Purpose This is used to cook a stew or similar. It is rather like a slow cooker. The stew is prepared in the usual manner, and instead of letting it cook slowly on a cooker or fire, when it is nicely hot, it is placed inside the hay-box for several hours. A hay-box may be used to cook the stew either during the night, ready for the next day's midday meal, or it may be used throughout the day when the girls are either away from the camp or otherwise busy. It is a very good method of cooking without using resources. Description A hay box, as its name suggests, is a box containing hay or straw, surrounding the cooking pot of stew (or similar), which uses insulation techniques to cook food slowly. Thus it may be compared to a slow cooker. Materials A cooking pot. A large strong box that is at least 15cm (6 inches) deeper and wider, than the cooking pot that will be used. This may be a wooden tea chest, or a large strong cardboard box. Lots of straw or similar insulation. Some aluminium foil. Two carrier bags. Method It isn't absolutely necessary to line the box with aluminium foil, but it does help. The foil round the sides of the box will probably get pushed down unless you are very careful. Place about 8cm (3 inches) straw on the bottom of the box (more is there is extra space). Place the empty cooking pot on top, in the middle. Fill around the cooking pot with more straw. Pack the straw very tightly. Now make a "cushion" to place on the top, by filling one carrier bag with straw, and placing the other carrier bag over the open end. Wrap this cushion in aluminium foil. Prepare the food in the pot, make sure it is very hot. Slide the pot into the hay-box, and place the cushion on top. If using a cardboard box the four flaps may be folded over to keep the warmth in. Leave overnight, or throughout the day. Shortly before serving, take the cooking pot out of the hay box, and reheat, making sure that the contents are heated properly throughout. Notes The hay-box may be kept from year-to-year. However, you will need to have some extra straw, as this tends to decrease in volume with age. |