese.
     Cover with top half of rolls.
     Drizzle top half of rolls with remaining butter mixture, making sure the minced onions are evenly distributed.
     Seal sandwiches securely in foil packet.
     Can be baked right away or refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
     Bake in 12 inch dutch oven at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
     Open foil and bake for 5-10 minutes more or until rolls are lightly browned.
     Enjoy while warm, either cutting or pulling sandwiches apart before serving.

Cover rolls with remaining butter mixture before
sealing in foil packet

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes

Open packet and continue baking for 5-10 minutes
or until golden brown

Dutch oven sliders that are ooey, gooey good

 

Blueberry Buckle Cake

     While blueberries are cheap and plentiful, run out and buy the ingredients you need to make this wonderful cake.  That being said, I am giving you the original recipe from Kraft but I substituted a plain white cake mix with a Duncan Hines Golden Butter mix I had in the pantry.  The big difference is that the Golden Butter mix is made with 7 tablespoons of softened butter in place of the usual vegetable oil.  Needless to say, the cake was very rich.  The cake baked for a total of 30 minutes with 12 briquettes in a ring around the bottom of the oven, 16 coals placed in a ring around the outside of the lid with 9 more placed in a second smaller ring around the center.  Take a peek halfway through cooking time to make sure the cake is not browning too quickly.  Light, crunchy and overflowing with berries, every bite will remind you of a warm, summer's day.
    
Blueberry Buckle Cake
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled butter, cut into small pieces
1 package (2 layer size) white cake mix plus ingredients needed from package to make cake
1 3.4 oz package vanilla flavor instant pudding
1 Tblsp lemon zest (optional)
4 cups fresh blueberries

     Lightly oil or spray 12 inch dutch oven; line with parchment paper.
     Combine first 3 ingredients in large bowl.
     Cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
     Prepare cake batter as directed on package.
     Add dry pudding mix and zest; beat 2 minutes.
     Fold in blueberries; pour into prepared dutch oven.
     Sprinkle with streusel mixture.
     Bake at 375 degrees for 35-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
     Cool for 30 minutes before removing from oven.

Sprinkle batter with streusel topping

Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes or until
tester comes out clean

Buttery, moist and best of all, made from a cake mix

Frontier Chicken and Noodle Casserole

      Mr. Food brings us this peachy little casserole, it's easy to assemble and perfect for dutch oven cooking.  To streamline the process, prep your ingredients at home, store them in zip lock bags and pop them in your cooler.  If you make the noodles ahead of time, add a dash of olive oil after you've drained them to prevent clumping.  You can even stir the ingredients together right in your oven.  In my 10 inch dutch oven, the casserole baked for a total of 40 minutes with 10 coals in a ring around the bottom, 14 placed in a ring around the outside of the lid with 6 more briquettes spaced evenly in the center.  I doubled the amount of crushed chips but if you prefer a crumb topping, toss panko breadcrumbs with a little melted butter and sprinkle over the noodle mixture just before baking. 

Frontier Chicken and Noodle Casserole
1 pound cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cubed
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 cups fine egg noodles, cooked and drained
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 10.25 oz can cream of chicken soup
1 cup crushed potato chips

     Lightly oil or spray 10 inch dutch oven.
     In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except potato chips; mix well.
     Spoon mixture into prepared dutch oven and top with crushed chips.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until golden and heated through.
     Makes 4-5 servings.

Top noodle mixture with crushed potato chips

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes

Crunchy, creamy and seriously comforting

Orange Glazed Blueberry Scones

     As a dutch oven cook, I can never have too many scone recipes.  What makes this recipe from Tyler Florence and the Food Network so good is the sweet, fragrant orange glaze.  I halved the original glaze recipe and did not make it in a double boiler as suggested.  Instead I made it in a heavy bottomed saucepan, whisking continuously until it thickened.  I would suggest removing your scones from your dutch oven before drizzling them with the glaze.  In my 10 inch dutch oven the scones baked for a total of 24 minutes with 10 coals in a ring around the base of the oven with 22 on the lid.  If you decide to make them with frozen blueberries, add them straight from the freezer to the batter.  They are tender and delicious on their own but the buttery marmalade-like glaze makes them downright delectable.

