Still Feel Green

Submitted: Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:07

ThreadID: 37403 Views:3090 Replies:12 FollowUps:16

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TheBestHalf

Hi everyone, please call me Bron!! I am new to this site however have spent the better part of the last two days stuck to my laptop reading through discussion after discussion.

My husband and I have three ruggies and last Christmas spent 10 days on Double Island Point as our VERY FIRST camping expedition!!! I must admit that it was with great trepidation that I did this stint as I am not good with feeling "hemmed in", IYKWIM.

We did spend it with other members of my family who are seasoned campers and had all the mod cons with them - seriously!! Without their emotional support, I am not sure I would have made it. Drop Dunnies, flies you could saddle - by the end of the trip I was happy to let them land on me so I could whack'em, goannas....the upside, beautiful weather, fresh air, no phones, no computers, quality time with the kidlets and other half, no time frames apart from beach driving.

However I have since got the bug for camping and we have gathered quite a bit of stuff to go solo as a family.

I even bought "A womans look at camping" to show dear heart how serious I was - and I can never get my hands on it cause he is always reading it!!!

We bought a cast iron camp oven and thought we had seasoned it properly - although I am not entirely convinved - however he made a beautiful damper in it yesterday and also cooked his own fathers day dinner which was beef and red wine casserole.

I think I have mucked it all up again by giving it a good clean in hot soapy water after soaking most of the yuck off it, but now am not sure what I need to do to reseason it!!

Please if someone could give me simple step by step instructions to do this and also how to maintain it that would be awesome!!

I would also like to "meet" all you partners and wifeys who are active on the boards for some good ideas and moral support!! And can someone clue me in to what the lingo for that is SWMBO or something?

I need to peel myself off this seat now and get some real work done, but want to highly commend this site, it is awesome!!

I wait with anticipation!!!

Bron

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Reply By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:37

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:37

Welcome aboard Bron.....

Search through the topic search (on the left) under Cooking and then select the Forum Threads area for "camp ovens" (286 threads at the moment) and you should gain a wealth of info about how to treat it properly. Just a quick search produced this link (about the 12th one down from memory):

Site Link

hope that helps....don't forget to ask if you have troubles :-)

Andrew

AnswerID: 192630

Follow Up By: TheBestHalf - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:35

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:35

Andrew, you are a star....that is a great help and very reassuring to know that I haven't really done anything wrong.

After posting I rinsed it all out and dried it off and gave it a good spray with olive oil anyway.

I think I will seriously go and look at getting another smaller pot and a proper recipe book to trial a few more recipes.

Did I read somewhere on here that there is an actual recipe book someone has done up?

Would love it emailed to me if anyone has it!

FollowupID: 450491

Follow Up By: TheBestHalf - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:37

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:37

should probably put an email addy in there

bronanddarren@aapt.net.au

FollowupID: 450493

Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:39

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:39

sorry i can't help you with that one......others may though.

Andrew

FollowupID: 450495

Reply By: Footloose - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:54

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:54

Hi Bron, SWMBO. She Who Must Be Obeyed. :))

AnswerID: 192635

Follow Up By: TheBestHalf - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:33

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:33

Mmm...yes, I like that, I like it alot!! Can't wait to update the other half to that one!

Bron

FollowupID: 450490

Follow Up By: Footloose - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:00

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:00

Oh oh ! :))

FollowupID: 450498

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:43

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:43

you mongrel footloose......:))))

FollowupID: 450515

Reply By: Old Scalyback & denny - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:17

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:17

goodday bron
after washing out with hot soapy water just wipe dry with a paper towel then wipe out with cooking oil and paper towel just enough oil to coat it not to much

steve

AnswerID: 192643

Reply By: Muddy doe (SA) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:59

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:59

Hi Bron

Welcome and it's good you are getting out there in the wild.......lol

By the sounds of it you may not have done any damage to the oven. If it does get rusty looking later simply place it in the fire as instructions below and when all done coat with oil.

After cooking in future it's best to just sit it over or near a fire and let the heated water take the grime off while you sit back with the family and a glass of your favourite drink. You may have to give it one or two more boils more depending on the grime factor. When you think it is clean, wipe out with papertowels and then liberally coat with pure olive oil or alike (I use Olive Oil). I do the lid the same way. I have never had a rust spot or taken the "seasoned" look away from my camp oven, yet!

There are some great camp oven cookbooks around, here is some websites you may want to look at as well as on this website, as previously mentioned.

http://www.guidebooks.com.au/cookbook.htmat
Site Link
www.wollondillyriverstation.com/id14.html

Cya
:)

AnswerID: 192650

Follow Up By: Muddy doe (SA) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:10

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:10

Hi Bron

Forgot to mention, the Ron and Viv Moon books (you can buy here or at any good book shop) are excellent reading.
When you get more confident with 4WDing and want to do more extensive trips as a family, you will enjoy the information gained from these books.

Cya
:)

P.S. No Affliation with anyone or anything, just another happy camper!

FollowupID: 450502

Reply By: cackles - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:07

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:07

Hi Bron,

Welcome, I'm the "other half" too and there are others here so don't be shy.

I have Viv Moons "outdoor cookbook" It's in the EO shop and it's great, goes through all aspects of being the camp cook, I highly recommend it.

My best piece of advice to ladies who are new to camping is to pack wet wipes, they really do come in handy.
The other advice I offer is that the boys do the washing up at camp, he he he.

I have to ask, what does IYKWIM stand for?

Cackles

AnswerID: 192653

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:46

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:46

IITYWIMWYBMAD....?

FollowupID: 450516

Follow Up By: TheBestHalf - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:47

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:47

Hi Cackles, lovely to "meet" you....IYKWIM stands for if you know what I mean..

