Cardboard Apple Box Oven

We made some cardboard apple box ovens that cook just like a regular oven and you use charcoal briquettes. Each briquette is about 25 degrees of heat, so if you need it to be about 350 degrees, just use about 14 briquettes. Basically you take either the top or the bottom of an apple box and cover any holes that it might have with more cardboard and tape in place. You'll cut out a section for a window on one of the large sides, then you cover the whole box with heavy duty aluminum foil. Each of the seams (areas where two pieces of foil overlap) then needs to be covered with a metallic type tape you find in hardware stores. You will also need to cut the window part out again. Cut it in an "X" pattern (see video)and fold back and tape. You'll use a turkey roasting bag cut just larger than the window and tape it in place on the inside. And you're done.

Lay a strip on foil down on the ground to put the lighted briquettes on. You'll also use four cans (soda or something like a can of corn) that are the same size, filled with water or sand. Put the cans in the corners and make sure the box can go over them. Put a cookie rack or similar grate on top of the cans, this is where your food will sit. Cover and let the "oven" preheat. Then put your food on the rack and cover leaving a small space at the bottom for air to keep circulating for the coals. You can use a small rock to prop it up.

We tried it out that night and made 2 sheets of cookies and a casserole and muffins and they turned out great. The cookies took 3-4 minutes longer than in her oven at home but that was all.

Spaghetti Pie Recipe

Sorry the recipe wouldn't let me post it with the Four night post - but that okay - it was such a good dish it deserves it's own post.

Spaghetti Pie - Karen said this is a great recipe that you can make ahead and freeze for a busy night, just allow extra time for it to cook.

Flour Night

Hey everyone - sorry it's taken so long to add a post but things have been busy this summer and we took July off from having any classes since everyone was busy. Below is a copy of the handouts from our last Provident Living cooking class. It was on Flour and it was fabulous. We we able to sample many yummy things - and the spaghetti pie was a hit.

More Emergency Info

We are so glad that Michael Barr came and showed us lots of great things that will help make our lives much more comfortable and easy in an emergency. Below you'll find the handouts he brought. I believe it contains all of the information about the items he showed us.

I haven't checked yet to see if the papers about canning butter are exactly the same yet but as I scanned over them, they looked the same.

By the way, Michael and his wife are serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at the Springville, Utah Cannery. They are also called to speak to groups about emergency preparedness and so they have tried and tested all of these items plus many more to share what works the best. One comment that he kept making was to make sure to have extra of these items because you never know if "it will get lost, stolen, or broken." He also mentioned that the booklet "All Is Safely Gathered In," which can be found at ProvidentLiving.org,

has a list of food and things that we should have on hand and puts it in order of what is most important to get. Look on the left side and click on "Family Home Storage." He also said that what is listed is just the bare minimum. The list is almost exactly like the list the the pioneers in the handcart companies were told to gather as they crossed the plains. As I think of the hardships they went through, it definitely makes me want to store more food.

One thing that is not on the handouts is how to wash clothes in an emergency. He has used a container that either had an accordion-style plunger and one with an "unbaptized" toilet-plunger, and an old-fashioned washboard. He had 3-4 tubs; first one to wash in(he also used a homemade laundry soap like the one that's posted.) Then he put it through an old fashioned ringer and in the first rinse tub then through the ringer again. Again through the ringer and into the 2nd rinse tub that has a little vinegar in the water to totally get rid of all the soap residue that can stay on clothes. Ringer once more. And the 4th tub was just a check if all the soap was completely out, which it was. He had made a clothes rack out of PVC pipe to hang everything on and it only cost about $10.00.

More Oat Recipes

Honey Oatmeal Bread
5 ¾ to 6 ¼ cups all-purpose, whole wheat flour, or a mix
2 ½ cups oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1/3 cup honey
2 Tbs. quick rising yeast
2 ½ tsp. salt

1 ½ cups water
1 ¼ cup low-fat milk
4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) butter

In a large bowl, combine 3 cups flour and next 4 ingredients; mix well. In a small saucepan, heat water, milk, and butter until very warm (120–130 degrees). Add to flour mixture. Blend on low speed of electric mixer until dry ingredients are moistened. Increase to medium speed; beat 3 minutes. By hand, gradually stir in enough flour to make a stiff dough. Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 5–8 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Shape dough into a ball; place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease both sides of the dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place 30 minutes or until doubled. Place in two grease 8x4 or 9x5 loaf pans. Cover and let rise again in a warm place 15 minutes or until nearly doubled in size. Heat oven to 375. Bake 35–40 minutes or until dark golden brown. Remove pans to wire rack. Cool completely before slicing.

Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups mini marshmallows
6 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup (1 stick) butter
½ cup whole milk
3 cups oats
1 cup chopped hazelnuts (optional)
1 cup shredded coconut (optional)
2/3 cup Nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread)
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch salt

In a large saucepan, combine sugar, marshmallows, cocoa powder, butter, and milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a full boil. Continue boiling 1 minute without stirring. Remove pan from heat. Immediately add remaining ingredients; mix well. Working quickly, drop mixture by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper. Refrigerate till well chilled. Transfer to airtight containers, separating layers with waxed paper. Store in refrigerator.

Alternate No-Bake Recipe
In medium saucepan add:
½ cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 Tbs. cocoa
½ cup milk

Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat and add:
½ cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups oats
½ cup coconut (optional)

Drop in spoonfuls on wax paper to cool.

