Roasting a Marshmallow (with Nothing but the Sun)

How to roast a marshmallow:

Step 1: Stick marshmallow in center of parabolic cooker.
Step 2: Point parabolic cooker at the sun.
Step 3: Enjoy!

Solar Pizza Box Cooker Failure: Chocolate Chip Cookies

I sped this video up to make it go a bit quicker. But basically, this is my last attempt at using this pizza box cooker. I was attempting to make chocolate chip cookies using the pizza box solar cooker, but it just didn't work, and I ended up cooking them inside in the oven.

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Baked Apples: Solar Cooker Desserts

Baked Apples

Carrie has made us baked apples on a few occasions, and I have absolutely loved it. Now, too much sugar (or really, even a medium amount of refined sugar), may not be all that good for you, or for the environment, depending on where the sugar, apples, and cinnamon came from, and depending on how they were grown. So do a little research to know what you're eating before you're eating it.

• Apples


• Sugar, brown and white


• Cinnamon

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Solar Pavlova: Solar Cooker Desserts

Solar Cooker Desserts: Solar Pavlova

• 4 egg whites


• 4 T cold tap water


• 1 1/3 cups caster sugar (very fine granulated sugar - could use regular white sugar)


• 1 1/2 t vinegar (preferably white)


• 1 1/2 t vanilla essence


• 4 t cornflour (called 'cornstarch' in the US)

Topping:

• 1 cup cream, whipped

sliced fresh fruit (e.g kiwifruit, strawberries, peaches, tamarillos) or berries, passionfruit pulp, pomegranate seeds etc. - whatever is available

Place egg whites, water and sugar in a bowl. Beat gently to mix and then beat until very stiff (10 minutes on high with an electric beater). Mix vinegar, vanilla essence and cornflour to a thin paste. Add to egg white mixture and beat until it is so stiff that you can fully invert the bowl and nothing moves (further five minutes with an electric beater).

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SharonID's Sunshine Shortbread (for solar box ovens)

SharonID's Sunshine Shortbread (for solar box ovens)

• 2 1/2 cups flour


• 1 cup confectioner's (aka "powdered" or "icing") sugar


• 1 cup butter (two sticks or 1/2 pound)


• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Amalgamate the ingredients. The easiest way is in a food processor (cut butter into pieces... the dough won't quite form a ball, but will get evenly clumpy). If you don't have a food processor, you can either cut the cold butter into the mixed dry ingredients and then wade in with your hands and knead until well combined or cream softened butter with the sugar and salt work in the flour by hand.

With your hands or the back of a large spoon, press the crumbly dough as evenly as possible in a greased small, dark cookie sheet (13"x9") or other equivalent pan(s). With a knife or pizza cutter, score the dough into small squares or diamonds.

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Solar Fruit: Kellie and Kristine's Solar Cooker Dessert

Solar Cooker Desserts: Kellie and Kristine's Solar Fruit

• 1 firm, ripe banana


• 1 red apple


• Ground cinnamon


• Sugar


• Honey


• Walnuts


• Orange rind (if desired)

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Mark's "No Fail" Solar Cookies: Solar Cooker Desserts

Solar Cooker Desserts: Mark's "No Fail" Solar Cookies

• 1 cup oats


• 1 cup flour


• 1 pinch salt


• 1/3 cup oil


• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract


• 1/2 cup sugar (white or brown)


• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda


• 1/2 cup chocolate chips and/or raisins


• 1/2 cup water

Note that the recipe calls for BAKING SODA, not baking powder. However, sometimes I put in 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder for additional fluffiness. Mix ingredients together and then form cookies. Comfortably makes 12 cookies spread over (2) 11 x 7 inch baking pans.

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Peach Meringues: Solar Cooker Desserts

Solar Cooker Desserts: Peach Meringues

• 5 medium peaches


• 2 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar


• Cinnamon


• 3 egg whites


• 1 teaspoon vanilla


• 3/4 cup sugar

Wash and half the peaches. Place peaches cut-side up in pie pan or dark casserole dish. Place 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar in cavity of each peach half and sprinkle with cinnamon. Cover and bake 1½ hours.

Beat egg whites at medium speed until soft peaks form. While beating at high speed add vanilla and gradually add sugar.

