Farm Fresh Blog

Just returned from the ranch and had to give you a report on the new Sun Oven! 

Friends & Neighbors, that sucker works!

Picture this:

*104 degrees in the shade

(should I really say any more?)

The ranch is quite primitive. (Think "pioneer") We haven't gotten the power poles for electricity yet, and so we are running on a generator. In North Texas, our little camper can quickly become an oven in July. The air conditioner works its little heart out. Don't even CONSIDER using the microwave and the air conditioner at the same time. (blows the breaker)

It is most certainly too damned hot and dry for anything resembling a camp fire.  (Although after the shredder machine cleared the mesquite trees off the homestead lot, we have mesquite mulch 6" to 1' deep in there. If you want to collect firewood, just bend over.)

We bought one of those wooden portable cabin/barn buildings and had it built on the property. (because it was too wide to fit through the cattle guard so it couldn't roll in on a truck) The cabin/barn can be used as a bunkhouse after we get it outfitted. It can be a smashing good feed room/office later.  Since those BadBoys come in basic vanilla, we'll have to finish it out and put a porch on it ourselves. So this weekend's goal was to start putting insulation in the Cabin . . . in 104 degree heat.

Not only did we not have time to cook a meal, but God forbid, we heat up the inside of that camper.

This was the perfect time to use a solar oven . . .

Just plop it in the sun. Spread open the solar screens. Plop in a roast and some veggies. Dump the seasoning on top.

Close the lid. That's it. Nada. Nothing else.

 Go back to work.   

Turn oven one time to follow sun.

Peek at it through the glass and drool.

 A few hours later. Pull out a meal fit for hungry pioneers!

Note: that darkening on the top is not burned, but carmelization of the seasoning packet that I didn't mix into the liquid. By leaving a bit on the top, it gave a nice color. You cannot burn anything in the solar oven. The hot air is all around the food, and the liquid cannot escape. The meat is quite tender and juicy.

The whole meal cost less than $10. It used absolutely no electricity, and didn't heat up the camper at all. This meal required no energy from me except plopping the ingredients in a dish and closing the lid.

The solar oven doesn't require it to be 104 degrees outside. They cook with this on Mount Everest. It doesn't use heat, it uses the sun's rays.  It's like a crock pot that can be used outside. (you can also bake in it!) If you're worried about dogs or livestock getting in it, leave it on top of the truck.

The neatest thing is that it's basically idiot-proof. (I need that!) It's easy to carry. Easy to set up. And best of all when it's 104 outside, doesn't heat up the house!

 Yummy!

And when the meal is over, the dogs can clean out the dish!

"That's what I'M talkin' 'bout!"