Cooking over a campfire is about as tradition as it gets when it
comes to a camping trip. Weather your cooking hot dogs on a two prong fork or
marshmallows are dripping in a melting mess around your gram cracker filled
with chocolate. Having a Dutch oven hanging from a tripod is just something of
a background picture that gets stuck in my head all winter long. On every hunting or fishing trip we have taken, some of our fondest memories are from our camp cook with hot coffee & an aroma of cast iron cooking hotcakes & sausage. Can you think of any better smell on a crisp  spring morning wile your getting ready to head out to your favorite fishing hole?   Cast Iron Preseason Double Pie Sandwich Iron or a camp grill to sit your coffee pot or Iron skillet on is something you will never want to be without once you have these in your outdoor gear. One thing that is an absolute must for delicious camping feast is a Dutch oven. Almost everything that can be cooked in a traditional oven can also be made in a cast iron Dutch oven over an open fire. The cast-iron pot cooks on hot coals in your site’s campfire ring. If you are using charcoal to cook with you will need to place three times as many coals on the lid as you put underneath the oven. You can line your Dutch oven with aluminum foil for easy clean up When you do remove the lid or handle any part of the hot oven, be sure to  use cooking gloves or hot pot tongs  Camping is a great place for children to learn skills such as Cooking over a campfire with cast iron. Teaching children how to cook outdoors is something that does not require major clean-up, there are many great recipes like Dutch Oven Lasagna, Peach Cobbler & Barbecue Ribs

Share/Save

This hasn’t been the best year for ice fishing with warm weather hindering ice
on most small lakes. Several ice fishing events have been canceled this year due
to weather conditions. When this happens there are always things to do for us
fishermen & women. I have been busy in my back room tying new lures & making
my favorite jigs for bluegills & northern pike. We all have our favorite lures & jigs
that have that certain twist or size that has to be home made because we just
can’t find what we want at our local sporting store. Over years of fishing in our
favorite spots we have learned what works on a certain day for us. This is
an important for us rare breed of fisherman if for no other reason than
it is something that we have made ourselves. I for one have my own little set up
of molds & hooks sizes down to a little 1/32 with drop hooks & plastic molds.
It is always a fun time for me out in my little room making experimental things
for next spring. Color has always been a big deal for most of us & everyone has
their preferences. I can remember quite a few years ago going out one spring morning
to a good fishing lake where sunfish was on their beds early. I had said that this
black & white jig with a lime tail was all we needed but my friend wouldn’t switch.
Even when I had my limit & he had 3 or 4 fish he claimed his was better & his lure
was superior to mine. I guess when it all comes down to how much fun you have
when you’re spending time with your friend on your favorite lake.  Then
there is another bonus as we all know that there is nothing like fresh caught fish
cooked in a cast iron skillet with an aroma filling your house or cabin like nothing
you have ever smelled before. There is just something about an old fry pan, fresh
fish & good friends to share that won’t replace anything else at hunting or fish camp.
One ice fishing event that has really drawn a crowd was Last weekend’s free ice-fishing
event at Hauser Lake. http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/feb/05/ice-fishing-event-draws-crowd/
An event that was put together by Idaho fish & game
with help from Cabela’s & agency staffers & a very special thanks to 3 sportsman that
put down their own fishing gear to take time to help other new fishermen. At this event
this volunteer crew helped at least 350 people get a taste of fishing – as well as a
taste of the 496 hot dogs and 23 gallons of hot chocolate that was
served free to the crowd. What can be more wonderful than sportsmen & women
coming together to give their time to teach & show others a good time at an event.
Lets hear what you do to help new fishermen women & new hunters. What events
have you thought about helping with as a volunteer this year? What events are
coming up that you can let others know about so we can volunteer too?  Lets help
& teach our younger sports people that its giving & caring that makes our sports
what they are today.

