What prompted this, you ask? I guess you could say “putting our money where our mouth is.” We have been slowly trying to eliminate propane use at our house, which started with the wood fired water heater.During the winter the gas stove is shut off, but still available, kind of like a crutch, a nice security blanket for "bad fire" days. But after some long talks (over a home brew or two) we decided to just take the stove out. There – now there is no excuse.
One thing that helped us arrive at that decision (besides the home brew) was the early Christmas gift of Global Sun Oven® - World's Best Solar Oven
A friend has one and absolutely loves it. It's how she does all her summer baking and cooking, doing extra on sunny days to carry them over on cloudy days. She spoke so highly of it that it helped to make our decision easier.I am a bit concerned about cooking in the summer, although last summer I did use the wood stoves most days (even in 80ยบ F weather) to cook a quick meal (no stews or breads). We have a bread machine we use on sunny days (doesn't effect our solar that way). And, I think we will cheat a little and keep our gas grill......for now.
Wish us luck!
Posts
Congrats on taking the plunge! I just yesterday fired up (literally!) my 1909 Glenwood K cookstove for the very first time. I'm so excited! I was able to cook the veggies on the top last night, and all of dinner in and on it tonight. Still sorting out how small the firebox is, but that'll come in time. I have been eyeing one of those Solar Cookers as well - I'll look forward to reading about your experiences with it!
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle, I am happy to hear about your cookstove! Seems to me that every time I bake with mine it's trial and error. I have cooked a roast in 45 minutes one day and taken 2 hours to cook a loaf of bread the next! Never boring! I am excited about the Sun Oven. I don't have a good place to use it in the winter outside (they say you can use it even in freezing temps), but have thought of trying it in front of the sliding glass doors just to see how hot it gets. Now the sun just has to shine!
ReplyDelete~ Nancy
I have so missed you!! Congratulations with the plunge. There's no way I could convince my mother to do without the ghastly electric behemoth in the kitchen. Her mother cooked everything on a wood stove and I loved the ambience of it. Everything tasted like real food should. I want that again.
ReplyDeleteLord Wellbourne,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to have been away so long....
I think food cooked on a wood stove tastes so much better, too. Maybe I could email you a stew?
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ReplyDeleteOh, and some two-hour baked bread please! That would be heavenly on the arctic nights here on the tundra!
ReplyDeleteMaybe we'll get lucky and I can get the bread baking down to an hour!
ReplyDeleteI'll milk and churn the butter! Really.
ReplyDeleteNice : )
ReplyDeleteNancy, Congrats to you for your big change. I deal with an an electric stove/oven daily. I would love to switch to at least gas (I live in TX for crying out loud and there isn't gas plumbed in the house - really!)
ReplyDeleteI also look forward to hearing about your adventures with your Sun Oven. I have looked into it a bit and haven't followed through. I know I could take the plunge on that quite easily! Sincerely, Emily
Emily, I am very excited about the Sun Oven. Still haven't had enough sun here on days I'm home to give it a try. I won't really know much til spring when I can use it outside. Hopefully next year we will have a deck off the house and that will make it a snap to use!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you all!
~ Nancy
Good luck!
ReplyDeleteTara Laverdiere
Portland, Maine
Thanks, Tara!
ReplyDelete