Sunday, I decided it was time to use our cast iron Dutch oven for more than just campfire peach cobbler. I asked Mr. Gray to pull a roast out of the freezer, and I started devising a plan.
Monday afternoon, Mr. Gray beat me home from swimming, so he preheated the oven to 350 degrees with the Dutch oven inside. In the meantime, he cut the roast into large chunks.
I added a few seasonings (just a random compilation of things) while Mr. Gray chopped what was left of an onion. Then I added Kikkoman soy sauce, Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce, and about eight ounces of Lone Star. I was not paid for that last sentence, but I only buy those brands of each of those ingredients to cook with; I have tried others, but the end result is not the same.
Lone Star Beer is a key here. I have cooked several beef dishes with other types of beer; I do not recommend it. I don’t drink beer, so I have no clue what the difference here could be. I do cook with beer, so I know a difference of some sort is noticeable.
After I added the beer, I closed ‘er up. This fancy Dutch oven we have has a special little slit for venting or something. I don’t know anything about that; I don’t know if I left the vent open or closed while I cooked the roast. I don’t suppose it’s important. I reduced the heat to 300 degrees when I put the meat into the oven. After about an hour, I reduced it again to 250 degrees.
After a couple of hours in the oven, the meat could easily be pulled apart with a fork. It was a little bit of a cross between beef tips and roast. I was serving it with rice, so I was hoping for a beef tips-style finished product. Did I mention I cooked this totally blind? I haven’t used that Dutch oven for anything by campfire peach cobbler–ever. I didn’t know what cut of meat I was using until we were done eating. I just cooked.
I will definitely be exploring some more ideas with the ol’ Dutch oven. I’m thinking I can use some of my crock pot recipes (ask me about the crock pot Mr. Gray brought home a week or so ago if you want a good laugh) in the Dutch oven to get some extra iron in our diet! Maybe I was made to be a chuck wagon cook. Can’t you see me now headed out west? I think I missed my true calling.