Apple Crisp
10 cups dehydrated apple slices
¼ cup lemon juice
6 cups hot water

Topping:
1 cup butter
1 cup oats
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. nutmeg
¼ tsp. salt

Butter a 13x9 pan. Fill with dried apples and drizzle with lemon juice. Pour hot water over apples and allow to soak 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

For topping cut butter into 1/4-inch pieces and toss with remaining dry ingredients. Carefully spoon topping onto rehydrated apples. (Pan should be very full but will bake down.) Bake at 375 for 1 hour or until lightly toasted on top. Best when served hot with vanilla ice cream.

This dessert can be prepared hours ahead of time, stored in the fridge, and then baked while your family or guests enjoy dinner.

Some Oat Recipes

Here's a few of the recipes from the oats class:

Granola
Combine in a large bowl:
4 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup coconut
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup slivered almonds
1/3 cup sesame seeds
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon

Mix separately, then add to the above mixture:
1/3 cup oil
3/4 cup honey (slightly warmed to liquify)
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix thoroughly, spread on large cookie sheet, and bake at 350 for 18-22 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet while still warm to avoid sticking. Add:
1 cup raisins or any other dried fruit

Granola will be soft when baking time is through. It will crisp as it cools.

Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Mix together:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup honey or sugar
1 Tbs. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Add to dry ingredients and stir till just moistened:
1 cup milk
1 egg
1 Tbs. oil
1 large apple, cored and chopped small (or dried apple flakes, moistened)
1/2 cup raisins

Spray muffin tins with oil and fill 2/3 full. Bake at 400 for 12-14 minutes.

Oatmeal Pancakes (Waffles)
This is really waffle batter, but it makes great pancakes too.

1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. sugar
1/3 cup powdered milk
2 eggs, separeted
1 cup water
3 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 cup rolled oats

In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and powdered milk; stir until well blended. In small bowl, beat egg whites till stiff; set aside. (If you don’t want to take the In large mixing bowl, combine egg yolks, water, oil, and oats; beat slightly and allow to stand for 5 minutes, then beat until blended. Mix in dry ingredients, then fold in beaten egg whites. Cook in pan until pancakes are full of bubbles on top and undersides are slightly browned. Serve with applesauce, jam, or maple syrup.

Oatmeal Crème Brulée
2 cups quick oats
1/3 cup sugar
¼ tsp. salt
3 1/3 cups skim milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup packed brown sugar

Heat oven to 350. Spray a square baking dish with Pam. Combine oats, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Combine milk, eggs, and vanilla in a medium mixing bowl Mix well. Add to oat mixture; mix well. Pour into baking dish. Bake 40-45 minutes or until center jiggles slightly. Remove from oven to cooling rack. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over top of oatmeal. Return to oven. Bake until sugar melts, 2-3 minutes. Set oven to broil. Broil 3 inches from heat until sugar bubbles and browns slightly, 1-2 minutes.

Instant Oatmeal Packets
Makes 10 packets of instant oatmeal: Blend ½ cup oats until powdery. Into each of the 10 packets (individual ziplock baggies), combine:

¼ cup unpowdered oats
2 Tbs. powdered oats
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar (optional)

Close the top and store in a dry place.

Microwave: Empty packet into a microwaveable bowl. Add 2/3 cup water or milk. Cook on high for about 90 seconds. Stir.

Conventional: Empty packet into pan. Add ½ cup boiling water; cook and stir over high (or medium) heat till thickened, about 1 minute (about 5 min. if you use old-fashioned oats).

Oatmeal Cake
Mix 1 cup oats and 1 ½ cups hot water. Set aside.

Mix together:
1 cube softened butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
½ tsp. salt

Add oatmeal mixture to above ingredients. Blend well then add:
1 ½ cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda

Mix all well and pour into greased and floured cake pan. Bake at 350 for 40–45 minutes.

Topping: Mix all ingredients in a small pan.
1 cube butter or margarine
4 Tbs. milk (1/4 cup)
1 cup coconut
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts

Cook over low heat. Cook 1 mintue after it starts bubbling. Pour onto cooled cake

Whole Wheat Blender Pancakes
1 cup wheat berries (uncooked)
1 cup milk

Blend at high speed about 4 mintues until thick and creamy and wheat is chopped. Then add:
½ cup milk
¼ cup oil
½ tsp. salt
2 eggs
4 tsp. baking powder
4 Tbs. brown sugar

Blend an additional 3 minutes on medium speed. Cook as pancakes or waffles.

Granola Bars
2 cups rolled oats
½ cup sunflower seeds
1 cup sliced almonds or other nuts
½ cup wheat germ or shredded coconut
½ cup honey
¼ cup dark brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
½ tsp. salt
1 Tbs. unsalted butter
6 ½ oz. (3/4 cup) dried fruit

Butter a 9x9 pan; set aside. Mix first 4 ingredients and place on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Combine remaining ingredients except fruit on a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. When oat mixture is finished cooking, remove from oven and decrease heat to 300 and immediately add sugar mixture to oat mixture. Pour into baking dish and press evenly (Tip: butter the back of a spoon and use it to spread the mixture around). Cook 20 minutes and allow to cool completely then cut into squares. Store in an airtight container. To make more chewy, add another 2 Tbs. honey and only bake 15 minutes.

Breakfast Oatmeal with Fruit
¼ cup rolled oats
¼ cup walnuts, crumbled
1 Tbs. raisins
1 Tbs. dried cranberries
1 Tbs. brown sugar (more or less to taste)
½ tsp. cinnamon (more or less to taste)
½ cup water

Microwave 2 minutes. Add ½ cup frozen blueberries and microwave an additional 90 seconds. Add milk if desired.

Complete Proteins

This is a chart of foods you can combine to make a complete protein. It's from the night we canned oats.