We use these a LOT. We've got two cast iron Lodge camp ovens (same size - 12", IIRC; one is "deep"). I'm more likely to use a campfire (coals) than manufactured briquets with those. Also have a 12" GSI hard anodized AL camp oven that I really like BUT I'm chicken to use that as an oven (say, for biscuits) - too expensive to "oops!", though I suspect it would take some serious inattention to actually melt one. It cooks just as well as the CI and clean up is trivial.

Also use two conventional cast iron (also Lodge) Dutch Ovens - no legs - in the home ovens. They excel for roasting things.

Google "straw box cooker". One of these days... I've used one (not mine) and that IS the crockpot of yore. What I have done many times (where appropriate) is dig a hole at basecamp and start a wood fire beside it while fixing breakfast - bringing my DO evening meal to boil over the fire. Before heading out, I dump most of the coals in the hole, lower the DO in, the rest of the coals, and then all the spoil (dirt) loosely and mounded. When we return in the evening, supper is ready.

I'm going to splurge on one of those tiny 10" GSI hard anodized DOs soon - I think I'll get a lot of use out of it on 2 - 3 day outings.

Great posts folks,thank you for the ideas and links.Im learning a lot,always appreciate folks taking time to educate others.

Did an 11 lb Goose (66 dollars!) and got this...

click to enlarge





But this is the payoff,4 cups of Goose Fat... liquid cast iron gold




Did the DO with 2 coats of this,into oven between 450-475F and cooked 2 hours at least,let cool,2nd coat...Got this beauty.

Ive had my best results with the goose fat,going to take a pan and try beeswax and see what I get,heard good things.




So happy with this DO we even bought a bag for it on amazon.Seems like a durn nice bag too!

Lodge A1-12 Camp Dutch Oven Tote Bag, 12-inch
by Lodge
4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews) |

Price: $21.23 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0008G2W0M/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i05?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the ubiquitous online recipe

3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon yeast
1 1/2 cups water

I made 1.5 the amt to cook in the #12 Lodge DO.

Whisk dry ingredients in a bowl,then add water.Mix just until flour is all moist and this is a very sticky style dough and thats it!

Click to enlarge pics



Let sit 12-18 hours on counter,covered but able to breathe.Then I poured out onto floured counter-top and wrapped it over itself about 12 times,adding about 1-2 tsp flour as just too wet,then sprinkled with bit of flour and cornmeal.Dont over handle bread,just gently form,dont knead.



Preheated oven and DO to around 475F,while that happened bread rose about 30 minutes.Tossed bread into DO,a couple slits with scissors on top.Put in folded side up for making the rough looking top.No need to oil DO,just drop it in.Put on lid and bake




After 20 minutes take off top of DO.



Drop temp to 450F and cook about 25 minutes more until toasty top and bread is hollow sounding when thumped. Then just used a gloved hand and it easily comes out of DO.



Came out crusty,chewy and excellent.This would be super with soup or stews.The internet is right,this is very easy very forgiving bread thats hard to screw up,gotta love it!




Approved by Snooky

This recipe (or variations of it) makes some of the best bread you'll every taste! It's very very easy; it takes a lot of time but very little actual work. I don't make (or eat) bread often but when I want a treat I whip this up!

Dang it, spuds, you're making me hungry.

Interesting thread. Keep it up.

Note: do not turn your back on Snooky while that bread is on the counter.

Couldnt believe how easy it was,this is a recipe anybody can do,and I mean anybody,you need zero baking skills.

Could be made in an uncovered cast iron pan,or a covered high temp casserole dish like corning ware or just on a pizza stone they say.

Hope to get a couple weeks off this summer (sure hoping,50-50 chance?) and go to the beach.Our setup will be DO cooking,cooking with the SunOven brand solar cooking,and camping with the solar electric from the truck.Should be real fun sharing the three things with our fellow campers.

So what we are planning/doing is proofing the recipes in the home oven,and trying it later with the charcoal briquettes when we go out.

Been a fun learning experience so far.

Also made a rocket stove,need to do a thread on that