The main reason that I became interested in solar cooking was so that I would have a way to cook meals when we set up our craft booth. I took our nice SOS oven a couple of times last year, but it took up a lot of space needed for more important things — like inventory. So this year I decided to get a little Cookit solar oven. It is basically cardboard covered with a shiny foil tin liner, but it folds up very compactly. (There are plans on the internet to make something similar, but I bought mine.) To cook, you just put a pot, placed into a cooking bag, into the oven.
Last Saturday, we set up at our first show of the season. It was a beautiful, hot, sunny fall day. Just perfect for a craft show and for solar cooking. After setting up the booth, I opened up the Cookit. Time for a morning snack. I had brought donuts, each in a baggie, intending to put the donuts into the pot to warm. But then I decided to just simply put the bagged donuts directly into the oven. I also had some frozen pre-made biscuits and sausage, also in their bags. Those also went directly into the solar oven. Forty -five minutes later, the donuts were hot, moist, and delicious. The frozen sausage biscuits needed a little more time, but also came out warm and toasty.
For lunch, I made very simple Frito Chili Pies. Around 11:00 a.m., I opened up a can of chili and poured the chili into the pot, and put on the lid. The pot was placed into the clear cooking bag, ( actually a clear garbage bag), tied it shut with a twisty wire, and sat back to enjoy the day. By the time we had time to eat lunch, about 1:00 p.m., the chili was very very hot — and so was the pot and lid — as I quickly found out when I realized that I had forgotten to take a pot holder. We spooned the chili into bowls filled with fritos and topped it off with grated cheese. It was really good — so good that we both had seconds.
As good as lunch was, the best part of solar cooking that day was the curious customers who couldn’t help but ask about the shiny thing on the table. It was really fun to explain about solar cooking.
Donuts heating in the Cookit
Cookit solar oven next to the craft booth
Desert Scrolling craft booth
Wonderful blog! I truly love how it? s easy on my eyes as well as the data are well written. I am wondering how I can be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your rss feed which need to do the trick! Have a nice day!
Nice set up! You need to add a link to your Desert Scrolling site. Your display looks beautiful!!!
Thanks