The notion of “outdoor cooking,“ either on a camping trip or in your backyard, often conjures up images of a hot dog speared on a stick and held over an open flame. Dessert means wiping off the stick—or maybe not—and doing the same trick with a couple of marshmallows. Bon appetit! For those seeking a more satisfying outdoor dining experience without significantly more trouble, here are two words that might change your life: Dutch oven.

On the Web: International Dutch Oven Society (http://www.idos.org); Lone Star Dutch Oven Society (http://www.lsdos.com); Byron’s Dutch Oven Cooking Page (http://papadutch.home.comcast.net/~papadutch/); Mark’s Black Pot Dutch Oven Cooking and Recipes (http://marksblackpot.blogspot.com)