A pot of garbanzo beans fresh from the solar oven

Solar cooking (harnessing the heat of the sun to cook food in a solar or sun oven) is a triple treat for me because it enables me to conserve energy, enjoy the outdoors more and cook delicious food all at once!  If you haven’t yet tried solar cooking (or have never even heard of it) read on for tips on why and how to get started.

Aside from the obvious benefits; saving energy and therefore money, solar cooking has many other added incentives.  It enables you to:

1) save time by letting food cook while you do something else

2) cook and pasteurize water wherever you are (on the beach, at the park, camping)

3) cook with less water and fat since the sun cooking method draws out the natural liquids (and flavors!) of foods,

4) feel empowered and keep cooking should you have brownouts or blackouts

5) be kinder to the environment, and

6) have fun in the sun!

My sun oven collecting rays

Perhaps the easiest way to get started is to purchase a solar oven from a sun oven manufacturer.  Some of the most well known manufacturers and sun oven proponents are The Solar Oven Society and Solar Cookers International.  They offer different models, all very affordable, and they use some of their profits in humanitarian efforts bringing solar cooking to developing countries where need is great.  Without the need to cook over a fire, women are freed up from traveling miles to gather firewood and they no longer suffer from respiratory issues related to cooking over a fire in closed in spaces such as huts of caves.  126 countries and counting have benefited.

If you’re excited about trying solar cooking, but don’t want to purchase a ready made oven there are ways to make them out of simple supplies that you may be able to find around your house such as cardboard, tin foil, glue and document clips.  A thorough discussion on various sun ovens that can be built at home, along with diagrams and instructions can be found in the book Cooking with Sunshine which is also a rich source of recipes.

Speaking of recipes, the ones that you can make in a sun oven include recipes for meat dishes (yep, with practice omnivores can make everything from a quick fish fillet to a slow cooked pulled pork), breads, cakes, cookies and all sorts of vegetable and grain dishes.  Virtually anything you can imagine cooking in your oven and many things you cook on your stove top (rice pilaf, sauteed green beans, thai curry) can be cooked in a sun oven.

That being said, my suggestion once you’ve made or purchased an oven, is to start with a simple pot of beans.  Beans are a long, slow cooking food and as such lend themselves well to solar cooking, particularly if you want to cook for several hours without checking up on them.  Try following these tips and you’ll be amazed at the outcome.

1) Soak your chosen bean (garbanzo, black, pinto, navy) overnight in cold water.

A thermometer in your sun oven is crucial

2) In the morning set your sun oven out to preheat (facing directly into the sun).

3) Meanwhile, rinse the beans with cold water and add them to a preferably black enamel or clear glass pot (white and metal reflect heat away).

4) Add enough water so that there’s about an inch of water over the top.  If you’d like, add some sea salt and a digestion enhancer such as a piece kombu, a bay leaf, or cumin.

5) When your sun oven has reached 150 degrees, place your pot of beans into the preheated sun oven to cook . Let cook for several hours and, if

possible, go out every half hour to an hour to rotate your oven  to face the moving sun, thereby helping your beans to cooking faster and more efficiently.  If you are not going to be home for several hours, position your oven at the best possible angle for catching the most sun, particularly at zenith. (You just want to ensure that your beans stay at 150 degrees or above until you are able to remove them).

6) Remove your pot of beans when it appears done, which is usually accomplished in about 2-3 hours in a commercial sun oven, and more like 4-5 in a home built sun oven.

7) Guestimate, have fun, and enjoy cooking with sunshine!

Masuru Emoto

I wonder if anyone out there is aware of the work of Masuru Emoto of What the Bleep do We Know fame.  Emoto’s research involved observing the crystals that form in frozen water.  He discovered that the energy (emotion, music, words) as well as location (and whether it was a polluted or high density area) that the water is exposed to greatly impacted the type of crystals that formed in the frozen water.  Emoto later carried out experiments in which he drew together a number of meditators who focused their energy around a large body of polluted water in Japan.  It was reported that after the ceremony the water was cleaner and healthy microorganisms were able to inhabit it again.  Whether or not you believe Emoto’s claims, they bring up some thoughts about our relationship with water and what we can do to help our world’s water reserves…which I think we all can agree need help.

When it comes to conservation, most of us know the standard water saving tips like turning the faucet off while brushing our teeth and scrubbing pots and pans.  But it’s always good to be reminded, especially of ones we may not have thought of.  I recently came across a list of tips I liked at the Water Conservation Coalition of Santa Cruz County.  Overall, just being mindful and doing our best when it comes to conserving water is all that is needed.  Start with some easy water saving actions like going to a carwash that recycles its water, setting the sprinklers to go off in the early morning and using biodegradeable cleaning products to keep toxins out of the water supply.

Virign River in Zion National Park

As for enjoying water, this time of year, in the heat of the summer, is one of the best times to get out into the water.  From kayaking to surfing, and white water rafting to sailing, spending time near or in the water can be therapeutic, fun, relaxing and invigorating.  Check out some sources for water-based eco-adventure near you and discover the benefits and joys of water this summer.  Even better if you can observe other water lovers such as fish, birds, dolphin, mannatee, otters, badgers, etc.  You’ll come home with a commitment to conserve and preserve for the good of the earth, the creatures and yourself.   After all, without water there is not only no balance, but also no life!

All the best,

Jenica

My intention for this blog is for it to be a source of information and inspiration, so check back often for a dose of good energy and food for thought.  We’ll cover topics including but not limited to yoga, meditation, flower essences, reiki, spirituality, seasonal cycles, holistic health for people and animals, supplements, healthy eating, recipes and cooking, nature, gardening, conservation and more. If you’d like to be reminded when I post a blog, just subscribe in the upper right hand corner.

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Summer Solstice.  The longest day of the year is an opportunity to give thanks to the Sun and all the warmth and sustenance it provides us with.

I also want to wish everyone a Happy Father’s Day and to thank fathers everywhere for the role they have in our lives.

Today is a fitting day for celebration in many ways.  As you enjoy family, friends, food, fun, music, nature, or any combination of these, think of the joy these simple pleasures give you.

The power of joy and gratitude is immense; powerful enough to move mountains (and create balance).  So enjoy your day to the fullest!