Orange Glazed Blueberry Scones
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup (half stick) chilled, unsalted butter cut into small pieces
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
Orange Glaze:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 heaping cup confectioner's sugar
1 orange, juiced and zested

     Lightly oil or spray dutch oven.
     In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar; mix thoroughly.
     Cut in butter using 2 forks or a pastry blender, the butter pieces should be coated with flour and resemble crumbs.
     In another bowl, mix buttermilk and egg together; add to flour mixture, mix until just combined.
     Carefully fold in blueberries.
     Drop large tablespoons of batter into prepared dutch oven.
     Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
     Allow to cool before applying orange glaze.
     To prepare glaze: 
     Combine butter, confectioners sugar, orange zest and juice in heavy bottomed saucepan.
     Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until butter and sugar have melted and glaze has thickened.
     Allow glaze to cool slightly before brushing or drizzling over scones.
     Makes 6 to 12 scones.

Add heaping tablespoons of batter into well oiled oven

Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes

Allow to cool then drizzle with orange glaze
Truly scrumptious

Blame the Dog Bean Casserole

 
     I must confess,  I was drawn more to the name of this recipe than it's ingredients.  Posted on Allrecipes, it's a filling campfire casserole that can be altered to your liking.  In my 10 inch dutch oven, the beans baked for one hour, undisturbed, with 10 coals in a ring around the base of the oven and 20 on the lid.  Almost better the next day, it's an easy and inexpensive way to feed your hungry campers and be sure to pack a slotted spoon for serving.

Blame the Dog Bean Casserole
1 12 oz package kielbasa, cut into 1/4 inch slices
1 12 oz package smoked sausage, cut into 1/4 inch slices
1 28 oz can baked beans
1 15.5 oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp dry mustard powder OR 1 Tblsp prepared mustard
1 dash Worcestershire sauce

     Lightly oil or spray dutch oven.
     Combine all ingredients in prepared oven.
     Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until hot and bubbly.
     Makes 6-8 servings.

Mix all ingredients in prepared dutch oven

Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until hot and bubbly

A doggone good camper's supper

Mexican Twist

     Mr. Food brings us this easy, kid approved, one-pot meal that is ideal for camping and surprisingly good.  If you want to spice it up a bit, use Mexicorn and tomatoes with green chilies and if you're worried about the salt, Ortega now makes a low-sodium taco spice mix.  I browned the beef and onion in my 10 inch dutch oven over a full compliment of coals.  After adding the remaining ingredients I covered the oven with 14 coals on the lid and let it simmer for 25 minutes until the pasta was tender and most of the liquid was absorbed. 

Mexican Twist
1 pound lean ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
4 cups water
1 15 ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
1 14 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 (1 ounce each) envelopes dry taco seasoning mix
10 ounces (little more than half a box) rotini pasta, uncooked

     Lightly oil or spray dutch oven.
     Saute beef and onion over a full compliment of coals until beef is brown and onion is tender.
     Add remaining ingredients, mix well, making sure pasta is completely submerged in liquid.
     Simmer at a strong bubble for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway, until pasta is cooked and most of the liquid is absorbed.
     Makes 4 servings.

Saute beef and onion over a full compliment of coals

Add remaining ingredients and mix until well combined

Simmer for 25 minutes or until pasta is tender and
most of liquid has been absorbed

A yummy campfire supper

Polka Dot Pasta 'Pizza'

 

     For a fun and tasty change, this Polka Dot Pasta 'Pizza' from Hunt's uses small shell pasta as it's crust in place of dough. Quick and convenient, if you prepare the pasta beforehand, it can be assembled in a matter of minutes.  If you decide to prepare the pasta ahead of time, add a few dashes of olive oil to it after cooking to prevent it from sticking.  In my 12 inch dutch oven the 'pizza' baked for a total of 30 minutes with 12 briquettes around the base of the oven and 26 spaced evenly on the lid.  Be sure to oil your dutch oven well and allow the 'pizza' to rest for about 15 minutes before serving. 

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Polka Dot Pasta 'Pizza'
10 oz dry small shell macaroni, uncooked (about 2/3 box)
4 eggs
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 24 oz can or jar pasta sauce
2 cups (8 oz) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
30 slices pepperoni

     Lightly oil or spray 12 inch dutch oven.
     Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and set aside.
     Beat eggs lightly in large bowl with wire whisk.
     Add Parmesan cheese and pepper; mix well.
     Stir in macaroni.
     Spoon into prepared dutch oven.
     Cover with pasta sauce.
     Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
     Top with pepperoni.
     Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until mozzarella cheese is melted and golden brown.
     Let stand 15 minutes before cutting into pieces and serving.
     Makes 6 servings.

