A recent thread gave several differing ideas on building a "Bush Box" - I used several of them combined in creating mine. I used an old storage trunk (sm coffee table size), lined it with 2" styrofoam and divider downt the middle, laid 2 12"x12" ceramic tiles to set my pots on. My trunk was large enough in width that i was able to create 2 pot pockets so to speak. Figured I could do beans on one side and rice on the other (grin). Anyway, today I made a recipe out of my "Cooking with Beans" book, brought beans to a boil with all ingredients (except the tomatoe sauce - added in end to avoid need for extended cooking time) for 20 minutes on stovetop, placed in Bush Box and stuffed newspaper around for extra insulation, then sealed it up tight (nice feature of trunk is it has latches that lock it down nice n tight - handles for ease of carrying too!) Happy to say they were THE BEST beans I'd ever cooked. I used "Cranberry Beans" (same family as the Pinto bean but larger). I put them in at 9:30AM and brought them out at 1:30 PM - 4 hours to beautiful beans......Needless to say, my family was impressed - they were a bit hesitant at first. So now the deal is finding out other uses for my bush box. Can it be used for baking too or just for stews, beans, etc. ? Thanks to Taz and others who pointed me in the right direction on this one - Any other instructions on using this box would be greatly appreciated - the email is real......

-- New Kid on the Block (BetterGetPrepped@aol.com), September 12, 1999

Answers

Delighted that your Bush Box was successful. It just makes sense to use it even if we have power/gas. Why waste energy? I have not used mine for other than beans, stew and potroast. Because you need to bring stuff to a boil, I think you are limited to those dishes that start out with lots of fluid. But one can always try. Thats part of the fun, isn't it? I was thinking of bringing macaroni to a boil, sticking it in box until done, drain, stir in cheese, etc and put back into box for awhile. Who knows?

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), September 13, 1999.

Just read this thread. The bush box sounds interesting. Is there anymore info on making one. This is the first I heard of such a thing.

-- Steve A (albrecht@ndak.net), September 13, 1999.

Here are the origional threads on this forum regarding the "Bush Box / Hay Box" cookery - cut n paste these into your web browser - they can be found in the archives under Food Cooking as well....

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0013FB

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0013AS

http://www.cat.org.uk/information/tipsheets/haybox.html

-- New Kid on the Block (BetterGetPrepped@aol.com), September 14, 1999.

I use mine to cook porridge for breakfast. If I put it in in the evening it is ready for the morning,(not my best time,) and it doesn't burn it!! Also, if there is a recession then any saving however small on bills will be welcome.

-- liz (thehalletts@bigfoot.coml), September 14, 1999.

Great report, and using the truck is innovative.

I found a report on a non-profit website somewhere about baking bread in a haypot. It suggested putting the dough in a plastic boiling bag, and then put it in boiling water for 20 minutes, thence into the haypot.

Got printable flyers for distribution during y2k disruptions?

-- robert waldrop (rmwj@soonernet.com), September 14, 1999.

Wow! I am going to try that making of bread tomorrow. Will let you know how it turns out.

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), September 18, 1999.

Have you tried cooking in a wide mouthed thermos, same principle. Boil rice, beans, meat, and pour into a thermos. Use a wide opening funnel to direct boiling fluid into thermos. Probably best to pour boiling water into thermos before hand to get it hot. Stays hot for 12 to 24 hours. Remove beans rice meat with a long handled narrow wooden spoon. The thermos is very efficient at holding heat.

-- thinkIcan (thinkIcan@make.it), September 20, 1999.