Live simply. Eat well.

Live simply. Eat well. Get after it. Laugh and love as much as possible.

The glow of the campfire lights up the cast of characters that surround the fire tonight. Grimy down jackets, a variety of warm beanies, jeans, Carharts and sandals for footwear mark the fashion. Uniform are the big grins that explode into caverns of laughter as an old story of mutual friends gets told again and possibly again.   A guitar comes in and out of range as the stories abate allowing for listening and appreciation and then eruption of song when a familiar tune is played. Libations are shared as the adventures of climbs of the day are told. Someone pores over a guidebook by the fire-light and discussions to do it all again tomorrow abound.About every 10 minutes, someone turns the large cast iron pot with a tightly sealed lid at a 45-degree rotation. All eagerly and naturally participate in dinner prep, chopping and dicing and contributing opinions as to how it all should be done, sharing stories and enjoying one another’s presence.   This efficient group has finished the majority of dishes-- a major bonus to Dutch Oven Cooking. This leaves more time to savor one another around the campfire.The fire was started just before dark as the first adventurers arrived back to camp. This is to ensure the glowing orange coals that are best for cooking. More coals are placed on the top than the bottom which creates something kin to a convection oven. Tonight’s contents include a whole chicken raised by a friend, all the veggies were grown by those around the fire, a delicious tomato sauce was poured from a mason jar into the pot. The firelight illuminates the granite boulders and the Joshua Trees behind us. We are all hungry, knowing the goodness that will come from what we fondly call the “Dutchie.” Dutchie is short for Dutch Oven, which these types of cooking vessels are commonly known as.Though I have cooked over Dutch Ovens for at least 20 years, I have only recently been compelled to learn more of the history. We often cook in Dutch Ovens on our Balanced Rock front-country courses and it is such a fun way to cook, to hang out, to spend time, and to be.I have found myself happiest when living simply with a radical community of individuals who would describe being “Full” , “Happy”, or “Nailing it in life” to be sitting around a campfire in a grimy down jacket, eating fresh, seasonal local and beyond organic food cooked in a Dutchie over a campfire after a day of adventuring and sharing with best friends.Five of my favorite Dutch Oven Dishes:-Enchilada Pie-Turkey or Chicken Roasted: with potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, fresh herbs and orange-Stone Fruit Cobbler-Corn Bread-ChiliTips for Dutch Oven Cooking:-Start the fire early to get nice glowing coals-Put 8- 10 coals on bottom, 12-16 on top-If fire is too hot, take Dutchie out of fire and bring coals out of fire-Be mindful of fire danger….don’t cook this way if it is a fire hazard.-Rotate the Dutchie every 10 minutes or so.-If you smell it, often it indicates it is done.-Use a metal tool for lifting, lifting lid, rotating-Clean out and oil Dutchie after each use-Don’t leave water in Dutchie or it will rus-There are different size Dutch ovens and they can stack!!-Enjoy with good friends in beautiful places