Spread pasta mixture in well-oiled 12 inch dutch oven

Cover pasta with sauce, cheese and pepperoni

Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes

Let rest for 15 minutes before cutting this kid friendly
'pizza' into squares

Cheesy Potatoes with Smoked Sausage

     There's nothing I like better than a recipe I can mix in one bowl, pour into my dutch oven and bake.  These Cheesy Potatoes with Smoked Sausage come to us courtesy of Hillshire Farms.  In my 12 inch dutch oven they baked for a total of 45 minutes with 12 coals in a ring around the bottom of the oven with 28 briquettes spaced evenly on the lid.  If you can't find the refrigerated hash browns, use the frozen variety, just thaw before baking.  As a side dish or main course these cheesy, smoky, creamy potatoes are as good to eat as they are easy to prepare.

Cheesy Potatoes with Smoked Sausage
1 package Smoked Sausage (kielbasa)
2 cups (8 oz) shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
1 20 oz bag refrigerated OR frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
1 cup sour cream
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup butter OR margarine, melted
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

     Lightly oil or spray 12 inch dutch oven.
     Cut sausage into 1/2 inch cubes.
     Combine all ingredients except 1 cup Cheddar cheese in a large bowl.
     Spread mixture evenly in prepared oven.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
     Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup of cheese.
     Bake for 10 minutes more or until cheese has melted.
     Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
     Makes 4-6 servings.

Spread potato mixture in well oiled 12 inch dutch oven

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes adding remaining
cup of cheese during last 10 minutes of cooking time

An excellent camping recipe

Artichoke Chicken Casserole

     If you like Hellman's hot artichoke dip you are going to love this casserole from Betty Crocker.  It's ridiculously easy and sinfully delicious.  For the sake of convenience you could even make the chicken mixture at home, keep it cold in a Tupperware container then bake it at your destination.  Use low-fat ingredients if you're trying to cut the calories and if you can't find the refrigerated Alfredo sauce, use a heaping cup of the jarred variety.  In my 10 inch dutch oven, the casserole baked for 35 minutes with 10 briquettes around the base of the oven, 14 around the outside of the lid with 4 spaced evenly in the center.  Double the recipe and bake it in your 12 inch dutch oven if you're feeding a crowd.  Perfect for a ladies luncheon or a campfire feast, file this one away, it's a definite keeper.

Chicken Artichoke Casserole
1/3 cup roasted red bell pepper, from a jar, chopped
1/4 cup sliced green onions (4-5 medium )
3 cups cooked, chopped chicken
1 14 oz can artichoke hearts in water, drained and chopped
1 10 oz container refrigerated Alfredo pasta sauce
1 cup shredded refrigerated Asiago-Romano-Parmesan Italian cheese blend
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 5 oz bag cheese croutons, coarsely crushed

     Lightly oil or spray 10 inch dutch oven.
     In large bowl, combine all ingredients, except croutons.
     Spoon evenly into prepared oven.
     Top with croutons.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
     Makes 4-5 servings.

Top chicken mixture with crushed, cheese flavored
salad croutons

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or
until hot and bubbly

Quite possibly my new favorite casserole

Roasted Apple, Vegetable and Kielbasa Bake

      I stumbled across this recipe online and was immediately drawn to it's ease of preparation plus any time you roast vegetables in your dutch oven they are bound to be good.  I scaled back the amount of vegetables from the original recipe but you can easily add more if you like, just try not to pile them too deep in your oven or they will steam rather than roast and caramelize.  In my 12 inch dutch oven they baked for a total of 40 minutes with 12 coals in a ring around the base of the oven and the lid completely covered with briquettes.  Add a handful of dried cranberries to dress it up for your holiday table. 

Roasted Apple, Vegetable and Kielbasa Bake
2 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
1 red onion, sliced into chunks
1-2 large Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into chunks
1-2 Gala apples, peeled and cut into chunks
3 carrots, peeled and cut into 1 inch slices
1 lb Kielbasa, sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
2 Tblsp olive oil
1 tsp smoked paprika
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

     Lightly oil or spray 12 inch or larger dutch oven.
     Combine apples, veggies and Kielbasa in oven.
     Add olive oil, paprika, salt and pepper, and toss to coat.
     Bake at 400 degrees for 40-45 minutes, stirring halfway, until lightly browned and tender.
     Makes 4 servings.

