Posts Tagged dutch oven
Dutch Oven Sourdough Carrot Cake
Posted by castironidaho in Events, Recipes, Road Trips on April 24, 2011
Marty and I made this Carrot Cake for the Dutch Oven Potluck. The truth is, Alex’s Pineapple Upside Down Cake was better. This is the second time we’ve made this one, and we’re still perfecting it. It was actually better the first time, burned a bit on the bottom this time, so be sure not to use too much bottom heat. But this is a wonderful, fragrant cake, so we haven’t given up.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
For camping, we like to mix all these dry ingredients at home and transport them in a ziplock or a sealed container. Then, when you get to your campsite, add:
- 1 cup grated carrot
- 3/4 cup oil
- 8 oz can crushed pineapple
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sourdough starter
Add to the dry ingredients to make cake batter. Pour into a greased and floured 10 inch Dutch Oven and place over 12-13 charcoal briquettes with 10-12 briquettes on the Dutch Oven lid. (These directions are according to an ancient booklet of recipes Marty has, “Dutch Oven Cooking with Sourdough,” published by the Idaho Wheat Commission. We might recommend a little less bottom heat, and burning does seem to be a problem. Also, we used a 12 inch Dutch Oven, resulting in a thinner cake, which might be easier to cook without burning)
Bake for 40 minutes and enjoy. Great with whipped cream or cream cheese frosting!
– Katie
Dutch Oven Pineapple Upside Down Cake!
Posted by castironidaho in Randy's Corner, Recipes, Road Trips on April 20, 2011
And the winner is………….Alex Neiwirth, with his fancy delicious Dutch Oven Pineapple Upside Down Cake!
While the Dutch Oven Potluck was a great success, and a good time was had by all who attended, attendance was a little lower than we’d hoped! What’s wrong, people? Is Celebration Park too far away? You missed out, but we might try it again sometime.
Anyway, the Pineapple Upside Down Cake was amazing! Because the Dutch Oven has a little bit of a tendency to burn things such as cakes on the bottom, this idea works really well, because the wet delicious fruit, rather than the easy-to-burn cake, is what sits against the bottom of the pan.
Here’s how Alex did it:
Ingredients:
- One yellow cake mix (Normally I don’t allow cake mix, but can make exceptions for camping and for Ghiardelli brownie mix. You could substitute any yellow cake recipe. For camping, you can pre-mix the dry ingredients at home, and add the liquid at the campsite, just like cake mix.)
- One can pineapple rings
- 10 Maraschino cherries
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
Heat Charcoal and let it burn down to hot coals for using. Meanwhile you can prepare the cake mix. Follow the directions which will likely include eggs, oil, and water, but replace a cup of the water with the juice from the pineapple can.
Alex used a ring of just a few charcoal briquettes to start off. Set the Dutch Oven on the ring of charcoal and slowly melt the butter. Then add the sugar, like this:
When that is all melted together, arrange the pineapple rings and Maraschino cherries. Pour the prepared cake batter over the top of it. In true outdoorsman style, Alex used a Nalgene bottle.
Put the lid on, put coals on top, and bake. I’d say Alex baked it for around an hour.
Take the top off, carefully remove from Dutch Oven, and voila! You can test to see if the cake is done by sticking you pocket knife in the center. When it comes out clean it’s done. Alex say’s its best not to open the oven while cooking, don’t play with it.
If you’re not cooking over coals, you can just put it in the Dutch Oven and cook it inside your oven at home, following the directions for the cake mix.
Thanks for the treat, Alex! Marty says you cheated, by being a son of the talented Randy.
–Katie
Dutch Oven Potluck — You’re invited!
Posted by castironidaho in Events on April 10, 2011
Remember that box out in the garage with all your camping stuff in it? It’s time to break that thing out. Find your dutch oven, wipe the dust out, salt and grease it. It’s time for the Cast Iron Dutch Oven Potluck.
April 17 at Celebration Park. Have your Dutch Oven dish ready by 6. We’re going to make a day of it and go early for some fishing and canoeing, hope you can come and join us early! If people are interested, we could do a float trip from Swan Falls to Celebration Park that day.
While other food contributions are welcome, the Dutch Oven is highly recommended and there will be prizes for the best Dutch Oven concoctions. Sweet and savory categories.
I can give you some tips or recipes if you’ve never used a Dutch Oven before. If you’re going to go out and buy one, get one with legs! (Check Boise Army Navy, or D&B Supply).
Bring your own firewood, coals, and raft!
Info about Celebration Park: http://www.canyonco.org/Parks/Celebrartion_Park/
All of our Boise readers, and friends new and old, are invited. Hope to see you there!
Marty and Katie
