More Sun Oven Experiments

I saw that you can hard boil an egg in the sun oven with no water, so...

I cooked them for 35 minutes and got a hard cooked egg.

 

 

Look What Else DH Bought Me..

A couple of days after Christmas, DH approached me and asked if I had received a book from him.  I replied that I had not. Oh.

This conversation came about because I mentioned that I wanted to go to Honeyville Grains, this past Saturday.  They were doing a food tasting and I was anxious to sample some of their freeze dried items.  DH said he too would like to go.  That is what triggered the book question and the search to figure out where he had put the book.

I had the book on left on my Christmas list. When I actually came into possession of the book, I was amazed at the simplicity of the idea.  It was one of those, why didn't I think of that moments.  The book is really a recipe book with several options for a main dish or dessert in a canning jar.  You have all your ingredients layered in the jar and then place an oxygen absorber packet on top and seal the jar.  By doing this, you are opening your #10 cans and using the ingredients instead of storing just one ingredient.  Since this book is from  Honeyville Grains, the majority of ingredients used are purchased through them.  But if you already have many of the ingredients on hand,  you may just need to purchase a few additional items to round out the recipes. 

How great is that, that you can have actual meals on hand, that you just add water to and cook?  Brilliant.  Many of the main dishes are made with freeze dried meats.  I ended up purchasing smaller pantry size cans of those items. I was impressed with the flavor of the freeze dried products.  I will be trying out some of these recipes in the future and coming up with some of my own.  I'll keep you posted on that front.

Just Some Updates...

The other day on my Instagram account, I posted a photo of some muffins I was making.  What's so special about making muffins you say? Well, Santa brought me a sun powered oven!

Yes, after talking about it for months, Santa needed to get me something for Christmas.  Living in SoCal, we have an abundance of sun all year round.  Lucky us.  While others were freezing back East, we were enjoying 80 degree plus temps in December.

I was anxious to try out the oven.  I unboxed it set it up outside.  Temps were running in the 70's with a slight wind.  I set it on a portable table and aligned it with the sun.  Since the sun is not as hot as summer temps, I wondered if I could preheat it to the 350 degree temperature I needed.  After about an hour, it reached the proper temp and I was able to cool and clean the oven as the instructions say. I allowed the oven to reheat to temp and then made the muffins.

I had a boxed cranberry orange muffin mix on hand and just used that. I made the mix according to the directions, except it said it would fill 11 spots and I filled all 12 muffin spots.

My concern was that the muffins might not brown as in a regular oven. 

As you can see from the photo on the left, the muffins achieved a very nice golden color. I allowed them to cook for about 2 hours.  I went to check on them periodically, and only moved the oven once to track the sun.

DH (dear hubby) and I were both concerned about the muffins being dry.  We were pleasantly surprised with the moist consistency and taste. I am anxious to try some other experiments with it in the future. 

In case of emergency, the oven can also be used to pasteurize water to make it safe to drink. All this just from the abundance of sun we enjoy here.

Pics From the Emergency Preparedness Fair

DH explaining about water purification. 

Debra and Joel did a fantastic job. Anything you want to know about sanitation you could have learned from them.

Debra outdid herself with her props.

If the you know what hits the fan. You now know where to put it.

Thanks Debra for all your hard work!!

WHAT A DEAL!!!!

While looking for "loo" supplies I found this.  It is on special right now for $1.29 at Emergency Essentials.  (I love that store and their web site and their catalogs!)  Joel says it is the best little multi tool he has and he has more then I can count.  (Along with flashlights and tape measures.)  A great little tool to fit in any one's wallet or purse and perfect for a stocking stuffer.  It's the size of a credit card and comes with the two sided card, diagram and label.  (Don't tell my boys if you see them.)

11 Function Survival Tool

It's That Time of Year Again...

The holidays are soon upon us, and we wonder what to get those near and dear to us.

Why not make a preparedness holiday, this year?  Here is the list from my Preparedness Minute that I shared with you today.

1. ResQMe, The Keychain Version of the Original LifeHammer
2. Some type of gas-shutoff tool like this 4 in 1 Emergency Tool
3. Hand Warmers
4. Sewing Kit (or put your own together with parts from your sewing supplies)
5. Ammunition Ammunition is always welcome. :)

6. Various ways to make fire: Magnesium and Steel, Waterproof matches, Stormproof Lighter etc.  Maybe some dryer lint fire starters as well.
7. Flashlight or Headlamp
8. Water Purification Tablets
9. Knife or Multi-Tool
10. Emergency Blankets
11. Seeds and gardening hand tools
12. Pick-me-ups like Travel games, or a deck or cards, puzzle, etc.
13. Canning lids or even better–Reusable Canning Lids
14. N95 masks

http://foodstorageandsurvival.com/preparedness-stocking-ideas-for-men-and-women/

Almost a Steal!!!

I told you I don't like to pay more than $2 or $3 for a knob, and today I didn't.  I was in the New Hobby Lobby in Anaheim Hills on Santa Ana Canyon Road.  (Where Mervyn's used to be)  I found darling knobs on sale for 1/2 price that I just couldn't pass up.  Than I found one of their "Clearance" sections.  Knobs were about 60%-70% off.  Look how cute they are.  I have several pieces of furniture in my garage just waiting for my inspiration juices to flow and I will match up furniture with knobs!!  Stay tuned!!!

The flower is resin.  The turquoise is blinged, than a colorful one,
a metal and resin, and another colorful one.

The orange one is wood, the two pink one's are blinged-rhinestones.
The other three are just colorful and beautiful.

Four of these are metal knobs.  The other one is a clock face.

Can you believe those prices?!!!  Check back and see if you can spot them on a piece of furniture.
                                   Happy shopping and watch for those "Clearance" shelves!!!