I was born late in my parents lives and my mother was the next to the last in her family of 13. I did not get to connect to the older women in my family. My mother suffered from a very serious mental illness so what she knew was lost. My father was an orphan and had no family. I did not have a grandmother that I can remember. I am grateful you do this. I did not have anyone on the road in front of me. I have four daughters and three sons (I wanted a big family so no one would be alone lol). I learn so much from you and am able to teach my kids. Thanksgiving weekend two of my daughters came over and we dehydrated some apples and canned apple sauce and apple pie filling. It was such a joy to be able to share with them what I have learned My first grandchild is 2. She loves to use my apple peeler and “help Grammy.” What you know she will eventually know and what was lost between my grandmother, who was by all reports skilled and very industrious, and my mother will be relearned. Thank you for being willing to teach.
Grace. That is the one word I would use to describe you. You are such a wonderful human being. I love the fact that everything doesn't always work out perfectly and that you always say "but that's all right".
I love cooking stews with this method. Even though I have made two different wonder bag designs, I use a large cooler most of the time. I line the cooler with a cheap wool blanket and wrap around my cast iron dutch oven. It stays piping hot for hours!!
I know Im asking the wrong place but does someone know of a trick to log back into an instagram account? I was dumb lost my login password. I would love any tips you can offer me!
@Cannon Gavin Thanks for your reply. I got to the site on google and Im trying it out atm. Seems to take a while so I will get back to you later with my results.
I have never seen this method of baking bread. What a great idea. My son in law always cuts all the crust off his bread when he makes a sandwich. What a savings this would be - bread that doesn’t have a crust. I love it.
When I was little my grandma would cook "milk rice" or "milk noodles" for me, some of my favorites. She would boil it on the stove and then put the covered pot in the bed, under the down blanket and leave it there for half an hour or hour until done. Delicious!
Every time I see one of your videos I think of the conversation of what constitutes a truly accomplished woman in one of my all time favorite movies, Pride and Prejudice 1940 version; they had no idea! Thank you so much for all your love and concern for all of us.
Julene: Yes, Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier, unfortunately, I have not seen it. (Gone With The Wind, 1939 has nothing on P&P.) I need to get a copy of it. We have seen (several times) and enjoy the 2005 version, Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, and of course Judi Dench. I have to read the book, yet. Thank you for seeing Pam as a truly accomplished woman. I see Pam her way too. Thank you for watching our channel. Jim
my mother told me she used to use a featherbed to cook a pot of stew. I used to make 6 loaves of bread at a time using juice cans. We loved the round bread slices. I like the round pans you are using, I will look for some. I love all the great ideas others have posted here. I have an old worn out featherbed that I can turn into a wonderbag.
Thank you for the great idea!those beads are a force to be reckoned with ..I've found that a spray bottle of water will help alot to stop them in their tracks and you can sweep them up with a broom.i had a bean bag chair explode and I used a spray bottle and got them up.
I totally understand your problems with those beads. My grandson opened a small beanbag item and got the beads ALL over the living room. We were cleaning beads for MONTHS. Under this, inside that, in drawers, bags, boxes, in our hair, just EVERYWHERE! Clinging to everything! My son got a pet hair vacuum for it because the big vac just pushed them around.
Pam, quilt batting is made from several different kinds of material. The most popular is a spun polyester that can be purchased in different thicknesses or lofts from low to high(being the puffiest). But quilt batting is now made from cotton (old school updated), polycotton blends, silk and wool. There are also special battings that are made for potholders that are heat resistant. An old comforter or sleeping bag would make a great re-purposed wonder bag. Another great video.
Beads are static so i place the bag in a "funnel type" opening, wipe down with a bit of fabric softener and it works pretty well... No flyaways of the beads....
Oh my goodness this is amazing. I never knew. I watched this with my 17 yr old and we are going to first learn how to bake bread. I use to know how to about 30 years ago but Ive forgotten. Then we are going to make this pillow bread bag and try. What a wonderful peace of knowledge you have passed onto 2 generations. Thank you!
