Love to camp and cook outdoors? There's nothing as satisfying as making camp and cooking your meal over a campfire. The food just tastes better, and the atmosphere can't be beat. Every year families pack up and head for their favorite camping destination. Some may go as fancy as an RV while others prefer a simple family tent. Either way you choose, camping is a wonderful family activity.

Even though you may be 'roughing' it in the great outdoors this summer, you don't have to settle for plain old hot dogs cooked on a stick you find in the woods nearby. There is a fantastic utensil that's been around forever called the 'Dutch Oven', and with it the cooking possibilities are endless, as are the delicious recipes.

There are very many sizes and options available for Dutch Ovens, but for the most part, with one you can bake, stew, roast, fry, boil etc. There are basically two dutch oven types of cooking, either cooking with it or cooking something inside of it. Absolutely amazing biscuits can be baked in a Dutch Oven; imagine how great they would be outdoors with fresh campfire coffee and bacon frying in your cast iron skillet.

Here are some tried and truly wonderful camping recipes using a cast iron Dutch Oven.

Corned Beef & Cabbage

2 lb Well trimmed corned beef boneless brisket or round
1 sm Head green cabbage, cut into 6 Wedges
6 md Carrots cut into quarters
1 sm Onion, quartered
1 Clove garlic, crushed

Pour enough cold water on corned beef in Dutch Oven to just cover. Add onion and garlic. Heat to boiling, reduce head. Cover and simmer until beef is tender, about 2 hours. Remove beef to warm platter, keep warm. Skim fat from broth. Add cabbage and carrots, heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 15 min.

Dutch Oven Biscuits

2 c Flour
1/2 ts Salt
3 ts Baking powder
4 tb Solid shortening
1 c Milk (or dilute canned milk)

Blend flour, salt, baking powder and mash in shortening with a fork until crumbly. Add milk and stir until the dough sags down into trough left by spoon as it moves around the bowl. Turn dough out on a floured surface, knead for 30 seconds, pat out gently until it is 1/2 inch thick. Cut with a round cutter or pinch off pieces of dough and form by hand. Put biscuits into a greased Dutch Oven, cover, and bury in bright coals for 5 or 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Campfire Meatloaf

1 1/2 lb Ground beef
3/4 c Quick oats
1 Eggs
1/4 ts Dry mustard
1/4 c Bell pepper
1 pk Onion soup mix
3/4 ts Salt

Mix all ingredients and put in casserole pan. Place in dutch oven. Bake 1 hour, covered.

When you're making your plans to head out for your family camping trip this year, make sure to include your Dutch Oven and some of these great tasting camping recipes. You'll treasure the experience and your family will too!