Roger Rankin
Dutch Oven Cooking Instructor
I have enjoyed Dutch Oven cooking since my first experience in cooking with one. We took our first 12" cast iron Dutch Oven on a summer trip to Alaska. We had a handful of recipes and as we were successful in cooking each one I became intrigued by the whole process. It has become a lifelong hobby for me. A few years later, and after cooking many things in our Dutch Ovens, we added a 10" and 14" cast iron Dutch Ovens. I applied for a job as a white water guide/boatman for a company who offered week long trips on the rivers of central Idaho. The first question was "what rivers have you ran." The second question was "do you cook in Dutch Ovens". I responded "yes". I was hired and I believe the Dutch Oven cooking experiences I shared with them secured the job.
MY EXPERIENCE
As a high school teacher and a Professor of Education I have followed one premise. Learning takes place in an environment where students can benchmark their success as I provide instruction. I encourage students to feel comfortable in asking any question they have when they want an answer. I look forward to sharing my experiences in Dutch Oven cooking with my students
I have cooked many dishes from desserts to dinners in both cast iron and aluminum Dutch Ovens. I have enjoyed cooking any recipe I have come across and have learned any recipe can be attempted and most turn out successful. I have found recipes in conversations with river guides and other “cookers”. In any cookbook from Dutch Oven cookbooks, online recipes and cookbooks like the Colorado Cache and the Boise Jr. League cookbooks. I want to reinforce the idea that discovery in cooking in a Dutch Oven builds confidence. And, you can be successful creating your own Dutch Oven recipes. I look forward to sharing recipes and guiding students to cooking successful dishes. My approach is a “blue color” approach where we focus on what really works in areas like charcoal Dutch Oven cooking to knowing when a dish is ready to be served.
My experiences include Dutch Oven appetizers, breads and biscuits, breakfast and dinner recipes as well as desserts. Lets all enjoy the beauty of Dutch Oven cooking from the standpoint of cooking in your oven at home and in the wilderness. I will cover the tools you need and their use.
