Customer Reviews

Lovin' Dutch Ovens: A Cook Book for the Dutch Oven Enthusiast

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is probably the best I have ever read on Dutch oven cooking. It presents details in a manner that even beginners can easily understand, and seasoned "pros" can learn from. I am the current president of the Lone Star (Texas) Dutch Oven Society, and I recommend this book as required reading to anyone who wants to learn this old cooking art.

This book was purchased to learn how to cook in a dutch oven for a living history presentation at my child's school. I learned how to perfectly season my new oven (it came out great) and I made the Pioneer Journey Cake which is an authentic mid 1800's wagon train recipe. Cakes can have a mind of their own in a modern gas oven, so I had my doubts, but with Joan's tips on calculating oven temperature it came out perfect the first time. This book offers tips and recipes for everyone from the beginner to the sophisticated oven user.

Joan Larsen has the best beginner or advanced Dutch Oven Cook Book going. I own several and this one is by far the best. Every Dutch Oven enthusiast should have one for their collection. Each recipie is written so that even the first time beginner can understand it and cook a very good meal, even the first time. Once again, my hat is off to Mrs. Larsen.

Overall, I think that this is a great cookbook. It's in a great 3-ring plastic binder that will stay open while you're cookin', and you can wipe off just about any "grahdoo" that you splatter on it. There are tons of recipes in it, but they're just not what I had in mind. I'm from Texas, and I know that most of the folks who wrote these recipes are from Utah and thereabouts. I guess they eat differently than I. Most of these recipes are modern dishes that you'd find in the kitchen, adapted for dutch ovens. But I was lookin' for more backwoods, down-home, stick-to-yer-ribs type grub. I'd rather have 20 good recipes like that. Another thing is that there's not much in the book about cookin' over an open fire, which I prefer because it's more authentic. Anyway, to each his own. Coincidentally, I'm still lookin'.

I currently own twenty one dutch oven or outdoor cookbooks that delve into dutch oven cookery, and Joan Larson's is the best! It has a complete index and reference section, is well organized into meats, desserts etc. I especially like the "Deep Dutching" section and the "winning ways" section where other people's recipes are presented with a brief bio. or at least intro. to those creators. Full credit is given to each contributor. That's Class! I'll buy any new cookbook from the Larsens the day I can! Great work! No dutch oven cook should be without this book - it's the best!

The book contains rules-of-thumb on briquette placement, oven temperatures, and seasoning techniques. It also covers dutch oven capacities, good information for those of us who can't remember. Temperature information makes using recipies with either a conventional or dutch oven simple. All the recepies we have tried have been excellent. The last chapter covers competative cooking.

We purchased this book prior to a one week camping trip where we cooked breakfast and dinner in our dutch ovens. Everyone was pleased with the food and no one went away hungry.

This is an excellent book for those starting out in "D.O." cooking because unlike other books, it actually explains how to set the temperature -- i.e. how many briquets to use and where to place them. And, you can easily copy and laminate the recipes you want to use in camp thanks to the handy binder format. There are books out there with better recipes (sorry, recipes calling for Sprite are scary), but the reality is once you know HOW to cook with a DO, you can pretty much use any of your favorite recipes. i recently picked up "Classic Homemade Casseroles" at a used book store; it has more tempting ideas than this book.

This binder is put together in a simple to follow format. There is section on the basics with excellent information on temperature and placement of briquets. The recipes are all easy to follow and good meals, nothing gourmet with strange or hard to find ingredients. Many outside of the "just put a roast in" type. Great breads and desserts too! Perfect for any dutch oven owner, especially a family or scout troop looking for one book with several good recipes.

This book has very good information on temperature control. After purchasing several books on Dutch Oven cooking this one gave the best descriptions on temperature control methods. While I have yet to put the actual recipes into practice the emphasis placed on ensuring the fledgling DO cook's first experiments aren't disasters are appreciated.

Product is awessome, but Japura Books sucks! Ordered for a friend ... no response to emails ... no delivery of product ... no refund on undelivered order, which would have been late anyway!