Share/Save

Welcome aboard to all of our new members to our newsletter since our last posting. Last year was good to us at Iron cooker &
this year is looking even better. This is normally a time of year when things are slow & we can take care of some of the details
of data entering work that needs to be updated every so often. But thanks to all of you we haven’t had a chance to get to it yet.
And that is a good thing that we really appreciate happening because it shows us that you like what we are providing for you.
We have some new products that some of you have been purchasing as soon as they hit our website.
One of them is our addition of Camp Chef Heat Guard Gloves priced at 15 dollars. Anyone that handles hot Dutch ovens
or skillets off a campfire knows that these are a must.

 We normally stay with metal & Cast iron products but we have International farm all metal thermometers so we 
added a special John Deere thermometer with a welcome sign that is very attractive & that same thing happened as did 
with our heat guard gloves, You was buying them as soon as we listed them on our site,
We have added several items this time so don’t forget to go to our site to see everything from our new additions 
to cast iron stars & all other categories we have been working on.
If you like camping or fishing stories be sure to visit & subscribe to our blog updates too.
http://wildernessoutdoors.net/  we post weekly & all previous newsletters are listed there too.
I know by now everyone is tired of us talking about our cast iron farmall tractor seat stools, but they are still selling like never before.
We have run our inventory down under 70 again & expect to run out. I know we have said before, but if you even think you want some
of these be sure to get your orders in because once again it will be two months before our new shipment comes in on this item.
We are looking for another enamel cast iron supplier to go with what we have so we can have some new items to offer this season.
Also we have some new seasonings & are looking forward to adding more.

Now it’s time to add our recipe to this newsletter for you.

Fulton’s Best-Ever Carrot Cake Recipe

You’re going to love this one!

Fulton’s Pancake House & Sugar Bush is a maple syrup farm located just outside of Ottawa, Ontario in Canada.
Every year they have activities available during the spring running of the sap. The sap harvested from the Maple tree,
in case you do not know it, is what they use to make maple syrup.

They also have a pancake house where you can buy pancakes and other related items.
The pancakes are always delicious so I was thrilled to find this recipe printed in the Ottawa Citizen one year.
Since then, it has become ‘my’ carrot cake recipe. We love it!

This cake serves 10 to 12 people.

Cake Ingredients:

• Oil and flour to grease a 10-inch tube or angel food cake pan
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, unbleached if possible
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated maple sugar or brown sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup sour milk
• 2 cups grated carrots
• 1 1/2 cups crushed, well-drained pineapple
• 1 cup grated coconut (optional)

Ingredients for the maple icing:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 8 ounces or 225 grams of cream cheese
• 2 teaspoons of maple syrup
• 3 cups of icing sugar

For The Garnish:

• Granulated maple sugar.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly brush oil on tube pan; sprinkle with flour, knocking out excess.
2. In a bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda and salt.
3. In another large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, maple sugar, oil and sour milk. With a rubber scraper, stir in carrots, pineapple and coconut; fold in dry ingredients until well combined.
4. Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake 1 hour. Test for doneness using a toothpick inserted into the centre, which should come out clean. Remove from oven and leave cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes Use a table knife to separate cake from pan; invert onto a plate. Cool completely before spreading maple icing on the cake.
5. For the icing, in the bowl of an electric mixer combine icing ingredients and beat until smooth and thick enough to spread on the cake. To garnish, sprinkle iced cake with maple sugar.

