Italians have very strong opinions on food. I've never met one that didn't firmly believe that fish and cheese have no business being on the same plate. I've seen disapproving waiters snatch the Parmesan cheese out of the hands of bewildered non-Italian diners about...

Lentils cook faster than other dried legumes and are prone to overcooking. Even in the Sun Oven. For soups or stews that may not be an issue, but when you want them to hold their shape it's a good idea take a quick peek after they've been in the Sun Oven for 40...

Pissaladière, a savory tart topped with onions, anchovies, and olives can be found in just about every bakery in the south of France. If you want you can make the dough from scratch. I use purchased, refrigerated pizza dough. For the sake of the picture I arranged the...

On days when I've got nothing else going on in my Sun Oven, I like to make a big batch of smothered onions. Just slice up as many onions as your pot can hold. Put them in the pot. Add olive oil, about 1 tablespoon per pound, and a pinch of salt. Toss to coat, cover,...

This soup is good served cold or hot making it a good choice year round. Sun Oven Beet Soup with Fennel and Ginger Ingredients 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth 1/4 head savoy cabbage, chopped 1 large beet, peeled and chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon fresh ginger,...

The figs and balsamic vinegar infuse this solar braised chicken dish with a slightly exotic flavor. Any left-over meat can be used to make chicken salad. Ingredients 3/4 cup chicken broth 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoon shredded orange peel 1 teaspoon salt 1/2...

Summer gardens tend to yield plenty of zucchini. This bread is a good way to use some of them. I use a bread machine to mix and knead the dough, but I'm sure it could be done by hand. Sun Oven Zucchini Bread Ingredients 7 tablespoons buttermilk 1 generous cup water 1...

Using a Dutch oven, or any other kind of cast iron cookware, means longer cooking times. On the upside it retains heat longer. In the summer months I often leave the dutch oven in the Sun Oven until dinner time. If you leave the glass door closed your meal will stay...

A few weeks ago we had a yard sale and, in addition to the merchandise, I set my Sun Ovens out to attract attention and bake cookies for the customers. Our neighbor had been wondering what they were since we moved in last fall. He can see them in our back yard from...

These butter free muffins come out great in the Sun Oven. The tops are crusty but the crumb stays moist and delicious. Honey Oat Bran Muffins Ingredients 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup oat bran flakes 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 1/2...