A novel oven alternative.

[changeling]

Today was hot, yet I wanted to have stuffed (roast) capsicums. Using the oven on Hot Days is verboten in this house (understandable, I know). So, what to do?

What I did was bake them. I created no extra heat, and used no extra electricity or gas.

I baked them in my car. I cut 'em open, bunged in a little garlic (pretty much exactly as I would for an oven), placed them on a deep-ish oven tray, and put another tray over the top as a "lid". I made sure the lid was a dark colour, in order to soak up as much heat as possible. Then I put them on the ledge beneath my rear window, and left them there for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. That's longer than I'd use for an oven (which would be about 20–30 minutes, considering these were small capsicums), but of course, they were cooking at a much lower temperature. It got pretty hot in there, though. I had to grab a fabric bag to carry them safely inside again, perfectly cooked*.

I'm actually feeling pretty smug. It's nice to be able to take advantage of my car's natural ability to heat up beyond all reason. I've also bought a handful of Roma tomatoes, and I'm thinking of attempting to make oven-dried tomatoes. The last time I tried it (in the actual oven) they burnt, and I just don't feel I can justify having the oven on for the six or seven hours, or whatever, the recipe says it needs. And since this is meant to be six or seven hours at a low temperature ...

I really will have to try it later this week, though probably not tomorrow, since it'll only be 22.

Hooray for the usefulness of stationary cars! Perhaps I will be able to use it in winter to provide a sufficiently warm place for my bread to rise (hard to find in this house, otherwise).


* The baby eggplants weren't. Perhaps I should have put a tB of water in them after all.

Comments

[bekscilla.livejournal.com]

Hehehe, that's too awesome! Well done :D

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm definitely going to try it again. It's nice to have an alternative to the oven, and I really REALLY like that it has absolutely no environmental cost.

You should try it sometime, even if only on the weekends, when such planning is possible. (Hmm. Think I'll shove this in the car and then ignore it until I have to start dinner.)

I'll definitely post again after I try the tomatoes. I hope they work.

[bekscilla.livejournal.com]

I'll definitely have to give it a try! Maybe in matts car, cause that already smells like pizza, so it won't make my car smell :P

I'd love to hear how the tomatoes go!

[pink-spiral.livejournal.com]

I hate macrob and the wanker teachers who hate me for no reason and who all have a pole up their ass. Oh and all of the students who have poles up their arses and/or pretentious views. I need a good rant and you two aren't around anymore.

[watersusurrus.livejournal.com]

You can call us, you know, :)

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

Like Steph said, give us a bell. We'll be home tonight.

[pink-spiral.livejournal.com]

Phones are so last century... I'll call you as soon as I stop procrastinating and start realising I have to get back into "school" life and stopping sitting around.

[burningskyfire.livejournal.com]

Hey, want to hang out on a weekend before I start uni? We were meant to go rock climbing, remember.. :)

[pink-spiral.livejournal.com]

When do you start uni? That sounds like an awesome idea! I'm not sure when I'm free at the moment but we'll work something out :)

[burningskyfire.livejournal.com]

ah whoops, I've started uni and I'm swamped - we'll have to do something when we're both free :)

[greenforest-elf.livejournal.com]

Thats a brilliant idea! I know someone who use to cook stuff under their bonnet as they drove along, but sundried toms sound like a great idea!

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

I'll have to let everyone know how it turns out!

[greenforest-elf.livejournal.com]

Ive told a few more friends about this so theres gonna be lots of car cooking expereiments I think

YAY

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

Let me know if any of them blog about it! I'd be interested in reading about it!

[watersusurrus.livejournal.com]

"to cook stuff under their bonnet"

Brain: But, their hair o_O?
Smrt Brain: No, the other sort of bonnet.
Brain: Oh!

[greenforest-elf.livejournal.com]

kekeke would have to be a hot head for sure!!!

[chennpug.livejournal.com]

Nifty! That is very handy info. I know of people who cook their food on road trips by putting it on the engine or wiring a can of something to the exhaust pipe, but this is even better; you don't have to drive anywhere for it to work!

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

I've heard of that, but it always seemed a bit ... potentially grotty to me. I only have to look at the engine to get motor oil all over me!

*nods* Maybe Steph and I will have roasted capsicum on our next road trip. ;)

[ignited-spark.livejournal.com]

That's pretty clever :)

Check out this site: http://www.solarcooking.org -- the Solar Cooking Archive. Lots of info on making sun ovens, which may be useful to you too.

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

Aha, awesome! Steph and I want a solar oven when we move out.

[daharja.livejournal.com]

Yikes!

I can believe it though - I went out to get the wheelie bins in at about 2 pm, and just about burned my hands off on the plastic! It was HOT yesterday!

[burningskyfire.livejournal.com]

That is awesome! :D
Bah, pity my parents keep both their cars in the garage at all times. Also somewhat understandable, I s'pose.

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

One day you may have a car of your own, then you can leave it out in the elements as much as you like.

Friend Elizabeth above has linked to a website on Solar Ovens, where I believe instructions on building one may be found.

[mawaridi.livejournal.com]

That's so clever :D What an awesome idea!

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *bows*