Dutch Oven Cooking Party

[ppine]

I just signed up to host the Sertoma Club 100th Anniversary Party in the backyard with dutch ovens. A guy donated a 14 inch bread oven this morning. We have several newbies that have ovens but have not used them. There is a lot of enthusiasm, and this format works for any age group. I recommend trying this idea if you have room for a crowd. We will be cooking on an open fire. No BBQs, charcoal, or modern devices. Has anyone had a similar party lately? What experiences can you pass along?

[ponderosa]

We have a Dutch oven cook-off in our neighborhood most summers. We don't have any rules, and just silly prizes, but we have a great meal with lots of fun and recipe swapping. It's one of the highlights of the summer.

[Judy Ann]

What an awesome idea!

[Grandpa]

Our neighborhood had a chili cookoff this fall. Dutch ovens were a couple of years ago. But we do get together often for this sort of thing.

[ppine]

I wish you guys could come to my house and help me show these people how its done. Do agree that there is a certain joy in sharing DOs with people who have not been around them before? I love the enthusiasm. My Aunt Deana used to live in Alaska for 30 years. She had lots of recipes in Alaska magazine for years. She was the most amazed newbie that has ever come to one of our Dutch parties. She had cooked on fires for years, but could not get over the fact that one normal sized cooking fire could cook a meal for 35 people at one time.

[rayne]

We do this at the beach. My whole family get's together for frogmore stew, usually for Thanksgiving. Everyone brings one ingredient for the stew and my brother cooks it in the family dutch oven over an open fire. The stew is wonderful, feeds about 15 people and we have plenty left over. Yum!!