When the cat's away!

My DH detests cooked fresh coriander with a passion, whereas I love it.  But he's away just now, so today I let the sun crank up my solar oven and cooked Lemony Chicken with Fresh Coriander.  It works just as well with lamb, and of course you don't need a solar oven to make it.  Here's the recipe for normal cooking.  Play around with quantities - I do: 

Lemony Chicken with Fresh Coriander
Chicken pieces or Lamb
1 inch fresh Ginger
5 cloves Garlic
2 oz water (4tbsp)
Pinch Chilli Powder (I used a bit of fresh chilli pepper I had left over)
2 tsp ground Cumin powder (or 2 tsp toasted and crushed seeds)
1 tsp ground Coriander (or 2 tsp toasted and crushed seeds)
Half tsp Tumeric
1 Chicken stock cube in quarter pint water
2 tbsp Lemon juice
Salt to tast - add near end
Little oil for frying
Bunch of fresh Coriander

Method:
Fry meat until slightly brown. 
Put garlic, ginger and water into blender and grind to paste.
Heat tbsp oil in large pan or Tava till hot and add paste.
Add chopped coriander and spices.
Allow to cook a little and stir.
Add meat - coat with sauce. 
Add stock and lemon juice.
Simmer for 1 & half hours, or transfer to casserole and cook in oven.
Taste and add salt if necessary.
Sprinkle little fresh coriander before serving.


Serve with rice or new potatoes and green veg.

Trying out my new solar oven.

Yesterday a friend and I visited an art and craft market in Limassol Old Town, expecting to come away with perhaps a piece of cool arty jewellery.  Instead we both updated our green credentials and bought solar ovens.  

I just couldn't wait to try mine out.  So this morning I popped some chicken fillet, garlic, green peppers, tomato, onions and mushrooms in one pot.  And some potato to bake in another.  I placed it in the oven following the instructions and then pretty much forgot about it, whilst I did some work and watched the F1 Grand Prix on the tv.  

When we were ready to eat I threw a salad together and went outside to see if we had a meal fit to eat.  It was pretty much an experiment as I haven't used a solar oven before.  So I was really excited to find we had a really yummy meal for two;  even my husband was impressed!  And all cooked by the sun!  Can't wait to try something else ... maybe some bread next time.

If this inspires you to find out more, just Google 'solar oven' or 'solar cooker', there's masses of information and recipes on the internet.  Good luck!

Update:  Since posting the above a few days ago, people are asking where I obtained my solar oven.  So here's a link to Re-newcy the very nice people who supplied it.