Dutch oven cooking makes a tasty day at Arrow Rock

Two black tables were surrounded by people talking, laughing and waiting for lunch to be ready. On the tables were a number of black, cast iron Dutch ovens, with glowing red coals dusted in white ash locking heat in from the top while also roasting the pot from the bottom.

When the wind shifted direction, a hint of roast chicken with celery and green beans and potatoes teased at the nose.

George Smith, of Kansas City, said he wasn't aware of the Dutch Oven class when he reserved his campsite for the weekend, but he is a fan of the oven.

"We camped in Tennessee a few years ago," he started explaining. "A few miles short of the campground, we stopped at a farm stand and bought fresh beans and new potatoes. When we got set up, I threw those beans and potatoes in the oven and got it cooking. They were so good."

As his description of the bean's flavor, you could almost see mouths watering around the tables laden with cooking food.

Brian Flowers called all 27 participants over to prepare batter for cakes. They mixed up three cake mixes and stage packages of caramel and chocolate chips. About two-thirds of the batter was poured into an aluminum foil pan and placed in waiting Dutch ovens.

Fresh coals were placed under the dessert cookers and piled on the lids.

Meanwhile, 3-year-old Madison Huke wrapped her hotdog in a biscuit and dropped it on a piece of foil being used to prepare food at the kid's cooking fire.

"I'm here with Grandma and Grandpa," she said, before running down the hill to Dutch oven area to give her dad, Joe Huke, a hug.

The Huke family came out to Arrow Rock from Smithville for the holiday weekend and found the Dutch oven event to be a bonus, Joe said.

With the kids' lunch complete and the archery finished, the kids rejoined their families at the picnic tables near the Dutch ovens.

Lids were lift and slightly browned roasted chicken met the eyes. The smell once again teased the participants and at least two people walking by stopped to see what was going on.

Flowers is an outdoor specialist with the Missouri Department of Conservation. He presents occasional classes on Dutch oven cooking and other areas of outdoor interest. For this class, Flowers brought pots and tables and a plethora of helpful tips.

When he announced that the food was cooked and it was time to eat, it was like an example of Pavlov's famous dog experiment: saliva flowed and the conversation dimmed a bit -- then ended as perfectly cooked chicken replaced words in the diner's mouths.

Except for Madison.

She went from saying, "That's yucky," as they sat to eat to saying, "Can I have more?"

In wanting more, she wasn't alone.