24137: Benson (reply) RE: 24110: Walton (reply) RE: 24103: Paryski (discuss) protectorate (discuss) Walton (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Legrace Benson <legrace@twcny.rr.com>

Re:24110  Benson (reply) Solar cooking
Conversations with people who have tried solar cooking in various places in
Nordest and Nord indicate something more than will is required to change
cuisinary habits.  The food cooked by solar method yields foods that have
different flavours and textures from the accustomed diet. Time allocations
for the cooking process are also different -one has to 'watch the pot' a bit
differently. Moreover, there are certain traditionally attractive dishes
that cannot easily be produced in the solar ovens.  In a twist on the adage,
'You are what you eat,' it is true for many people the world over that they
eat what (who) they are. Food is tied to identity in subtle ways.  To switch
to a new cooking method is also to change some important aspects of ones
being-in-the-world. Ask any diabetic you know. A switch from fire to sun
requires patience all around. And let us not forget that higher incomes
would enable the purchase of other, less environmentally destructive fuels.