My granddad told me about using ' straw box' when he was in Brussels, WWI. I've used a ice chest with old towels. You can use 'cool bags' in ice chest to keep ice lasting longer.
We've also used the ice chest method during power outages. We used two storage totes. Put the first one down, in between we lined it with old towels and quilts and then put the second tote down, then filled with ice and contents of the fridge and freezer we were trying to save. This worked very well.
Thank you. Your demonstrations are simple enough that an inexperienced person (like me) can understand the concepts yet you cover all the important precautions too. Thank you!
I have an ebook of "Scouting for Girls" from 1919 and it has instructions for making a "fireless cooker" and an "iceless refrigerator", which are essentially the same as the haybox you described.
For those asking, I did a search on "scouting for girls 1919 ebook" and quickly found the Project Gutenberg replica (it's the 1925 edition). If you go to sections [112] and [113], you'll see the hay box reference and I f9. Here's the charming beginning to those sections: "The Girl Scout will find the answers one at a time, if she does her own work. And if you do your own work you will at once call for a fireless cooker. The name sounds impossible, for you have always cooked with a stove, and, of course, a fire. How can you cook without a fire? The women of Norway taught us how. When they went out to work in the fields or on the farm they took the hot kettle of soup off the stove and hid it away in a hay box. The hay kept the heat in the kettle instead of letting it escape; so the soup kept on cooking, and when the women came home from their work in the fields there it was, all steaming hot and ready for dinner. Everyone has noticed how some things carry or conduct heat and other things don't. That's why we use a "holder," when handling a hot dish or stove lifter or tea-pot. The "holder" does not carry the heat to the hand; it keeps it away. So the hay packed around the hot kettle kept the heat in the kettle, refusing to "conduct" it away. Therefore the soup went on cooking."
I just recently came across your youtube and I think you are terrific. It crossed my mind that in a pinch I could take my patio furniture 5" cushions and put one under the pot I'm using to cook, a couple around, and one on top. Bungie, duct tape, tie, or velcro them together and I think it might do the trick. In emergency situations we do whatever we need to do to make it work. In the meantime I'll make a wonderbag. Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
I watched your video and thought I need to try this as I make no knead bread all the time. I do sew, so sewing a bag wouldn’t be a problem, but then I read a comment about using a cooler instead of making the bag. I tried it and it worked wonderfully. I put a wooden trivet in the cooler than wrapped an old wool army blanket around the pot. I put a towel on top of that, so the cooler was full with very little air space. I left it 3 1/2hrs and the bread was perfectly done. I used 2 straight sided quart canning jars. This is a great way to make bread when you can’t use a stove. The wonder bag looked great, but I already had a cooler. Thanks for the lesson. I love your videos.
I made a weighted blanket pretty much the same way. I used a paper towel cardboard tube to fill the middle sections. I really enjoyed sewing the blanket for a 5 year old with autism. She loves it. She takes it to school with her for nap time.
I already have a weighted blanket that is filled with little glass beads and many sections possibly 7 in by 7 in perception. Do you think that would work in an emergency; since glass conducts heat so well? It already has the little square sections. I guess it's time for me to experiment but a bread Baker I am not...
You've made me realize I already have a STEAMED cake and STEAMED bread (rice flour / celiac + plus I can't use yeast - but I use baking soda, cream of tartar, and sometimes add yogurt to leaven) that are pretty good. Those steamed recipes would convert to this type of retained heat cooking very well! How exciting. This is very empowering knowing I could cook something for myself when the power availability might be poor. Thank you for this wonderful idea. (I created the recipes from scratch. I use my rice cooker with a steamer basket to cook them. My steamed cake and steamed bread do not brown either - but you can play with the recipe ingredients to maximize the taste. Not having the brown factor removes some flavor one might expect from traditional baked items. So play with brown sugar for example instead of white in a cake, or spice if you tolerate them, I use milk as the liquid for body and flavor. Mine are made in very small portions - like half a pint to a pint bowls and ramekins. Rice flour products tend to be best if eaten in a day or two max so make small frequently.) THANK YOU! PS: I just realized - a person might need to be careful carrying the batter that has started to rise ... it could fall if jostled too much ... so be careful putting the items into place for cooking)
Oh my God! Thank you , Thank you . I haven't!, haven't! laughed in days I started laughing as soon as I knew what you were going to do with the beads. (Remember the bean bags? ) I been canning today with your instant pot max video. So when your tired and the laughing starts you just can't stop. Thank you again and may God bless you and your husband.
