Last week, the Eden research department came up with a delicious smooth-tasting oil, and the day after, we tried out the latest solar oven purchase with a whole-grain sorghum bread.
Personally, I adore sorghum, which unfortunately is considered “poor man’s millet”. With the international food racism doing its part on national radio and television, many Nigeriens dream of a meal of white rice, which unfortunately only sparks off a spiral of malnourishment for the entire family and affecting the younger members the worst.
Since eating a whole-grain bread would be a new experience for most of the Eden workers, the director invited the whole team together to share a new culinary experience, which everyone was up for!
Eden is all about trying new things and seeing what is possible with the means available. A few years ago, none of the workers believed that a solar oven could cook food. After a successful season of solar cooking at the field station, they now all agree that some things cook even better in the solar cooker (which slow-cooks) than on the stove or the fire; but there was still a lot of excitement in the air as we inaugurated the latest solar oven purchase!
You should have seen the heat that came out when the solar oven was opened! The astonishment above comes from opening the lid of the pan and seeing a fully baked whole-grain sorghum bread (which smelled delicious by the way!).
Here it is!
The whole-grain sorghum bread recipe
3 dl of pre-cooked sorghum
3 dl of sorghum flour
3 dl of wheat flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
water
salt
Mix all ingredients together and place in the solar oven for a minimum of three hours (of good sunshine).
Cutting the warm bread however was not an easy task, but in Niger, bread is eaten the Arab way so no one minded that I couldn’t produce perfect slices 
With the bread ready to be served, my dad sprinkled some freshly expelled Eden oil on top of it -
- and voila!
Anticipation was high-
…and the reviews were glowing!
I don’t think it took more then 10 minutes before the pan was empty.
And a minute later, the last crumb of new baked bread and the last drop of freshly expelled oil were gone.
And I must admit – it was really, really good!
17 users commented in " Serving Whole-grain Sorghum Bread with Eden Oil "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackEsther…I am so impressed with what you do. The bread looked great and the solar oven is really something!
Lori
Ahhh så spännande,man blir ju väldigt nyfiken på vad det smakar!!! Men gott ser det ut iaf!! Häftigt vad man kan göra med mat
KRAM
[Ishtar translation: Oh how exiting, am very curious as to how it tastes! But it looks good! So cool what one can do with food]
Do you ever have to turn the solar cooker so that the sunlight is hitting it straight on (orthogonally)?
@Lori: When I started out with a solar oven, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that it could actually cook! Today, I know that some things cook BETTER in a solar oven than with an ordinary stove, because of the slow-cook process… I’m thoroughly in love with it, and love the environmental bonus as we have yet to change our gaz bottle (and we’ve been living in the house for a year, eating warm food at least once a day, sometimes two…).
@Cornelia: You should come over for a Swedish fika! Bring some Swedish cheese and we’ll match that with some whole-grain newly baked sorghum bread! Or should we try dinner and have a nice salad served with Eden oil? Oh yes, lots of things one can do with food – and especially the Lost Treasures of Eden!
@Pat: I normally place the solar oven so that it will get the most sunshine prime time. If I come home during the siesta and want to leave the food until the evening because of diminished sunshine (clouds or dusty sky) I’ll reposition it again. If I don’t need the extra cooking time, I just leave it even if I want to have the dinner in the evening – the solar oven normally keeps the food warm until we come home. One time I even forgot the food over night, but the food itself was still warm in the morning (not very hot, but unspoiled).
I’m back! Please go to my Journal to collect and award.
Lori
As usual I am impressed. I can’t taste or smell it, but it looks as if some creme fraiche (or farmers cheese) with some honey would be delicious with this lovely bread.
Wow!!…you are a constant source of inspiration and it is amazing that daily you find ways of changing the world…not many people can say that. Nice work Ishtar and Eden Foundation!
@Lori: Thanks! That was sweet!
@Janet: You’re right on! Maybe our goat could produce some more milk and we could serve it with goat cheese!
@Photogchic: Thanks!!
Hi Esther, I popped onto your blog and now I have an idea where you are! What a wonderful foundation you have – amazing people your dear parents.And that you’ve caught the vision to serve your fellow man in this way, is wonderful. I love the idea of solar heating and intend to try it in the near future here at home. Well done! Your bread looks delicious. Please tell me: what is “dl” as in 1 dl of sorghum, etc in the recipe. Hugs Jo
wow, that bread looks just wonderful, plus the oil, yum! looks like everyone had a smile on their face eating the wonderful specialities
@Jo: Welcome! The dl is short of decilitre, which according to Pat’s google tip is 0.42 cup, “or about half a cup, because a liter is 4.23 cups.” Hope that helps?
@O: It was really good. The Eden oil reminds me of mix between walnut and avocado oil, although as with all Lost Treasures of Eden tastes, you can’t really place it, since you’ve never tried it before!
My dad’s family has southern roots and i wish i could remember what he said about using the sorghum in breads and other things. I guess it was common.
looks delicious!
Wauw, Esther and others working overthere,
the bread looks deliciously.
Wish I was there to see things getting done practically.
But the pictures show enough.
Wonderful to be able to try and find solutions for famine.
Great work, wish you all the best.
W
Greetings Esther,
I have been following your solar cooking experiences, since it is something I have great interest in.
I was wondering if you would be willing to allow me to link to your blog from my site so that my visitors might be able to read and follow along with your solar cooking experiences and to be able to see some “real world” application of this art.
Sincerely
Nathan Parry
Yummy. It really looks good. Fantastic with the solar cooker and everything. Such great accomplishment! *applauds*
My sister and I are looking for volunteer opportunities to work with African villagers. One of our ideas was to distribute solar cookers.
Do you know of any volunteer programs such as this? Or seeds for edible trees, plants, etc. WE are open to any suggestions.
We are both experienced travelers. I speak French.
Thank you.
Nancy Taylor