Last weekend I had the opportunity join in a friendly Dutch oven cook off for a state 
outdoor club. I won the same competition last year, with roasted rosemary chicken (drummies, thighs, breast pieces) and vegetables. When I say friendly competition, I mean friendly. I even loaned a few competitors equipment that they needed.
Folks fired up coals.
Well, actually it wasn’t so much “folks” as men, except a girlfriend who was assisting one competitor, plus me and lovely Jessica, shown hard at work here. Somehow playing with fire does seem to be men’s game more than women’s, although I’ll never understand why.
Some folks had fancy fire pans.
Others, like Paul, didn’t even use charcoal.
I used this funky rectangular aluminum Dutch oven that belongs to my husband.
I should have paid more attention to presentation, like this competitor, TC, did.
My husband apparently garnished his green chili chicken enchiladas with my tomatoes. The enchiladas look pretty plain here.
I made lasagna.
Everyone in the cooking area who tasted it proclaimed it the best, giving me hope for a win, although one friendly guy said a beef stew might be my strongest competition.
TC won in the breakfast category with this quiche. I didn’t try it, since it had red meat.
These apple dumplings won in the dessert category.
Competition in entrees was strong this year, with no flubs and a lot of good food, as I understand it. The judging was apparently very, very close, with only a few points dividing most of the competitors. The entree winner was—–drumroll please!———Mr. Homesteader. Ugh. He’s kind of a sore winner, a bit obnoxious about it. It’s okay; at least we’re keeping the title in the family!
I heard afterwards from two judges what kept me from winning: garnish (ah, if only I’d clipped a few fresh sprigs of basil from the garden!) and the fact that, by the time they judged mine (which was after a dozen other entries), the lasagna was not piping hot. Next year, I’ll serve straight out of the pan, like I did last year. Anyway, you too can make whole-grain lasagna while you’re camping! And, yes, that’s a little slice of flatbread with tomato, cheese, and fresh basil, also from a Dutch oven.
Have you ever competed in a cook-off of any kind? What’s the dish of which you’ve been most proud, either in competition or at a potluck or big family gathering?
Copyright 2010 Ozarkhomesteader. All rights reserved, including for photographs.
I love the variety! I borrowed a dutch oven to take on a camping trip a couple of years ago and, in the end, I didn’t know what to do with it. Now I feel like running out to buy one, just to cook up something fun in the backyard! I think I’d do something involving winter squash, which is plentiful in New Hampshire right now. And, no, I’ve never competed in a cook-off—I’m way too modest!
I first did the cook-off to get ideas, since typically the best way to observe and taste is to participate.
Wait a week or so before you buy a Dutch oven. And watch for a new post here this weekend. Just saying . . . .
Oh Ozark! I showed Hubby your blog on this, which is weird as I NEVER show him the blogs I like to look at. But he loves his Dutch oven. He looked at your hubby’s and your oven and foos and I think he drooled on me. LOL now he is asking when are we going to do this… or more or less, when am I going to do this.
Any chance you are going to do the recipes on how for dutch ovens???
I’ve already done some. Here’s a good starter recipe, cornbread-chili-cheese bake. Here’s my whole roasted chicken. Just about anything you make in a regular oven, you can make in a Dutch oven. Let me know what you’re interested in seeing, and I’ll try to oblige!
That stuff looks REALLY good. I need to practice at home.
If you can find a friendly, not-too-intense competition like this one, you can compete and learn at the same time.
The rectangular 3 handled aluminum dutch oven has a certain name. Do you know what that would be. Searching for one with a lid like yours.
3sam@suddenlink.net
Linda S., it started out as my husband’s Dutch oven. I’ll ask him and let you know.
Linda, it is a Quetico Superior Dutch Oven Set made by Rome Industries, and word on the net is that they don’t make ‘em anymore. You may want to try Ebay.