I've been reading a lot of historical cookbooks lately and wanted to give a go to open fire cooking, after all sometimes the only way to understand a skill is to give it a try yourself. So on our recent Getaway glamping trip I decided to bring along my trusty cast iron skillet to give to use a mix of modern foods and techniques. 

Here's what I learned: 

 1- Preparation is Key - 'Mise en place' is a French culinary phrase/food preparation technique where everything is cleaned, peeled, chopped, prepped and placed in an easily accessible spot BEFORE starting to cook. I've used for years and it was super helpful since I had to spend time watching & tending the fire.

 2- Thank God for modern cookstoves! - While it was fun to cook over an open fire; maintaining it and cooking over it at the same time is definitely time consuming but a good skill, I'm just glad to get to do it for fun. 

3- Patience is a virtue - There is a lot of time & patience involved in cooking in general but it's a whole other level over an open fire. Rushing things will not get you what you want, slow down and enjoy the time!

 Here's my recipe:

Spanish Rice w/ Sausage Skillet

By Emily (Cooking for Kishore)

This Spanish Rice with Sausage Skillet is a hearty, flavorful & delicious meal! While I cooked it over an open fire which added a great smoky flavor; it can very easily be done on your stovetop - just add a pinch of smoked sweet paprika for campfire flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Yellow Onion, chopped
• 1 cup Tomato, chopped
• 1 cup Cilantro, chopped
• 1 15 oz Can of Black Beans, drained
• 1 cup Andouille Sausage, precooked & sliced
• 1.5 cups Water, Boiling
• 1 package Earthly Grains Spanish Rice
• 1 TBSP Vegetable Oil
• 1 tsp Smoked Sweet Paprika, optional
• Salt & Pepper to Taste

Instructions

1. Preheat the cast iron skillet with a little vegetable oil over the fire till medium hot. Boil the water.
2. Add the chopped onions and cook till they get fragrant and translucent, then add the tomato, black beans, sausage and half the cilantro. Stir and heat through.
3. Next add the boiling water stir and add Spanish Rice, mix well and cover.
4. Let cook for 10-15 minutes, checking & stirring periodically. When rice is fully cooked, take off the fire, stir in remaining cilantro, salt & pepper to taste.
5. Serve with salad on the side. Enjoy!

Yield: 2-4 Servings
Prep Time: 10 mins. Cook time: 15 mins. Total time: 25 mins.
Tags: Spanish Rice w/ Sausage Skillet Recipe,spanish rice & sausage recipe,campfire cooking recipe,open fire skillet recipe,spanish rice recipe,campfire cooking,american cuisine

Nutrition

Calories: 498 per serving