Dutch Oven Cooking

For my birthday two years ago, the Hardworking Husband bought me a Lodge Dutch Oven.  It's the kind that is coated in enamel.  I love it.  I have a few others on my want list.  They are so versatile.  I use mine to cook soups, pot roasts, roasting chicken, and so much more.  I love that I can start a casserole on the stove and then put it in the oven to finish.  You can also use it as a slow cooker in your oven.  One recipe I often cook in my dutch oven is Shepherd's Pie (see bottom of the linked post). I start the filling on the stove; then top with mashed potatoes and finish it in the oven.

Another recipe I like to use my dutch oven for is Quiche for People Who Don't Like Quiche.  This recipe makes quite a bit and can be halved.

Quiche for People Who Don't Like Quiche

2 lbs breakfast sausage
2 bunch green onions
2 cups (8 oz) shredded Colby Jack cheese
3 cups milk
2 cups biscuit mix (see below for recipe)
1 1/2 cup sour cream
6 eggs
Salt & Pepper

In a dutch oven, brown sausage.  Once cooked, remove from heat.  Using scissors cut green onions.  Sprinkle onions and cheese over sausage.  In a blender mix milk biscuit mix, sour cream, and eggs.  Pour over top the sausage.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Bake for 90 - 100 minutes at 350º or until set in center.  Let stand for 10 - 15 minutes before cutting.

Makes 8 - 12 servings
Adapted from Rosemary Brown's Big Kitchen Instruction Book*.

Biscuit Mix

6 cups flour
1/4 cup baking powder
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup cold butter

In a large bowl, mix together first 4 ingredients.  Using a pastry blender, cut in cold butter until texture is like coarse crumbs.  This can also be be made in a food processor.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Adapted from Semi Homemade Mom

I also made my own breakfast sausage.  You can read about that here.

*Rosemary Brown's Big Kitchen Instruction Book is out of print.  However, if you can get your hands on a copy, I highly recommend it.  I use it more often for the reference section than the recipes.  While I like the recipes in it, the reference section is so very helpful.  It has food facts, food storage, food terms, food math, substitutions, container capacities, and measurement and conversion charts.
 I use the food math quite often. This section helps you convert the number of apples to cups, cups in a pound of sugar, ears of corn to cups, and so many more.  And the substitutions list is rather extensive.

You can also read about my goals for January, February, and March. And you can read what the deal is with these goals here.

 Check out our link parties here