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Solar Cooker Desserts: Solar Baked Brownies

Solar Baked Brownies

• 1/2 cup shortening


• 2 1-oz. squares unsweetened chocolate


• 2 eggs


• 1 cup sugar


• 1 teaspoon vanilla


• 3/4 cup flour


• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder


• 1/2 teaspoon salt


• 1 cup broken walnuts (optional)

Melt shortening and chocolate together in solar cooker; cool. Beat eggs until light; stir in sugar, then chocolate mixture and vanilla. Add dry ingredients, mix well.

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Wheat-Free Cookies: Solar Cooker Desserts

Solar Cooker Desserts: Wheat-Free Cookies

• 2 cups rye flour


• 1 egg


• 1/2 cup vegetable oil


• 1/2 cup honey


• 1 teaspoon baking powder


• Salt to taste


• Water to make proper consistency for drop cookies


• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped


• 1/2 cup sugar-free carob chips

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Solar Cooker Desserts: Quick Raisin Pie

Quick Raisin Pie

• 4 cup butter


• 3/4 cup sugar


• 3 eggs


• 1 teaspoon vanilla


• 1 1/2 cups raisins


• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts


• 1 stick pie crust mix, or better yet, make your own


• whipping cream

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Hot Fudge Sundae Cake: Solar Cooker Desserts

Solar Cooker Desserts: Hot Fudge Sundae Cake

• 1/2 cup flour


• 3/4 cup sugar


• 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons cocoa


• 2 teaspoons baking powder


• 1/2 teaspoon salt


• 1/2 cup milk


• 2 tablespoons oil


• 1 teaspoon vanilla


• 1 cup nuts, chopped


• 1 cup brown sugar


• 1 3/4 cups hot water

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Solar Cooker Desserts: Hot Fruit Dish

Hot Fruit Dish

• 3 bananas


• 4 apples


• Honey, to taste (or sugar)


• Lemon


• Water


• 3 teaspoons cinnamon


• 6 whole cloves

Slice bananas. Cut apples into eights (peel if desired) and place apples into lemon water to keep from discoloring. Drain. Mix fruit, cinnamon and cloves. Cover. Bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Serves 4.
Source: SolarCooking.Wikia.com

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Apple Custard: Solar Cooker Desserts

Apple Custard

• 1 13-oz. can evaporated milk


• 1/3 cup honey


• 4 eggs


• 1 teaspoon vanilla


• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or cardamom powder


• 3 to 4 cups apples

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Solar Cooker Desserts: A Little Chocolate Cake

A Little Chocolate Cake

Note: This recipe was designed for 3-4 cup backpacker pot in an EZ-3 Solar Cooker, but it should work in any cooker that can take such a pot.

Perfect for singles, couples, or a kids' tea party.

Sift or mix together:

• ½ cup flour


• 2 tablespoons cocoa


• 1/3 cup sugar


• 1/4 rounded teaspoon baking soda


• pinch salt

Mix together:

• 1/3 cup cold water


• 2 tablespoons oil


• 1 teaspoon vinegar


• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

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Rice Pudding: Solar Cooker Desserts

Solar Cooker Desserts: Rice Pudding

• 1 cup rice, cooked


• 3 eggs


• 1 1/3 cups milk


• 2 tablespoons brown sugar


• 5 tablespoons sugar


• 1 tablespoon butter


• 1 teaspoon vanilla


• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice


• fresh lemon rind


• cinnamon

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Brownie Pudding: Solar Cooker Desserts

Solar Cooker Desserts: Brownie Pudding

• 1 cup flour


• 2 teaspoons baking powder


• 1/4 teaspoon salt


• 3/4 cup sugar


• 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons cocoa


• 1/2 cup milk


• 2 tablespoons melted butter


• 1/2 cup chopped nuts


• 1 cup brown sugar


• 1 1/2 cups boiling water

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Apple Cupcakes: Solar Cooker Desserts

Solar Cooker Desserts: Apple Cupcakes

• 2 cups sugar


• 1/2 cup oil


• 2 eggs


• 6 cups apples


• 2 cups flour


• 2 teaspoons cinnamon


• 2 teaspoons baking soda


• 1 teaspoon salt


• 1 teaspoon nutmeg

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Solar Cooker Breakfast: Spinach Quiche

Spinach Quiche

• 1/2 cup chopped onion


• 1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced


• 1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded


• 1 10-oz. package frozen spinach, thawed and drained


• 3 eggs


• 1 can evaporated milk


• 3/4 cup Bisquick


• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg


• Salt and pepper, to taste

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Grandmother's Crustless Pie: Solar Cooker Desserts

Solar Cooker Desserts: Grandmother's Crustless Pie

• 6 apples (chopped or sliced)


