My first attempt at solar cooking

[Thomzo]

Hi
At the weekend I made my solar oven. A wooden box, filled with polystyrene for insulation with a saucepan in the middle and a sheet of glass on top. I used to cook up the chooks food.

Cheers
Zoe

[Clara]

Congratulations

Do you know what temp. you reached? If you can get 150C, I have a recipe for honey cake that works really well in the solar cooker.

Have to admit, I cheated and bought one - though I use it at least once every day.

[Thomzo]

Hi Clara
In this weather! I probably managed about 30

The water did boil but I don't have a suitable thermometer so can't tell. The honey cake sounds lovely though.

Zoe

[Wombat]

Well done Zoe!

Fun isn't it? I still find it amazing when I bake bread just using the sun!

Nev

[Milims]

Hi Thomzo - you reached at least 100 deg C - thats the boiling point of water - unless you are up Everest that is - the boiling point is lower - about 70 deg due to the air pressure. Well done you!! We are working on a solar drier at the moment - although its not much cop in the rain!! lol

[Clara]

Love my solar cooker, the combination of that and solar hot water tank has reduced our gas consumption from a bottle every 3 weeks to one every 3 months - and probably extended Mr Clara´s life as he has to carry them 1km over a mountain path!

If you can get to boiling point (or even just below) they are a good way of cooking slow items such as pulses and casseroles, and because you are likely to be cooking at reduced temperatures, the nutrients in the food will be less likely to be lost - sorry evangelising now

Solar Honey Cake (even if you don´t have a solar oven, really yummy and contains no sugar)

Heat 1/3pt honey and 1oz butter until butter is melted

Off the heat add 6oz wholemeal flour, pinch of salt, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1egg. Beat.

Blend 3/4 tsp bicarb and 3tbsp milk and then add to the mix.

Turn into 9¨greased sandwich tin.

Bake at 160C for 25-30 minutes (though this alters with altitude and temp of solar cooker).

[Thurston Garden]

Clara - I have just made your Honey Cake, albeit, in our Rayburn and it was fab!

Thanks for the recipe!