Toss vegetables and Kielbasa with oil and spices in dutch oven

Roast at 400 degrees for 40-45 minutes, stirring halfway

The smoky flavor is so good, I could almost eat the
whole pot in one sitting

Cabot Cheddar Soda Bread

     I hit the jackpot when I discovered this recipe for Cabot Cheddar Soda Bread on the King Arthur Flour website.  It's one of those made for dutch oven cooking recipes, moist and tangy with a crispy crust only cast iron can deliver.  Try to use an extra sharp Cheddar if you can, that way the flavor will really come through.  In my 10 inch deep dutch oven, the bread baked for a total of 40 minutes with 10 coals around the base of the oven, 16 placed around the edge of the lid with 8 more briquettes spaced evenly in the center.  Once I removed the oven from the coals, I allowed the bread to sit for 5 minutes before carefully turning it out onto a plate.  You can also allow it to cool right in your oven, just wait a good 20-25 minutes before slicing as it will crumble when it's hot. 
    
Cabot Cheddar Soda Bread
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4 Tblsp cold, unsalted butter, cut in small pieces
8 oz sharp Cheddar cheese (2 cups), grated
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 large egg

     Lightly oil or spray 10 inch dutch oven.
     In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
     Add the butter, working it into the flour until the mixture is crumbly.
     Toss in the grated cheese.
     Mix the buttermilk and egg, add to the dry ingredients, stir just until moistened.
     Scoop the sticky dough into prepared dutch oven, using your wet fingers, spread it to the edges of the oven.
     Bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
     Allow bread to sit in dutch oven for 5 minutes then using oven mitts, gently turn it out onto a plate to cool.
     Wait at least 20 minutes before slicing, it is crumbly when hot.

Press sticky batter into well oiled 10 inch dutch oven

Bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes

Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing from oven

Let sit for an additional 20 minutes before slicing

Jettie Mae's Panhandler Spaghetti

      I have always wanted to make this Panhandler Spaghetti brought to us from one of my favorite outdoor cooks, Phyllis Speer.  If you have a few minutes check out the 'Cooking on the Wild Side' videos from the PBS affiliate AETN.  Leave it to the state of Arkansas to not only make the dutch oven the official state cooking vessel but to also have an outdoor cooking show on public television. 
     This is a very good camping, all in one pot, meaty pasta casserole that kids will love.  The original recipe calls for 4 bouillon cubes, I only added 2 because I was watching the amount of salt.  In my 10 inch deep oven, the spaghetti cooked for a total of 45 minutes with 10 coals around the base of the oven and 22 on the lid.  After 20 minutes, give it a stir, the spaghetti needs to be totally submerged in the sauce to cook properly.  Also, after you sauté the beef and vegetables over a full compliment of coals, remove the center briquettes from the base of the oven to prevent your sauce from burning.

Jettie Mae's Panhandler Spaghetti
1 lb lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 15.25 oz can whole kernel corn, undrained
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 4 oz can mushrooms, undrained
2 beef bouillon cubes
10 oz uncooked spaghetti (about 2/3 of a 1 lb package)
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 8 oz package grated Cheddar cheese, divided
2 Tblsp cooking oil
Salt and pepper to taste

     Lightly oil or spray dutch oven.
     Over a full compliment of coals, brown beef in cooking oil.
     Add onions and peppers and cook until softened.
     Move bottom coals to a ring around base of the oven.
     Add corn, tomatoes, mushrooms, bouillon cubes, Italian seasoning, one cup of cheese and salt and pepper.
     Stir until well combined.
     Break spaghetti into fourths and add to tomato mixture.
     Mix well until most of the spaghetti is submerged in the liquid.
     Bake at 350 degrees, stirring halfway, for 35-40 minutes or until pasta is tender.
     Sprinkle with remaining cup of cheese.
     Bake for 5-10 more minutes or until cheese has melted.
     Makes 6-8 servings.

Brown beef with onion and green pepper

Add remaining ingredients and mix well

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, stirring halfway, or
until pasta is tender

Sprinkle with remaining cup of cheese and continue
cooking until cheese has melted

Kids will wolf this down