I've been binge watching your videos since discovering them today. Helpful and delightful! I encountered a 'haybox' cooker at an experimental permaculture farm in Montana. For insulation they were trying sheared sheep wool inside a wooden box on the deck. I dont know how the wool compares w other materials, but I concur that the fullness of the pot matters. I hope you are still finding time to make these videos.
So glad you discovered our videos and that you are enjoying them. Yes, we publish two regular videos per week and have recently started a series we call MicroMoment which are about 5 minute videos on tips and hints related to preparedness. Thanks for your comments.
I have been baking bread all my life…and I am 75 years old…and have been using my sourdough starters since about 1972, but I have never baked bread like this…great idea! Thanks.
What a great idea to make your own. The first time I had heard of that idea it was from a woman who brought beans up to a rolling boil for about 20 minutes, lined a laundry basket with a sleeping bag, put the pot of beans in. She then covered it with the rest of the sleeping bag and left it for a day. It worked. But I think it be nice not to have to unroll my sleeping bag every time I wanted to cook something. I think your solution is a really good one. But I think I’ll go to fiberfill. I know that they have high loft quilt batting and I think that would be a really good choice. Any down alternative should be just great. As soon as you showed those Styrofoam beads I started giggling. Back in the early 80s beanbag chairs were huge. I decided in my wisdom that I could make one for cheaper. We had carpeting in our house and I believe three years later when we sold that house there were still Styrofoam beads hiding in that stupid carpet. Those beads are like aliens with a life of their own. You did an incredibly good job of corralling those things and not cussing at them. I believe we used three big bags of them - it was a huge beanbag. When my son wanted one, I said absolutely no way. He bought them for his daughters and they had a pillow fight. Now he knows why I said no way!🤣
I see many folks seem to miss the golden crust, in our home with younger children this would be a total win! Crust less bread for kids pb&j. Think of the time and waste I'd save 😃I'm sold!
Pam, this would be great in a grid down situation. But when the grid is up, I am going to be lazy and use my dehydrator as a proofing box. Just remove most of the shelves, put the bottom one up a shelf level of one or two spaces, pre-heat the dehydrator to 95-100 degrees farenheit, place your proofed and shaped loaves in the dehydrator and check after 30 to 45 minutes they will be ready to bake. I have used this technique for years. And like you I have some older equipment my Harvest Maid dehydrators are circa 1950-60's and I use both of them frequently. Purchased from the thrift store over 20 years ago and still going strong.
I am excited to try this for all the wrong reasons. All I could see was those uncrustables! Perfectly round, crustless pb&j. Thank you so much for this video!
I have a Saratoga Jack Thermal Cooker that operates under the same principles. It came with 2 nesting pans so I can cook stew in the bottom and rice in the top. For bread pans I use empty spaghetti sauce tin cans that fit down inside the pot perfectly. But I don't like cooking in tin. I will look in to the pans you are using and see if they will fit. The Saratoga Jack is great because it is so portable. It holds the heat in well and has a handle so you can throw it in your car and when you arrive at your destination your food is cooked and ready to eat. And everything is sealed so tightly that you don't have to worry about spills.
Wow, this is amazing!!! This is perfect bread for my picky little grandkids, they hate crust, bless their hearts.. lol. The energy that you save is unbelievable. Thank you so much for educating us on this technique. Appreciate you 🙏.
I make curtains and purchase this fabric with 4 layers in it... Muslin...a foil like stuff ...batting and then another piece of muslin....that might work well too... Pam...love your sense of humor and you dont even crack a smile..lol... 🤗🙃😄
If you freeze the beads first, it will cut the static electricity and you will be able to handle the beads better. I have made a down jacket and had a problems with the tiny feathers doing the same thing....feathers everywhere! The freezer was a great help!
