Cookware

Dark, thin walled pans work well, such as Enamal cookware with lids. Covering pans with foil does not work well as they reflect the solar gain. Cast iron pans with lids hold heat and can do slow cooking. Glass, especially colored glass casserole dishes with lids do quite adequately. Baking quick breads in glass baking dishes can be used satisfactorily. Cookies sheets can be bright or dark depending on the amount of solar gain available. When choosing the container to cook with, consider the time of year and amount of heat needed. On hot, sunny days the type of cookware is not as important as on cold, winter days with fewer hours of sunlight. Preheating massing medium such as rocks will extend the possibilies as well. Think bringing the interior of the oven and insides of the container to optimum temp and success is on its way! Possibilies are varied and interesting to experiment with. Use what you already have and haunt garage sales and second hand stores for bargains and ideas. Be creative and have fun!

Recipes

Anything you back in an oven can be tried in a Solar Cooker. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking.

LANA HANSEN'S ORGANIC OATMEAL COOKIES/BREAKFAST BARS

Organic Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 cup organic butter
1 teasp..baking soda
1/2 cup organic applesauce
1 teasp.. organic cinnamon
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 teasp..cloves (add any favorite spice..be creative)
1/4 cup organic honey
2 cage free eggs
3 cups organic oats (quick or old fashioned)
1 teasp.. vanilla
1 1/2 cups organic flour (whole wheat, quince, any kind!)
1 cup organic walnuts, or sunflower seed or both.
1 cup organic raisins

1. Beat together butter and applesauce, sugar and honey.
2. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well
3. Add dry ingredients and mix well.
4. Drop on baking pan covered with parchment paper.
5. Bake in solar oven at 300 degrees or more till done.
Makes about 4 dozen cookies. A great quick breakfast.

CORN BREAD

1c. corn meal 1 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar 2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp.salt
Mix together and make a hole in the middle. Pour in
1 1/2 c. milk, 1 egg, and 2 tblsp. oil that has been mixed.
Mix till moistened. Pour into 8X8 " pan and bake till done in middle. (toothpick comes out clean)

BAKED BEEF STEW

Arrange two pounds of stew meat in baking dish. Add Vegatables (onion, garlic, carrots, potatoes, celery, squash, sweet potato, anything you like and is FRESH!) Season to taste and add 1/2 c. liquid. (tomato juice, bullion, your choice!) and 2 Tblsp Tapioca. Cover and bake till Tender. (this is a good cook all day meal)

CHILI RELLENO BAKE

3/4 c. shredded Jack cheese (or your favorite)
1 can (4 oz. ) whole green chilies
3/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 can evaporated milk
]1 Tbsp flour
2 eggs, beaten

Layer Jack cheese, chilies, and Cheddar cheese in 1 qt. baking dish. Add flour to milk and slowly pour over cheeses. Cover and bake till set. (300 for 30 min or adjust for heat) Remove and let stand till set. Serve with salsa, Verde , sour cream....whatever sounds good!)

VEGETABLE MEDLEY

1c. sliced carrots
1c.sliced green beans
1c.diced potatoes
1/2 c.chopped celery
2 med. tomatoes,cored and quartered
1 sm. onion, sliced thin
1 sm zucchini, sliced thin
1 leek, sliced thin
1/2 head cauliflower, broken into flowerlets
1/4 c. red pepper, sliced thin
1/4 c. gr.. pepper, sliced thin
1/2 c. fresh green peas

1 c. liq. (tomato juice, bullion etc)
1/3 c. olive oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/4tsp tarragon

Wash and prepare vegis. Mix and put in ungreased shallow baking dish. (13"X9") Heat garlic in oil. Add remainder of Ingred. and pur over veg. Bake till vegs. are tender. Serves 10.

BANANA BREAD

2 c. flour Mix together:
1 c. sugar 2 eggs
1 tsp. soda 1/2 c. butter
1/2 tsp salt 5 Tblsp. sour cream or yogurt

Combine dry ingred. with egg mixture and stir well. Add 3 mashed bananas (the riper the better!) and 1 c. chopped nuts. Bake in greased 9X4 Loaf pan. till done. (toothpick comes out clean)

WORLD'S BEST CHOC. CHIP COOKIES

1c. margarine 3 c. flour
2/3 c. brown sugar 1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/3 c. sugar 1 tsp. salt
11/2 tsp. vanilla 1 or 2 pkgs choc. chips (try the mini ones)
2 lg eggs 1 or 2 c. nuts

Cream Marg. and sugars. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingred. and still into egg mix. Stir in Choc. chips and nuts. Drop onto greased cookie sheet and back till done.

PEACHES AND CREAM PIE

3/4 c. flour 3 tblsp. soft butter
1 tsp baking powder 1 egg
1/2 tsp salt 1/2 c. milk (try soy/rice mix)
1 pkg reg van. pudding mix (dry)

Combine in lg bowl. Beat 2 min. and pour into greased 9 or 10 in. pie pan. Place sliced peaches (or your favorite fruit) on top. Beat 1 8oz pkg cream cheese , 1/2 c. sugar and juice from fruit is you have any and spoøn on fruit to within 1/2 " of edge. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top if desired. Bake till crust done and filling is still soft. Store in refrig.

PLAY DOH
2 c. flour 2 tblsp. alum Mix and pour 1 1/2 c. boiling
1 c. salt 2 tblsp. mineral oil water over. Mix and store in
air tight container