Meridian Magazine :: Enjoying the Journey: Time to Warm up the Dutch Oven

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Time to Warm up the Dutch Oven
By Dian Thomas

With spring knocking at our door, it's time to dust off the Dutch ovens and get out and enjoy a wonderful outdoor meal. Here are two recipes that have always bring rave reviews.

Sloppy Joe Biscuit Bake is one that is a meal in one pot. You made a delicious meat mixture then put the biscuit on the top with a few coals and in minutes you are sitting down to a delicious meal.

SLOPPY JOE BISCUIT BAKE

1 medium onion, chopped
2 pounds lean ground beef
2 (1.3-ounce) packages Sloppy Joe seasoning mix
2 (6-ounce) cans tomato paste
2 cups water
1 (16-ounce) package prepared refrigerator biscuits

Dutch Oven

Heat a 12-inch Dutch oven over 9 hot coals. Brown onion and ground beef. Add seasoning mix, tomato paste and water, stirring well, and bring to a boil. Separate individual biscuits and place on top of the meat mixture. Cover with Dutch oven lid and place 15 hot coals on top. Cook, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until biscuits are browned and cooked through.

Serves 4 to 6.

At Home

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef; pour off drippings and add seasoning mix, tomato paste and water, stirring well; bring to a boil. Transfer mixture to an oven-safe dish. Separate individual biscuits and place on top of the meat mixture. Bake 15 minutes, until biscuits are browned and cooked through. Serves 4 to 6.

Canned Sloppy Joe mix can be used in place of the packaged seasoning.
If the handle of your skillet is oven-safe, you don't need to transfer the mixture to an oven-safe dish.

MIXED BERRY CRISP

Berries in season are always best. When not in season, use frozen.

1 (10-ounce) bag frozen raspberries, thawed
1 (10-ounce) bag frozen blueberries, thawed
1 (10-ounce) bag frozen boysenberries or blackberries,
Thawed
3 / 4 cup sugar

In a bowl combine berries and sugar; set aside. Prepare Crisp

Topping (below).

Dutch Oven

Heat a 12-inch Dutch oven over 9 hot coals. Cover with Dutch oven lid and place 15 hot coals on the top. Preheat 10 minutes. Pour the berry mixture into the Dutch oven. Sprinkle Crisp Topping (below) evenly onto berries. Bake, covered, for 30 to 35 minutes. Serve warm or cold. Serves 6 to 8.

At Home

Follow the above Dutch oven directions. Cook in a baking dish at 350ºF. for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown.

Serve warm or cold. Serves 6 to 8. A scoop of ice cream is also delicious on top of this Delicious dessert.

CRISP TOPPING

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup oatmeal
1 / 2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted

In a medium bowl or in a 1-quart plastic self-sealing bag, add flour, walnuts, brown sugar, oatmeal and butter or margarine, and mix. This can be prepared at home and added to the Berry Crisp (above) outdoors. Excellent on cooked fruit or added to coffee cake before baking.

Start this week to gather your family outdoors, and you can have memorable meal and memorable memories all summer.

For more great ideas to do with you family and friends, check out my outdoor special at www.dianthomas.com. You will also find lot more ideas to get you and your family off to a great spring. I am also taking several trips to China this year. If you like to learn more drop me a not at Dian@DianThomas.com.

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