Hi - upon inspiration from a few sources, I made a makeshift thermal insulation place in a large deep drawer which is in the base unit of an old wardrobe - so far I used some basic re-purposed items ( was hoping to get something like Styrofoam sheet to cut and line the drawer with or some rolls of foil backed bubble wrap ) - but so far have not got round to that and the outlet I saw them in does not deliver to my semi rural location. So, I just continued with items that many people have. Lined with reflective paper from large potato chip bags - opened out and washed and dried - ( I think these may also be useful taped with double sided tape to cardboard from delivery boxes and placed behind our oil fired central heating radiators which are hung on exterior facing walls ) as they are water filled radiators and have no flame etc ) but the reflective surface inside potato chip bags ( esp some of the bags are quite thick and sturdy plus some cardboard have come in handy to line my "thermal" drawer ) Also covered a couple of pieces of cardboard with aluminium foil for a pot to sit on in the drawer. Apart from that have used an old fleece jacket, an old padded jacket, old towels and old sheet folded and some bubble wrap on top to cover a pot. My only recipe so far has been rice . As I use wholegrain rice, it has cut the cooking time and it cooks really well that way and stays warm a long time. I also filled several flasks of boiling water and buried them in the drawer to make hot drinks during the day and they kept warmer for longer. I am interested in trying more recipes, but as I live alone, and have been engaged in other things, I have not been making soups and stews etc as I used to. The baking breads etc in a thermal set up really interests me as the oven in my rental house is not the best for getting to a useful temperature - and it does seem a lot to use the oven now esp as it is electrical. Since watching your video here, I have looked on several online retailers for the steel cylinder pots that you used to bake in this video, some outlets which sell to the catering trade and did not manage to find them nor on Amazon etc. If you have any links to these or a similar suitable type vessel ( s) that would be appreciated, and if you have the name / trade name for these - I tried "Bain Marie" and "Salad Bar" containers etc - but have not found anything similar, apart from a steel storage jar with a hinged plastic lid with a rubber seal - and I wonder if that would work ? Or have any of your viewers come up with other types of containers that would work for baking in this thermal method ? Thank you for this interesting and inspiring video - it really is uplifting even to achieve a little bit of prep and alternative methods - and there are more interesting things to learn and apply. Looking forward to more information, if possible and more ideas on things to bake and cook using as little fuel as possible. Best wishes.
My two oldest sons had bean bags when they were young, and being the curious boys that they were, they opened one up to see what it was made of - - I chased little balls all over this house for what seemed like months ... what a mess!!
I had an old down comforter that I didn’t use anymore, but didn’t want to get rid of it. I finally tossed it- one of those things that you don’t need till you get rid of it.
Next time you sew one of these use a denim needle or a microfiber needle designed for fleece in a larger size. They will go right through the balls no problem. Don't forget to make your stitch length a smidge longer than you would for normal sewing maybe 10 stitches instead of 12 per inch.
These look amazing. I will have to try these out. EDIT: Here in the south, we have a process of cooking country hams called "Putting the pig to sleep" or "Putting it to bed". Basically the same process, only with a whole ham.
Wow!! This was awsome.!! I never ever seen this before. This is soo kool. I was amazed. I must try this. I dont mind round bread. No crusts. I make different shapes with cookie cutters at times. Glad you put this up.
Felted wool perhaps? Cotton batting that is used for stuffing toys? Sand, however, you’d have to use duck cloth so the sand didn’t work through the weave.
Very good idea to make your own wonder bag . I think thinsulate would work. It’s a fabric my father in law got for me to use as batting in a quilt for him.
This is wonderful! Thank you for showing how to use the Wonder Bag (earlier video) and thermal cooking. I have had a Wonder Bag for a couple years now, but never got the foods to cook quite right. I will start experimenting with it again!
