We all know ‘Summer Solstice’ marks the longest day of the year. Foods served during this day are sun-colored and round. Sun-colored fruits like lemons, oranges, mangos, peaches and nectarines, and vegetables like yellow squash, corn and tomatoes are served during this day. Foods were grilled over an open flame – again symbolizing the sun.
Let’s steer towards the solar cooker, shall we? Here is an easy recipe to make with the solar cooker. A lip-smacking dish that is perfect for a picnic.
Potato Fondants
Ingredients
- 6 large potatoes
- 2 tbsp oil
- 50g butter
- Sea salt & cracked black pepper
- 6 thyme sprigs
- 1 rosemary sprig
- 8 garlic cloves
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
Method
Combine all the ingredients except the chicken stock in a baking or roasting pan. Toss it well so that the spices coat the potatoes. Transfer this into a solar cooker or sun oven. Cook until the potatoes are semi-soft. This can take up to an hour to cook.
Once done, add the chicken stock and let it cook till the stock reduces to form a syrupy glaze on the potatoes. Serve hot with garlic mayonnaise.
Some cake please?
What’s a celebration without some cake? Try the recipe for this cake in a solar cooker.
Honey Cake
Ingredients
- 200 grams all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg and cardamom powder
- 2 eggs
- 125 grams brown sugar
- 200 ml honey
- 200 grams butter or vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon coffee powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup sliced mix dry fruits
Instructions
Preheat the solar cooker and grease a baking dish. Keep it inside the solar cooker to pre-heat it.
Take a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and cardamom powder. Keep it aside.
Whisk eggs, sugar, and honey until it is light and fluffy. Add butter or oil and vanilla extract and mix well. Now add flour mixture and coffee. Beat well until the mixture is smooth. Ensure that you do not over mix.
Pour the batter into the greased pan. Sprinkle with nuts. Add some water in the baking tray to ensure the cake will not burn. Cover with a perforated lid if needed. Bake in the solar cooker till done. Since the time to bake a cake in the solar cooker is different from that of a conventional oven, you will need to check after 45 minutes to ensure it isn’t getting burnt. Once the cake is completely done, allow cake to cool. The cake tastes better in room temperature.
Let’s get cool!
What’s food without a few icy cold drinks to beat the scorching summer heat. Here are some refreshing drinks to celebrate the Summer Solstice.
Ginger Lemon Juice
- Juice of 3 lemons
- 2 pieces of ginger
- Sugar or honey as required
- A pinch of salt
- 4 lemon wedges
- 4 cups water
- A few crushed mint leaves
To make the drink: Squeeze lemon remove seeds and sieve and keep it aside. Grate ginger and squeeze it by putting them in a soft cloth. Take four cups of water, add lemon juice, ginger essence, salt, sugar or honey. Mix them well. Add crushed mint leaves.
Take two serving glass and top it with ice cubes. Pour the lemon, ginger honey mix to it and add crushed mint leaves on the top. Keep lemon wedge on the side of the glass and serve chilled.
Something warm, maybe?
This warm drink is perfect to drink at night, when you want to unwind and relax.
Cinnamon Honey Drink
Ingredients:
- 4 cups skim milk
- 4 tsp. honey
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp cinnamon powder
- A few marshmallows
To make the drink: Warm the milk. Ensure that you don’t boil it. Add the honey and vanilla extract to the warm milk and stir well. Pour into mugs and sprinkle cinnamon powder on it. Toss in a few marshmallows and enjoy it.