Share/Save

Attention to all men reading this!
We all have been in the doghouse a time or two & believe me from experience,
it is no fun at all. Most often we do not even know what we have done that
causes this circumstance of predicaments that we get ourselves into.
Well guys its Valentine’s day is coming up really fast & we all know that means
that 250 dollar pair of hunting boots with our gators & camouflage suit she
gave the dirty nod at when we asked – was going to buy them anyhow- but she
did not put up a fuss when we dragged that big pail of fish across her favorite rug
to show off our catch. Even though she goes with us on most of our adventures we
know that woman has things she likes more than us.
Valentine’s day is one of them, chocolate is number 2 & ranking really high on this list
is scented candles. Yeah I know, I thought this very same thing that you are thinking
right now. I am a guy too so I wouldn’t want something like this but you’re wanting
that new knife you seen last week or that great set of overhead lights for your truck.
Learn from the older guys, this is unique & she will know you were trying.
This time I have it covered too. I purchased a duck boat load of Nestles chocolate
scented candles for this occasion. It is something that you do not see everywhere
& she will be impressed that you took the time to look for something she would like.
http://www.ironcooker.com/content-categories/store_id-2305/cat-452/manufacturer_id-0/product_page-2/categories.html#products
Gals you weren’t supposed to read the first part of this.
But now that you are here, there is a section just for you. All of us guys like
guns, hunting gear & our dogs. But have you ever walked past a knife rack in your
local store with your husband or boyfriend? You ended up shopping alone didn’t you?
We have on special right now two knifes that he will like because they are from you.
I have two knifes that are over 25 years old & have never been used. They are both  on
a shelf where I look at them every day because someone special gave them to me.
We have selected two different Buck knives for this. One is a folding hunter model
http://www.ironcooker.com/content-product_info/product_id-1536/buck_folding_hunter_knife.html
Also for your fisherman we have a great Buck 6 3/8 Inch Fillet Knife
http://www.ironcooker.com/content-product_info/product_id-1557/buck_6_3_8_inch_fillet_knife.html
This is normally where we would end with a recipe after our updated products & news
but this isn’t our normal newsletter. Keep sending in your comments.
Thanks again from all of us at Iron Cooker & Wilderness Outdoors.

Share/Save

We have been changing a lot of things here at Iron Cooker.
You have been writing in asking for things that we haven’t had
listed & we have searched looking for special items to add to our store.
It is input like that from our newsletter members that mean so much to us.
You have been asking for more campfire related items & we have a couple
items to show you that we have added lately that are selling well right away.
We found these items at a discount price that we are able to pass along to our
customers at a price below most other retailers.

First featuring a metal fire ring
http://www.ironcooker.com/content-product_info/product_id-1751/camp_fire_ring.html

black in color with wild animal cutout designs.
Portable  from campsite to backyard.
Heavy construction.

Another item that we are happy to have added to our collection is this enclosed campfire
pit that is constructed of heavy gage steel with a screened top for a safe campfire where
restrictions do not allow open it fire burning,
http://www.ironcooker.com/content-product_info/product_id-1718/24_inch_fire_pit.html
We do have a smaller version that measures 21 inches across & 17 inches high that would
retail for 5 dollars less. This item is not on our website but if it is something you are
interested in we will have it listed in a few days. Or you can call for request on any item
you would like to see if we have in stock.

Today we are looking into traveling adventures. Iron Cooker is going to be traveling to
different places this spring to set up & show various items we have. We hope to see
some of you this spring & summer on our adventures. It is always fun to talk to fellow
campers about their outdoor family adventures. With winter in full swing this is a time
when most of us start wishing we was outside fishing or sitting around a campfire with
our friends again. I for one have that feeling every time that I walk past my Dutch Ovens
& cast iron skillets hanging in my garage waiting for our first campfire cookout.
A new tripod still in its box is sitting in a corner; fire grates & a new campfire grill
are all waiting for spring in my garage.  I do love my old cookware but there is something
about a new tripod & a few new items to try out every year that I cannot resist.

All this talking about cooking has been making me hungry, so we will stop here to post
a recipe that we have found for you.

Dutch Oven Ham and Scalloped Potatoes
by Kathy Jacobs

From scratch Ham and Scalloped Potatoes – Well worth the effort!

Ingredients

• 3 cups sliced potatoes
• 2 cups cubed ham
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups shredded cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation Steps

• Layer potato slices and ham in liner pan. Cover with milk. Sprinkle with salt and pepper (if desired).
• Place liner pan in prepared Dutch Oven. Cook for 30 minutes at 325 to 350 degrees. When done, potato slices should be fork tender.
• Layer shredded cheese on top of potatoes. Leave airspace for cheese to expand into as it melts. Cover and place on heat for at least 5 to 10 minutes to melt cheese. Serve warm.