Thanks everyone for you top tips...I really DO/MUST leave this thing and go to work!!

Will check back in later tonight no doubt for more interesting reading.

Cheers,
Bron

FollowupID: 450517

Follow Up By: TheBestHalf - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:48

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:48

ummm, would love to see that one unravelled...maybe :)

FollowupID: 450518

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:48

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:48

bugga..... you have gone and told him

FollowupID: 450519

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:51

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:51

if i tell ya what it means will you buy me a drink :)

FollowupID: 450520

Follow Up By: cackles - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 15:02

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 15:02

Isn't it illegal to give alcohol to babies?

FollowupID: 450544

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 15:50

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 15:50

bugga...lol.....

FollowupID: 450556

Follow Up By: Member - Duncs - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 20:13

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 20:13

Member No 1

I thought Willem shot the cat....................

Duncs

FollowupID: 450617

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 07:40

Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 07:40

him too :)...but at least i dont do it in the kitchen

FollowupID: 450699

Reply By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 16:59

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 16:59

Welcome,

I think you will get the camp oven sorted pretty easily.

Recipes - good idea. We are a one pot family, using a big deep fry pan or the camp oven.
Getting the coals right was the hardest thing we found.

First time doing a roast chicken, it was cooked in 20 minutes. Wings were charcoal :-).

A lesser half, who likes to cook, but doesn't get much of a chance :o)

AnswerID: 192726

Reply By: Scottx - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 20:25

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 20:25

G'day there
A useful tip given to me once is that when you store the camp oven you can fold (twist) up a piece of paper towel and put it under the lid so that the lid has a small gap allowing air to circulate.

Hope you enjoy yourself trying new recipes in the camp oven. I try something new each time we go out. The most popular with the boys ( after they stopped giving me a hard time for cooking cakes) was a lemon cake. $2 packet mix from the shops, didn't tell my mates though. Now they think I'm real clever

Cheers Scott

AnswerID: 192785

Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 00:26

Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 00:26

Hi Bron, welcome to ExplorOz and congradulations on your "jump" into camping.

As you have now experienced, camping is anything but "hemmed in".

As you experiment more you may go the way of "all mod cons" or "less is better" style of camping. Well it doesn't matter which you choose, as long as you get out there and experience the joys that camping can bring. It is truly the best way of keeping the family unit close together whilst living an "alternate" lifestyle, especially when the ruggies are young.

Good luck and enjoy the experience.

Bill

I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

AnswerID: 192853

Reply By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 07:11

Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 07:11

Hi Bron.... and welcome to the fold!
We use our camp oven at home quite a lot..... roasts cooked under the hood of the BBQ taste much much better than from the Simpson Oven. Thommo also has a camp oven book out which has some great recipes in it.

Cheers

Brian

AnswerID: 192866

Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 07:58

Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 07:58

Hey Bron, I am sure you will get to feel comfortable about the camping and camp ovens the more you use the skills you learn each time. I know some who continually clean their camp ovens with detergent and oil them after every use, but really there is no need. Muddy Doe gets the story right. Fatty roasts are a good way after the first priming with cooking oil, rather than stews.

I think there are lots here that have trouble peeling away from the screen, but welcome aboard.

AnswerID: 192872

Reply By: Member - Brian H (QLD) - Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 08:26

Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 08:26

You will not regret being out camping with the kids, I've been camping and fishing with mine since they were two and they have loved it and still do.

As for the oven she be right so to speak, let the fire do most of the cleaning and just spray olive oil on it and wipe it out leaving a coat of thin oil. I take a spray can of olive oil just for the oven.

I have plenty of tips for camping although I figure the best is .......... keep it simple, and pack light ... don't complicate camping. The only advise I can give to sort the oven out is boil some water in it say an inch in the bottom may need to be done a couple of times then re season it. I seasoned mine by firing up the home oven and letting it stand in there till really hot. Take out let stand then wipe out with olive oil and put back in oven and repeat above. Once this is done should be fine. As someone said check out the cooking area and look for camp ovens there are heaps of info there.

The fun will be finding what works for you and your family after a few trips you will notice things you don't use.

Have fun and may see your clan out and about.

The best half, she who MUST be obeyed, Minister of WAR, Leader of the opposition, the other half :)

Brian

AnswerID: 192878

Reply By: Member - BBB - Wednesday, Sep 06, 2006 at 06:40

Wednesday, Sep 06, 2006 at 06:40

Bron

Welcome aboard the Millmerran Camp Oven Festival on the 7th and 8th of October is a great week end and you will get to meet alot of the Exploroz members go to trips and gathering you may be interested.

Welcome

BBB

AnswerID: 193065

Back Moderator

Still Feel Green

TheBestHalf

Reply By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:37

Follow Up By: TheBestHalf - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:35

Follow Up By: TheBestHalf - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:37

Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:39

Reply By: Footloose - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:54

Follow Up By: TheBestHalf - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:33

Follow Up By: Footloose - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:00

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:43

Reply By: Old Scalyback & denny - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:17

Reply By: Muddy doe (SA) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:59

Follow Up By: Muddy doe (SA) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:10

Reply By: cackles - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:07

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:46

Follow Up By: TheBestHalf - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:47

Follow Up By: TheBestHalf - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:48

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:48

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 13:51

Follow Up By: cackles - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 15:02

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 15:50

Follow Up By: Member - Duncs - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 20:13

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 07:40

Reply By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 16:59

Reply By: Scottx - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 20:25

Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 00:26

Reply By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 07:11

Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 07:58

Reply By: Member - Brian H (QLD) - Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 08:26

Reply By: Member - BBB - Wednesday, Sep 06, 2006 at 06:40

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