Chuck Wagon Cooking Family Style
Chuck Wagon Chili
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons butter, unsalted
1 pound ground hamburger, 80/20/Tempered
2 yellow onions, peeled and minced
1 green bell pepper, peeled and small diced
5 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
4 guajillo peppers, seeded (submerge the dried chiles in boiling water. Drain and purée.
2 Tablespoons toasted cumin seed
1 tsp dried Mexican oregano
1 heaping Tablespoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 Tablespoon chipotles in adobo, minced
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
1 Tablespoon tomato paste
2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
1 cup canned kidney beans, drained
2 cups canned great northern white beans, drained
1 cup canned pinto beans, drained
1 cup sour cream
Kosher salt
Ground black pepper
Method:
Heat a large campfire skillet to medium-high heat.
Melt butter and brown meat for 8 to 10-minutes. Scrape bottom add onions and bell pepper. Cook 5-minutes. Add garlic and guajillo peppers. Cook an extra 2-minutes.
Add all spices and chipotles in adobo. Reduce heat to medium. Cook spices 1 to 2-minutes. Add tomato paste and cook an extra 1-minute.
Add crushed tomatoes and beans. Reduce to a simmer and cook 15-minutes. Scrape bottom of pan with a wooden spoon.
Stir in sour cream last minute. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve the chili on corn bread.
Tips:
1. Toast the cumin. How-to: Buy cumin seeds. Grind in spice grinder. Place in med-high pan and toast until fragrant. Don't burn. Toast entire jar and save for future.
Chuck Wagon Cornbread
Ingredients:
5 quart Dutch oven with legs
1.25 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal - Albers
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup sugar
1 cup whole milk - room temp
1 egg - room temp
1/2 cup unsalted butter - melted - not hot
1 tsp kosher salt
Butter as needed, softened
Cooking spray - flour for dusting
Method:
Coat the Dutch oven thoroughly with cooking spray and flour.
Preheat the Dutch oven on the stove at medium for half hour. With, lid on. Lift lid and monitor for smoke.
Mix the dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls. Then, combine. Don't over mix.
Pour batter into the hot Dutch oven.
Cook for 30 minutes with lid on then check to see if sides have pulled away. Monitor.
Reset timer for 10 minutes. Continue to monitor.
Use a toothpick to check for doneness.
Remove from stove, spread with butter and let cool.
Tips:
The ridges on the inside lid of the Dutch oven give the cornbread moisture. And it helps the top cook. If done outdoors, you will need coals on top of lid, too.
Recipe created for outdoor cooking.
Recipe done on an electric flat top.
Caution: Direct heat will burn. You must have a pot with legs. Or a trivet for outdoors.
Chuck Wagon Coffee
Ingredients:
Tin coffee pot
6 scoops of you favorite ground coffee
6 cups of fresh water
Method:
Bring water to medium heat.
Add coffee and stir
Bring to a boil.
Boil for about 15 minutes
Remove from heat
Add 5 tablespoons of cold water. This causes the grounds to settle to the bottom.
Tips:
1. Don't add coffee grounds to boiling water. This causes coffee to foam and spill over the top.
Chuck Wagon Sloppy Joes
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons butter, unsalted
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef, 80/20/Tempered
1 yellow onion, peeled and minced
2 stalks celery, small diced
6 cups Heinz ketchup - more as needed
Kosher salt to taste
Cracked black pepper
Yellow American Cheese
Large Brioche Buns
Method:
Heat a large dutch oven to medium-high heat. Add butter and oil. Caramelize hamburger 10-minutes, stir often. Push burger to the side. Add onion celery. Cook 5 more minutes. See Tip Below!
Add ketchup and reduce heat to medium-low. Scrape bottom often with a wooden spoon. Cook 15-minutes to reduce.
Season with salt and pepper. Serve Sloppy Joe's on toasted brioche buns with melted American cheese.
Tips:
1. Hit sizzling hot pan with room temper hamburger. Let it sear a few moments. Then, stir and crumble. This initial sear causes brown bits. This is your flavor.
2. No substitutions on ketchup. Heinz reduces to a thick rich caramelized sauce.
3. Add more ketchup mid-way if needed.
4. Salt, pepper and taste as you go.
5. Never put cold or cool protein into a hot pan. It will never sear. Remove proteins from refrigerator about 1/2 hour before cooking.
Chuck Wagon S'mores Fondue
Ingredients:
1 quart heavy cream
4 cups dark chocolate, chopped, room temperature
2 cups marshmallow fluff
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3 cups a graham crackers, Crushed
Skewers and marshmallows to dip
Methond:
Heat a large Dutch oven with the cream to medium heat until the cream simmers.
Whisk in the chocolate, marshmallow fluff peanut butter and kosher salt. Whisk until smooth.
Top with the crushed graham crackers. Dip the marshmallows in the fondue.
Tips:
Create family style themes for all your gatherings. Bring everyone together and create memories. Make your home the holiday destination.
1. Make your dishes in a 5 quart cast iron dutch oven
2. Serve your guests family style. Dress a large family size table.
3. Lay trivets down the middle of the table.
4. Place your dutch ovens on the trivets.
5. Allow guests to plate.
6. Cast Iron stays hot.
7. Hobby Lobby is a great place to find items to fit your theme. They have great sales.
8. Dutch ovens are perfect for make ahead meals. Or, day of meals.
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