Recipe Notes

Don’t overload the liner pan. The potatoes and ham should move around some, not be one solid mass. If they are too tightly packed, the dish will take much longer to cook.

Share/Save

In today’s world we have many helpful items that makes taking
a wilderness trip with our families much easier that it was 40 or even
20 years ago. With a phone call & a few clicks on an internet site you
can search to develop a great family camping adventure your whole
family will enjoy. If you are a Civil War enthusiasts you can participate
in a 21^st century treasure hunt and learn about Civil War-related attractions
while visiting the state of Alabama. Visit Civil War attractions by
way of satellite technology.A Great outdoor Family adventure for children,
Or seach for clues hidden in ammunition
canisters & quart jars containing  holding trivia clues at Young Harris, Georgia,
One must not forget that one of the best part of camping is a campfire.
What better way is there to start off camping season than with a good old
Dutch oven cook off. You will want to be involved when these big kettles
full of everything from baked beans, chili or Dutch oven apple pie.
You will see every shape & kind imaginable from  large to small
preseason cast iron cookware or Enamel coated Dutch ovens.
Everyone has a preference they prefer when It comes to a Dutch oven
cook-off . This is an event that you want to be sure not to miss out on.
Be sure to bring your cast Iron Dutch oven or Seasoned cast iron frying pan too !
Springtime is a great time of year for a outdoor family adventure!
If you want that special touch that sets you apart from everyone
else at this event, be sure to bring your farm all cast iron tractor seat stool.
You will be amazed how many people will ask you where did you get that
& where can we find that stool. 

Share/Save

Over years of research, looking at one person’s opinion compared to another’s  will confuse
a local hunter into thinking everyone is crazy when it comes to talking about Deer management.
There are some hard facts about this matter with some very good research but your not going to
convince everyone with facts that happen in one area. Every situation is different & every area has
its own habitat problems that make everything change for a specific area & time.
White-tailed deer are prolific breeders. That means they have the potential to reproduce & grow
local deer populations quickly within a few years time. Most whitetail does will give birth
to twin fawns each year after their first birth, when they usually have just a single fawn at first.
One of the biggest deer management issues both suburban & rural continues to be deer
overpopulation resulting in degradation of their habitat. One would think because of this that deer are in
large numbers everywhere, but the fact is they are not.

Predator control is also a big issue that many hunters believe is a big
problem with decreasing deer herds. With increasing coyote population we have
to look at issues such as how many deer are actually killed by coyotes & what
other predators have also added to this dwindling deer population in an area.
Sometimes there will be barren does, ones that never do produce fawns.
All of these are factors that have to be considered in a good deer management area.
We have always left this area open for your opinions & comments. Let us hear your thoughts
ideas on deer management. What do you think about the wolves & coyotes we are now seeing in our woods taking down big bucks
Let’s open this up for everyone good or bad comments we want to hear how you feel.

Share/Save

With a new year there are many different tricks & ideas that all kinds of companies
will try to push off on customers. Raising prices & giving free shipping or discounting
an item so low it looks like free, then charging a service charge that is added to shipping cost.

At Iron Cooker we here to make a profit, we are not going to stand in front of customers and lie
about it or try some tricks to make them think that they are getting a deal of a lifetime.
Rest assured that every sale that was made in 2011 has went across our owner’s desk
to be approved.  Any refunds or request from customers were directly handled by him.
At Iron Cooker we want to thank each and every one of you for being our customers & also
to thank you for a great year. If there is ever a comment on anything you would like to ask, please don’t hesitate to write us.

 For those of you that have purchased our farm-all cast iron tractor seats. Over a hundred of them sold in December. For this reason alone we are keeping our new shipment that should arrive in a few weeks at this same lower price.  We have 50 left in stock right now. Like I have said earlier, If you want a set of these buy them soon because it will be at least a month before our new shipment is in.

