Friday, March 20, 2009

Food Storage Friday #6

Hello and welcome to Food Storage Friday! Just a quick reminder that you still have a few hours left to enter the Guilt Free Date Night Giveaway if you scroll down. Today I want to talk about alternative fuel- If you are like me and don't have the means or space to buy a generator and store up gallons of gasoline, you need to think of other ways you will be able to have light, heat and cook in case of emergency. Candles, flashlights or camping lanterns are easy for light. (remember the matches) A simple and affordable option for cooking is to make (or buy) a solar oven. They really work- my mom has prepared several of her regular recipes this way with no problems. A great place to go if you want to make one is SolarCooking.org They have pictures and step by step instructions for many different types. Easier than cooking with a solar oven is cooking with charcoal on a grill, box oven or with a dutch oven. Get a large Rubbermaid style trash can with a tight fitting lid and fill it up with charcoal briquettes- they will stay safe and usable there for a long time. You can make your own box oven easily too- for instructions, see HERE. The only thing I would do differently is use small pop cans in the bottom of the box and then put a wire rack, (like you use to cool cookies) on top of them over the charcoal, and put the lid on top. I also found a simple chart that details some of the advantages and disadvantages of other types of fuel HERE. Ok! Hopefully that gives you something to think about and a place to start. I think making a box or solar oven would be a fun family activity, then you could try baking some brownies or something in there. Let me know if you make one- take a picture and send me the link!

2 comments:

Shauna said...

sounds like a good FHE to me :) thanks like always for the info...i get inspired every week and then space it. i need to reread these daily til i do them!

Leslie said...

I LOVE MY SOLAR HOT POT AND OVEN!!! You have all got to check them out!