here's another of my fav's...
First, go
HERE and get a Potjie. These pots are special as they have long legs to elevate the pot over a fire.
Next, pack along a couple bags of dried beans (lima, northern, any largish beans...lentils and navy beans don't work too well, they end up soupy)
1 large vidalia per bag of beans
some molasses
a hunk of salt pork
any embelishments (sp) you desire...i bring a baggie with some garlic powder, black pepper, red pepper, bay leaves and some brown sugar.
when you get to your camping spot, IMMEDIATELY get someone busy with a shovel. You need a hole about 2 feet wide, and deep enough to take the potjie, plus about 4-6 inches.
as soon as the hole is done, start a rip roaring blazing fire in there and keep feeding it. you want about 6-10 inches of good red coals in the bottom of the pit when you are done.
while the fire is going, sort the beans (make sure there are no stones), and add them to the potjie with all the other ingredients. Leave the salt pork in 2 or 3 large chunks, don't cut it down any more than this, and don't get too crazy with the molasses. I use a small jar (12 oz MAX) for a 2 gallon potjie and 3 bags of beans. poor water over the beans and stuff until you have about 2 inches of water over the beans.
Your fire should be down to coals now, place the potjie over the coals and now take all that dirt you took out of the hole, and put it back in. cover the potjie completely. make sure to leave the carry handle sticking out of the ground, and make sure you have enough room to put a small branch thru it. You and a buddy are going to lift the pot out tomorrow about 20 hours later by lifting up on the branch. The beans will be cooked to PERFECTION.
I don't know the origin of this recipe but i've heard it called cowboy beans too...so it very well could have come from the old west. The secret is the Potjie. A regular dutch oven just don't do the trick. my potjie will work for about 5-8 HUNGRY people. figure on about 2 cups of cooked beans per person.
a great side dish for this is camp bread...see the next post.