Excellent experiment 😉. I would not mind the crustless bread nor the whiteness of it. It would be great to be able to make bread so easily. I watch from Puerto Rico, and I survived Hurricane Maria which was truly tough for about four months without power🙏. This would have worked great because the heat was practically unbearable for cooking indoors, so definitely I will be trying to sew a wonderbag soon as we are now in hurricane season again. Thanks for all your efforts to teach us. You are simply great to watch❤️
I have several antique “Fireless” cookers and I think I have 5 or 6 vintage fireless cooker cookbooks. I also have a Wonder bag but have never used it. And actually my stove can use the principle of fireless cooking. It is a lemon yellow, 1950 Chambers “C” Model HighBack Gas Range…in fact the instruction booklet is titled, “The Idle Hour Cookbook…Cooking With The Gas Turned Off” and tells you how to cook with retained heat. I have had my stove since 2001 and we are it’s second owners. It was used for 48 years when I bought it from the Holt Family out of Overton, Texas and they originally owned an appliance store in Kilgore, Texas called, “Adams and Holt Appliance in at least the 1930’s thru the 1950’s and my stove is the one that Mr. Holt bought for his wife in 1950. If you are lucky enough to to find and buy a Chambers range, you are going to love it and save a lot of money using retained heat cooking. It has three burners, a griddle with a broiler underneath that, an oven and a Thermowell deep cooking well that also has piece that turns it into a second small oven. I have been using my stove daily since April 7th, of 2001 so it has basically been in use for almost 70 years! I love it! But now I will have to get out my Wonder Bag and give it a try. When I bought it from the Wonder Bag Company, they donated an identical one to a family somewhere in Africa, one of the reasons I bought it. Thanks for the nudge in getting it out to use it, Pam.
Such an interesting video. Thanks for showing this. I will need to watch all the videos around this one to get what it is all about. I have used a similar concept but for keeping stuff cold when the power goes off for short times. We have rolling power cuts across the city for load sharing in the summer months. I would just throw the sliced rounds into a frying pan with a bit of butter and put a yummy crust on it. Really enjoyed this thought provoking video. Brain whirring with ideas.
Dutchhomestead on UA-cam also made bread in her haybox but she used a small heavy pot inside a larger pot so it came out like a little rounded loaf. Can't wait to build my own haybox.
Hey Pam, I don’t know how else to send you a note, but I remember you saying you kept the rings loosely because of space. You will think I’m nuts but I use the suit hangers where the straight piece is removable. I put hem on the “bar” and put the hanger piece back . Then I just hang in closet
I homeschool my daughter who will be in 9th grade this fall. My mind is whirling with ideas using your videos to put together an elective class for her transcript.
Pam, For those who want crusty texture, these would sure work great for Grilled Breakfast and Lunch Sandwiches. Build them like breakfast biscuits, or even hamburgers. Any thoughts on how this method would do with sourdough? As for those foam pellets-- they're a life-form of their own. The static is crazy! Great job on the camera work Jim! Love what both of you do for us! Have a great weekend.
Her dough was fermented overnight, so it's like a sourdough, just not from a stable culture, right? I can't imagine why that slight difference would change this, so it's a good bet it'd work fine.
Thank you for posting this one man wonder bag , I ended up wearing mine out and it was a great big one I live alone now and I need a smaller one really enjoy this video
How fun! Your excited face was a pleasure to see. I imagined that you used a tripod for filming (I don't know why) but when Jim spoke it startled me! Hahaha you come up with marvelous ideas.
I am going to put a wicker trivet and my metal burner from my stove in the bag under my pan. No point in wasting the heat its holding. Thanks for the video.
Have been re watching some of your videos with a friend and we both were curious if the two 'tube' bread loaves had a consistency akin to crumpets? If so we will make some and then simply toast on both sides in a cast iron skillet on the gas stove/wood stove.
That was interesting. Being a city girl I enjoyed the experiment. You could also steam your bread as well in a open cake pan, like the Chinese steam some of their cakes.
