With threatening doom and gloom and disaster around every corner, it's probably about time you made some kind of preparation – like reading this article, that's probably enough.
So today I'm going to talk about simple cooking techniques – the kind you can use when you're stuck out in the wilderness without a gas or electric oven. For most of us who have never been to boy scouts, I think it's remarkably useful knowledge to have.
Pressure Cooker:
First off, get yourself a pressure cooker. They're basically big pans with special lids on them that lock the pressure in. Cooking time using a pressure cooking is reduced by 2/3 and by cooking in a pressure cooker the vitamins and minerals are preserved.
Stove Top Baking:
If you place a trivet into a heavy iron pan it will serve you well as a quick stove top oven. Do not use aluminum or copper based pans as they're sure to warp or break. You can also just use a heavy fry pan straight on top of the heat source (without a trivet) to bake quick bread, muffins, or cakes. Keep the heat low, and sprinkle cornmeal onto the bottom of the frypan to keep your baked goods from burning.
Solar Tea:
Ahhhh ~ even the world collapses around you, you can always make it all better with a nice cup of tea. Simply put 7 tea bags in a giant gallon jar of water, and place it in the sun. In the winter, place in the direct sunlight inside your car. Simply add lemon juice for an instant treat.
Solar Oven:
This is difficult to explain, but basically think of a cardboard box with the sides lined in foil and one side cut off. You could have a similar structure with the foil sun shade from a car, but it's basically the same idea. Place a rack at the bottom to lift a pot of the ground, and use a dark colored pot as it will absorb more. You'll be shocked at how hot it'll actually get.