Anyone that has ever had a power outage for a long period knows how handy your outdoor grill can be. You don't need to have a power outage to bake on your grill. If you know any Boy Scouts,they can teach you how to bake a cake over an open fire pit with a traditional dutch oven with a flanged lid. But you can bake anything you want on your grill anytime.
A charcoal grill is ok to use but a gas grill is more efficient for baking,especially one with a good thermostat. With gas you have a more constant & even cooking temperature because you won't have to lift the lid to add more charcoal.
Baking outside also makes for a cooler house or camper in the summertime while still being able to enjoy fresh baked goods. You will definitely be the envy of the campground or the tailgate party when you pull dessert out of your grill.
Cast iron cookware is great to use,like a nice dutch oven, but you can use regular metal loaf or cake pans. You can also use aluminum pans in a pinch which every good tailgater has on hand anyway.
Think about it. You can go out camping for the strawberry festival, pick strawberries in the morning and bake nice fresh shortcakes for dessert at the pot luck dinner that night. You can even bake a blueberry pie in your grill. You just need a few extra ingredients that your tailgate bin might not normally have.
Filling:
1 cup sugar
5 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
4 cups of fresh blueberries
You need 1 pre-made pie crust & a 9" metal pie pan or bring a pre-made set up from the grocery store.
Topping:
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter,chilled.
In a mixing bowl combine the sugar,flour,cinnamon & the blueberries. If you don't have a pre-made set up from the store,place your pre-made pie crust into your 9" metal pie pan. Crimp the edges & pour the berry mixture into the pie shell. (For a less runny pie, cut the amount of sugar in the pie filling in half.)
In another bowl mix the topping. Combine flour & sugar. Mix well. Cut in the chilled butter to make a course crumb mix. Sprinkle crumbs over the berry filling.
Preheat the grill to 425 degrees. Place pie on the upper cooking surface of the grill and close the lid. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes. To keep the crust from getting too brown,wrap an inch wide strip of foil around the edge of the crust & then remove the foil 15 minutes before the pie comes out of the grill. When done, remove the pie from the grill and let it cool before serving. Serve with fresh whipped cream or if you have a trailer with a freezer,some vanilla ice cream. This will definitely show up the people tailgating next to you!
So really, you can bake anything you want on your grill. Just one simple reminder. Always have extra propane!
