Dutch Oven Bread - Cheryl Style

Have you ever had a day - where you need to clean, but will do anything to avoid it. Well, today is that day. So why not blog about it.

I don't mind cleaning - I love to move furniture around. But, unpacking boxes, and finding places for all of the other stuff is just discouraging. I think --- can't I just get one of those closet make-overs, and put everything in it's place., and, throw away the junk?

Then I remind myself, I need some of this stuff.

What item or pan can't I live without?

That would be my cast iron pan, the medium one, maybe the dutch oven, which is wonderful, or the small egg pan. If I only had a few pans, It would be my large stock pot, medium and small cast iron. Then if allowed another pan - my cast iron Dutch Oven.

My Grandfather was a sheepherder and he had cast iron only. They, of course, wear like iron. (Duh)

Everyone is so afraid of treating them. The new cast iron are already seasoned and all you need to do spray with oil and use. You can use them on the Stove, in the oven, or over a fire while camping. Great Items to have.

To clean all you need to do is wash with soapy water and a brush. With any stuck on mess boil it off (with water), and wash with soapy water and a brush.

Making sure you rinse well. THIS IS IMPORTANT.

Then, put back onto the stove, and burn all the moisture off -- yes if you just hand dry it, it will rust. DO NOT PUT IN THE DISHWASHER !!!!

Then spray with Pam. You can then wipe the Pam off, if the pan isn't used within a few days.

What do I cook in my cast iron? Everything. Meats, eggs, vegetables, breads, desserts, etc.

Oh- if you have lack of iron issues, using a cast iron will increase your intake, and help resolve that issue.

My favorite recipe to cook in my cast iron --- Cheryl Cardon's Bread. Yes, it is in the Dutch oven cast iron. But, it is wonderful

CHERYL'S BREAD - Cheryl Cardon

3 cups very hot tap water 1/2-cup butter
1/2 cup sugar 2 1/2 tsp. salt
2 pkgs. Yeast 9 1/2 cup Flour


In large bowl combine hot water, butter, sugar and salt. Stir until butter is melted. Stir in yeast, let set 15 min. until bubbly.

Beat in abt. 5 cups of flour to make a thick batter.

Stir in the rest of the flour. Mix until completly kneaded. (I do this with my mixer) Place in greased bowl.

Turn over to grease top.

Cover and let rise until double, abt. 1 1/2 hours.

Punch down.

Grease the inside of the Dutch Oven, place a sheet of foil, cut to fit inside the bottom of the Dutch Oven and grease it also. (If I am in a hurry, I heat the dutch oven up a little bit to aid in the rising process)

Grease the lid. Let rise until the dough pushes up the lid by abt. 1/2 inch.

Bake covered in 375 Degree for 12 min.

Remove lid and continue to bake until loaf is golden brown. 30-35 min.

Remove bread from oven and turn out to a rack. Slice.

This is truly wonderful --- Happy Finding new places for good stuff.