New Products we have added.

http://www.ironcooker.com/content-product_info/product_id-1741/7_1_2_inch_electric_food_slicer.html

http://www.ironcooker.com/content-product_info/product_id-1742/_22_bolt_down_meat_grinder.html

http://www.ironcooker.com/content-product_info/product_id-1749/pumpkin_vanilla_cast_iron_skillet_candle.html

http://www.ironcooker.com/content-product_info/product_id-1747/navy_blue_round_dutch_oven_4_qt.html

Winter time is always a great time of year for stew, gumbo & other
home cooked meals that bring back smells of grandma’s kitchen.

We will leave you with a Mexican beef stew recipe for this occasion.

–

http://www.ironcooker.com

Share/Save

There are many different recipes for great tasting Dutch oven chicken that
we could go on for days talking about our grandmother’s best chicken.
Fact is that there is just something about a good cast iron Dutch oven when it
comes to making a deep dish pot of chicken stew or a good chicken pie.

A Dutch oven is something you can create your own recipe with because there
is no define recipe when it comes to Dutch oven cooking. 
Put a good cut of chicken with vegetables & a cup of wine or two in your cast iron
cookware for a great Dutch oven chicken meal you will enjoy tonight.
Not only great tasting but it will smell up your home like your grandmother’s
house smelled all those years ago.

There are many resources when picking out your cast iron cookware along with
many different brands & styles to choose from. If you’re cooking over an open fire
you will want a good selection of preseason cast iron cookware for easy non
stick cooking on your camping trip. Most of us prefer a fancy look in our own kitchens
& select an enamel coated pan that can be selected in many different styles of skillets
roasting pans or Dutch ovens. Today there is a choice of ceramic enamel aluminum
cookware that offers a look of enamel while being much lighter to handle.

One of our favorite recipes to share around our campfire is this recipe.

Chicken & Dumplin’s Recipe

Ingredients

1 LB Boneless Chicken Tenders
1/2 Bag Carrots
1 Large Onion
6 Stalks of Celery
6 Medium Sized Potatoes
1 TSP oil
2 Cans Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Can Biscuits or Mix up 2 cups of Bisquik Mix

Equipment

Dutch Oven
Spoon for Stirring & Serving
Knife
Instructions

Cut up Chicken, Carrots, Onions, Celery.
Place Dutch oven on coals, add oil then Chicken. Cook until slightly browned. Add Onion, Celery, Carrots and Potatoes and cup of water. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Add 2 cans of Cream of Chicken Soup and water to the consistancy of gravy. Cover and simmer an additional 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add bisquits to top of mixture, cook covered 20 – 25 minutes. Bisquik dropped by spoonfuls can be used in place of bisquits.

Share/Save

When you think of a campfire one of the first thoughts that come to mind is probably one of marshmallows
on a stick waiting to be smashed between two gram crackers.
Camping & S’mores go together almost as much as hot dogs & ketchup when it comes to camping.
Anyone that does not think so can just look at any kids face on your next camping trip when you
bring out a big bag of marshmallows, a roasting fork & that box of gram crackers.

This is something dates back as far as 1927 where it was published in a girl scout cookbook describing a
campfire dessert consisting of a graham cracker sandwich filled with toasted marshmallow and melted chocolate.

This is something that sets off a great bonfire. Even adult kids enjoy burning a marshmallow
or two over a flaming campfire on a great summer night.
As we all know its wintertime now & we are mostly stuck inside with these cold winds blowing outside.
With our cast iron skillets & pans having to be put in our ovens & stove tops until this storm lets up
enough to get outside to our back yard fire pit again.

Something new for this year that puts a unique twist to our camping & S’mores ideas is something you will find very tasty are
these S’more Cupcakes that we have been reading about at with a great marshmallow frosting.
Something we recommend everyone that has a sweet tooth to try these great party snacks or desert cupcakes.

Share/Save