Written By - Myrtha Chang - 05/12/2007
Link to Original Article here

The first time I saw a Dutch-oven was in Martha Stewart's show. So when another camping family told me the #1 most essential cookware was their Dutch-oven, I was surprised. Until I met the hardier cast-iron cousin to Martha Stewart's bright fashion-colored variety.

The cast-iron Dutch-oven is, indeed, an indestructible kitchen ironman (unless you commit those 5 no-nos below) . You can bake pineapple upside down cake, make mountain man breakfasts, pork roast, chillis and stews and much more and the oven will last a lifetime.

For me, the authority on Dutch-oven camping is Byron Bill's Papa Dutch Oven site. Byron, is wild about Dutch-oven camping cooking. His site has dutch oven camping recipes as you may expect, but also interesting tips such as how many coals it takes to heat a 5 qt cast iron Dutch-oven to 350 degrees, how to season your oven, and even "competition" recipes.

I've learned so much from his site.