Eric the Halogen Oven!

As I don`t have an oven (other than a microwave oven) on the boat and we had an opportunity to purchase a Halogen oven (a sort of pyrex bowl with a spotlight on the top, for want of a better explanation) at a very much reduced price, which we did, it had to be tried out firstly at home before taking it down to the boat (don`t ask me why, I just do as I`m told :o(( ). We are now cooking a roast dinner including veg etc, in it. I can`t help thinking that it looks a bit like using a hair dryer to melt a Mars Bar (to make Hot Chocolate for the night watch) so I will reserve judgement until its finished :o((

I don`t hold out much hope as 45 minutes of hot air heated by a lightbulb doesn`t seem to be enough? Mind you if somebody told me that the frequency of the light ( which is different to the heating of a "normal oven") coupled with the circulatory fan would bring about a culinary transformation before my very eyes! I wouldn`t believe them!!!!!!!!

Mmmmmmmm! it smells good so far and I have just been called upon to turn over the meat which seems to be crisp on the exposed side (exposed to the light, much like it would be on a grill, which of course this is, I guess? ) The veg in the bottom of the Pyrex dish doesn`t seem to be doing much but I guess its early days yet.

The heat is set for 200 degrees and the timer for 40 minutes so you experts out there can tell me where I`m going wrong? Stay posted, all this is being achieved on a 13 amp 240 volt ac plug much the same one as one would use for a hairdryer. Gosh I`m hungry, it really smells good I can`t see how fish is supposed to be cooked in this without stinking the place out? Stay Tuned more later!! Mmmmmmmmm! I wonder if I can do a treakle sponge pudding in it? Mmmmmm! There goes my diet again :o(( back to roller blading I guess????? Ah there`s the ping of the timer, I`m offffff!

Well that was a false alarm :o(( .I have just turned the meat over again and still the potatoes don`t seem to be doing anything even though I have "Par boiled" them Mmm! The knife doesn`t pass into them when I test them (well not as it should anyway) and the meat is nearly cooked, maybe another 10 minutes or so? Wow that smells good! so the veg isn`t cooked? its supposed to be healthy isn`t it? to eat part cooked veg ? then again Zantac can`t be good for you either. Tomorrow I was going to make a beuf bourginion (well help anyway) but I think that it may be a bit ambitious, we will, see! stay tuned!

"The more I fail, the nearer to success I get!" (Ardie 1978).

I`m now getting bored the "silver Darlek" ( Eric, shall we call him?) is still flashing his Blo*dy lights and the veg still isn`t cooked! Next time, the veg goes in 20 minutes before the meat (breaded Pork Fillets) if there is a next time.

The cable that runs this thing ( sorry, Eric) would look more suited to a table lamp than an oven its so thin but it works I guess? Thats a point I could use it as a table lamp if all else fails? then again I guess that it will go the same way as the "Auto Chop" and the "Waterless Cooker" and sit for ages unsold in the charity shop? Such indignity, not to be loved by anyone, I should know :o)) Tee Hee! Ahhhhh! theres Erics bell again! are we done???? "Stay tuned" To quote Walter Kronkite (who died recently).

Well! I am impressed the food was great, not bad for a lightbulb and a hair dryer! well done Eric. Major problem though, the oven bowl won`t fit in the sink, on the boat :o(( b*gger bu*ger bugg*r!!!!! Best laid plans of mice and men eh? :o(( Ahhh! I could get a bigger boat? I guess but that wouldn`t go down too well, particlarily as the kids call my car a "skip" (Dumpster) I guess I`ll have to replace that first or have a sink put in my car ? Uh! :o(( Hang the expense! "give the cat a goldfish"