Seasoning a Dutch Oven

One thing my Dad recommended I do was to season my Dutch Oven. After cleaning it thoroughly with hot water and soap, you take vegetable oil and rub (or spray) it all over the Dutch Oven, even on the outside, and then bake it. I baked mine for about an hour. Here's what it looked like afterwards:

According to this Dutch Oven website (which I found useful for seasoning), this serves two purposes:

1. To form a barrier between moisture in the air and the surface of the metal (prevents rusting).
2. To provide a nonstick coating on the inside of the oven.

I really like the dark, black, shiny look. It makes it look cool.

Blackberry-Raspberry Dutch Oven Cobbler

I'm new to the Dutch Oven world. Well, I should say, as a 'chef'. I've been around Dutch Oven cooking for as long as I can remember, and I've eaten many meals cooked by my Dad, Grandpa, and uncle, all Dutch Oven chefs. So I'm new to cooking with a Dutch Oven. In fact, I'm new to any type of cooking. Sure, I've flipped a pancake or two in the past, made Top Ramen, and buttered my own toast, but seriously that's about it. Even while on my mission, that was the extent of it.

This summer I gained an increased interest in cooking with the Dutch Oven. My Dad bought me a 12-inch deep Dutch Oven for my birthday (thanks Dad!), and I'm starting to learn. I first tried making 'Pioneer Bread', and it turned out...a little on the bland side. We ate the entire loaf though, so I considered it a success. Next I tried a cobbler. My Dad usually makes Peach Cobbler, which is really good, but for some reason that day I wasn't in the mood for peaches, so I bought a can of blackberries and a can of raspberries to use, and Spice cake for the cake portion. Here's the result:

It honestly turned out OK. I've definitely had better though :). I mixed the cake mix according to the instructions on the box and I think next time I'm just going to pour the mix on top of the fruit instead and pour a can of soda on top (my Mom's recommendation). Also, I think the fruit was 'weak'. I remember with my Dad's cobbler there being a lot more fruit. I think this is due to the fact of the berries being so small. I think I'll try peaches next time :). Anyway, it was fun to make and I have some better ideas for next time. I sure do have a lot to learn!