• 1/3 cup sugar


• Cinnamon


• 1/2 cup butter


• 1 cup flour


• 1 cup brown sugar

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Solar Cooker Desserts: Lemon Jell-O Cake

Lemon Jell-O Cake

• 1 package yellow cake mix


• 1 3-oz. package lemon Jell-O


• 3/4 cup water


• 1/2 cup salad oil


• 4 eggs, unbeaten


• 1/2 cup lemon juice


• 2 cups powdered sugar

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Solar Cooker Breakfast: Poached Eggs in Spanish Sauce

Poached Eggs in Spanish Sauce

• 1/4 cup onion, chopped


• 1/4 cup celery, chopped


• 1/4 cup green pepper, chopped


• 1 can 8-oz. tomato sauce


• Spanish seasonings


• 5 eggs

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Solar Cooker Desserts: Blueberry Muffin Cake

Solar Cooker Desserts: Blueberry Muffin Cake

• 1 package blueberry muffin mix


• 1 egg


• 1/3 cup brown sugar


• milk


• butter


• 1 teaspoon cinnamon


• Prepare 1 package of blueberry muffin mix following the instructions

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Solar Oven Breads: Heather's Wheat Berry Bread

Heather's Wheat Berry Bread

• 2 cups wheat berries


• Flour for dusting


• Water for sprouting

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Solar Oven Breads: Cornbread A La Sol

Cornbread A La Sol

Dry Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup corn meal


• 1/2 cup corn flour


• 1 cup white flour


• 2 tablespoons baking powder (preferably aluminum-free)


• 3 tablespoons sugar


• pinch salt

Liquid Ingredients:

• 1 egg


• 3 tablespoons oil


• 1 cup milk

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Solar Cooker Desserts: Oatmeal Squares

Oatmeal Squares

• 1 egg, beaten


• 1/2 cup honey


• 1/2 cup melted butter


• 1 teaspoon vanilla


• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour


• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda


• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg


• 1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats


• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

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Solar Oven Breads: Foolproof Whole Wheat Bread

Foolproof Whole Wheat Bread

• 2 tablespoons dry yeast


• 5 cups hot water


• 2/3 cup oil


• 12 cups whole wheat flour (or 7 cups whole wheat flour & 5 cups white flour)


• 1/2 cup warm water


• 2 tablespoons salt


• 2/3 cup honey or sugar

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Solar Cooker Desserts: Peach Pudding Cake

Peach Pudding Cake

• 1/4 cup melted butter


• 1 package yellow cake mix


• 1 3 1/4-oz. instant vanilla pudding mix


• 1 egg


• 1 cup milk


• 1 16-oz. can peaches, undrained (or 2 cups)


• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

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Solar Oven Breads: Easy French Bread

Easy French Bread

• 1 package yeast


• 2 cups water


• 4 1/2 cups white flour


• 1 tablespoon sugar


• 2 teaspoons salt

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Beer Bread Made in A Solar Cooker

Carrie and I love beer, and we love bread, so a combination of the two made in a solar cooker sounds like a little slice of heaven to us.

Beer Bread From A Solar Cooker

• 3 cups self-rising flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 12-oz. can of beer, at room temperature

cheese slices

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Mint Tea Made By The Sun

Mint Tea in a solar cooker
(This one's easy)

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon water
• several sprigs of freshly picked and washed mint

Crush the mint slightly before adding it to the water. Leave in the sun all day.

A jar can be painted black to increase temperature and keep an "off taste" from forming.

You can also put this into a solar cooker and get the tea you want a little more quickly.

If you'd like to use a sweetener, try stevia. Most grocery stores carry it in the "supplements" section (thanks to some funny tampering at the FDA).

Spanish Omlette on a Nifty Solar Cooker

I really like how this parabola is designed to rotate and become a shield while you're working with the food and then a focuser while you're letting it cook. Seems like a very safe way to be cookign food in a solar cooker.

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A Meal from solar cookers

A Meal from solar cookers

Carrie and I decided that it would be fun to eat an entire meal cooked by the sun.

So, we took our three cookers. In one, we placed leftover chili. In another, we placed potatoes.

And in a third, we placed Joan's rice pudding (for dessert). Thanks Joan!

All three videos are posted below (we made them for YouTube as individual videos, but we ate this as a full meal).

Other than the mildly disappointing results from the sun not cooking the rice pudding (simply because we didn't get it outside early enough in the day, we were very pleased with how this meal turned out!

Baked Potatoes wrapped in foil and cooked in an eagle solar cooker

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