Do you ever feel that way? Today I am there…I QUIT!
I have yet another failed attempt at solar cooking. The beans were hard! I guess, unless it is just to heat up something that is already cooked, I am not going to waste another bit of food. DH has a problem with food cooked at low temps and it just goes to waste.
On top of it all, I just received notice that my solar cooker from Path to Freedom is on back-order. Well, actually I knew that part already , but NOT UNTIL MID JULY! The air conditioners are going in tonight. I have puttered around with NOT cooking inside the house for long enough. Peanut butter sandwiches are getting extremely old, as are salads.
So please excuse me while I have a temper tantrum sitting here melting away in the heat. I think I will go take a nap!
My first attempt at solar cooking was not a total success, but subsequent efforts totally bombed. We constructed our makeshift solar cooker out of a cardboard box, weed barrier (which I would not recommend), glass from a screen door and a thermometer. At one point, I had the inside temperature up to 170 degrees, but when I had to reposition the items inside, I must have rearranged it enough that it did not seal as well. We had preheated the oven to around 120 degrees. After a couple of hours, I used a potholder to remove the items…a jar with broccoli and a pan of rice.
The rice and broccoli were not as done as I would have liked it, but it was all still edible.
The next day I was going to try some lentils and rice, but the wind knocked over my window and it shattered. I had seen a video about cooking in black jars using aluminum pans, but I just could not get the temperature up high enough. Luckily, DH is in favor of solar cooking, so I was able to order the Sport Solar Oven from the Peddler’s Wagon. I am so excited because the solar oven kit comes with two black cooking pots, a solar reflector, oven thermometer, water pasteurization indicator and recipe book, which I am certain will come in handy. I had looked at the other solar oven they offered, but was happy to see that the pans were included with this particular solar oven.
Cooking in a solar oven would make me so happy for several reasons. Not only would it be better for the environment, but it would keep my kitchen cooler during those hot months.
The Dervaes Family has come to the rescue yet again with a wonderful idea to make a solar cooker from a pizza box.
