Part I - Cooking in a Hot Pot
Problem: Cooking any sort of food in the hot pot leaves scorched, stuck particles all over the heating element.
Proposed solution #1: improvise a way to lift a bowl above the bottom of the pot, add water around the bowl, and cook food at boiling temperature in the bowl.
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| Spoons criss-crossed in a hot pot to hold bowl above the element |
Result: It took nearly half an hour to melt all the frozen ingredients and to then cook all the raw ingredients, but the soup was delicious and the pot was easily cleaned.
Photographs of pot experiment and photographs of soup-making are on flickr.
Problem: The preceding idea is good, but we need better equipment. Starting with those spoons.
Proposed solution #1-b: Flat marbles, also called glass gems, to cover the bottom of the pot.
Result: After one trial, no gems are broken, the pot is undamaged, the soup didn't spill. I'd call it a success. Flat marbles can be had from Michael's and from Hobby Lobby, and probably at half the price from Walmart. They'll be in the craft supplies section.
Problem: The bowl works but not only is it hard to extricate it from the pot, if it gets dropped on the tile floor it will shatter.
Proposed solution #1-c: a set of anodized aluminum camper's cookware.
Result: Pan worked well for cooking and was stable on the marbles. It was almost as difficult to get it out of the hot pot as the bowl was. However, unlike with the bowl, a set of dedicated pliers might work with the pan. One of the 4 pans is too tall for the hot pot, and one is too small to be of much use. That leaves 2. The set cost more than $25. I'd call this a qualified success.
Proposed Solution #2: Fit a steamer basket into the hot pot.
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| Steamer basket in a hot pot |
Result: The basket was filled with diced sweet potatoes, which were steamed for 30 minutes. Water was added every 10 minutes down the spout with lid closed. About 2 cups of water were needed for the whole operation, and half a cup remaining, filled with cooking juices. Potatoes were soft and tasty.
Part II - Cooking in a Coffee Pot
Problem: Your dorm policy prohibits everything but an electric drip coffee pot.
Proposed Solution: acquire a spare carafe and a spare basket for your coffee pot (so your food doesn't taste like coffee, and you coffee doesn't taste like pea soup) and make it do what no coffee pot has ever done before.
Pasta - (in the pipeline...)
Part III - Cooking in Nothing: Cold Food Survival
Problem: Your dorm policy prohibits everything.
Proposed Solution: Okay, boys and girls, this is going to take some time. But we can do it! How about a month of meal plans, 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, requiring no more than a bowl, a spoon, and a can opener? No repeats, and all good things to eat. Real food, no "lunchables". Watch this space!
Part II - Cooking in a Coffee Pot
Problem: Your dorm policy prohibits everything but an electric drip coffee pot.
Proposed Solution: acquire a spare carafe and a spare basket for your coffee pot (so your food doesn't taste like coffee, and you coffee doesn't taste like pea soup) and make it do what no coffee pot has ever done before.
Pasta - (in the pipeline...)
Part III - Cooking in Nothing: Cold Food Survival
Problem: Your dorm policy prohibits everything.
Proposed Solution: Okay, boys and girls, this is going to take some time. But we can do it! How about a month of meal plans, 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, requiring no more than a bowl, a spoon, and a can opener? No repeats, and all good things to eat. Real food, no "lunchables". Watch this space!
