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Post by Water Woman on Sept 23, 2009 13:27:34 GMT
Have I dreamt this? I remember seeing on tv or reading about a 'hay box' which was the first slow cooker. The already hot casserole is put into a box of hay which is sealed up tightly and left. Does anyone know of a website where I may see how to make one? I have not made this up have I?
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Post by Glen B Ogle on Sept 23, 2009 16:49:43 GMT
You're quite correct WW. They certainly featured on the Wartime Kitchen Garden prog amongst others. They're very easy (assuming you've got a source of decent hay). Google throws up a few sites, but none of them give very good instructions! It really is simple though, you just need a (preferably wooden) box several incehs alround larger than your cooking pot - the latter should have a good fitting lid. One though is you could use a cool-box instead of a wooden box for more insulation. Put a layer of hay in the bottom, put the pot (already heated of course) in and then stuff hay firmly all round and on top. Put a lid on the box and leave it for several hours. I think you could do the same with some sort of insulating material, but the hay will actually generate heat itself. There is a more modern alternative though! At a couple of boatshows this year (Crick and the IWA National) I did see someone selling what is, in effect, a giant vaccum flask. You just bring your stew (or whatever) to the boil in the supplied pan, put it in the flask and hey-presto! I think they reckon about 8 hours limit, which I thought isn't quite long enough for a day's boating/working/whatever. ClickyGlen (For information I used to be a boater but sold my narrowboat a few years back)
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Post by Water Woman on Sept 25, 2009 13:08:01 GMT
Glen thank you, what a brilliant reply. The idea of a cool box may be a good one, tightly sealed already. I am going to try it out as soon as I can. I could fling all the ingredients together in the morning and get it good and hot before I put it in the hay box before work. Then I will come home to a lovely one-pot dinner. Mmmm I can smell it now. As for soup, well I can start that off in the morning before going out on the boat and hey presto it will be beautiful (assuming my cooking is ever beautiful) when I moor up.
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