That bread looks totally fine, and really reminds me of Czech knedlicky, which I've made in the long ago past to look like that on purpose. They are soooo good with any meal that has gravy! (For sopping purposes.)
I don't think I would use those beads :D I've made quilts and although I haven't made potholders, I believe there is a type of fill (cotton I think) you can use that won't burn. That seems like a better idea than these messy beads! The cotton fill is more expensive. I read about this method, a lot more rough, used in England during/after WWII. They would use a wooden box and straw or hay that would sit under the table or somewhere in the kitchen, and use to cook oatmeal /rolled oats overnight, So they would start it in the evening and by morning it would be completed. I thought this was so cool when I first learned about it that I called my mother. She wasn't as excited lol
Thank you so very much for these video's! You make everything sound easy, while many channels seem to deliberately make things as complex as possible! I learning so much and getting prepared, while hoping I never have to use my new knowledge or tools!
I wonder if a highly rated sleeping bag for cold weather might work you know one of those kind of quilted ones PS I think you and your husband are such wonderful people you just do such wonderful instructional informational videos you're such a blessing to all of us thank you for all that you do to both of you
Hi Pam, I bought used comforters at Goodwill a couple of years ago to cover my rabbit cages when it's too cold. I'm thinking those would work by lining a cooler and putting the pan down in that....all cozy. I might even use 2 comforters. I'm going to see if I have a pot big enough for a loaf pan. Thank you for this brilliant idea!
I was born late in my parents lives and my mother was the next to the last in her family of 13. I did not get to connect to the older women in my family. My mother suffered from a very serious mental illness so what she knew was lost. My father was an orphan and had no family. I did not have a grandmother that I can remember. I am grateful you do this. I did not have anyone on the road in front of me. I have four daughters and three sons (I wanted a big family so no one would be alone lol). I learn so much from you and am able to teach my kids. Thanksgiving weekend two of my daughters came over and we dehydrated some apples and canned apple sauce and apple pie filling. It was such a joy to be able to share with them what I have learned
My first grandchild is 2. She loves to use my apple peeler and “help Grammy.” What you know she will eventually know and what was lost between my grandmother, who was by all reports skilled and very industrious, and my mother will be relearned. Thank you for being willing to teach.
I am so thrilled that you are able to pass down your skills and knowledge to future generations. You are amazing!
Grace. That is the one word I would use to describe you. You are such a wonderful human being. I love the fact that everything doesn't always work out perfectly and that you always say "but that's all right".
I love cooking stews with this method. Even though I have made two different wonder bag designs, I use a large cooler most of the time. I line the cooler with a cheap wool blanket and wrap around my cast iron dutch oven. It stays piping hot for hours!!
That is like the old-time hay boxes! Thanks for sharing!
I know Im asking the wrong place but does someone know of a trick to log back into an instagram account?
I was dumb lost my login password. I would love any tips you can offer me!
@Cannon Gavin Thanks for your reply. I got to the site on google and Im trying it out atm.
Seems to take a while so I will get back to you later with my results.
@Cannon Gavin it worked and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy:D
Thank you so much, you saved my account :D
@Kaden Hunter glad I could help xD
I have never seen this method of baking bread. What a great idea. My son in law always cuts all the crust off his bread when he makes a sandwich. What a savings this would be - bread that doesn’t have a crust. I love it.
When I was little my grandma would cook "milk rice" or "milk noodles" for me, some of my favorites. She would boil it on the stove and then put the covered pot in the bed, under the down blanket and leave it there for half an hour or hour until done. Delicious!
Seems like a good way to also have a nice warm bed to climb into!
Every time I see one of your videos I think of the conversation of what constitutes a truly accomplished woman in one of my all time favorite movies, Pride and Prejudice 1940 version; they had no idea! Thank you so much for all your love and concern for all of us.
Julene: Yes, Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier, unfortunately, I have not seen it. (Gone With The Wind, 1939 has nothing on P&P.) I need to get a copy of it. We have seen (several times) and enjoy the 2005 version, Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, and of course Judi Dench. I have to read the book, yet. Thank you for seeing Pam as a truly accomplished woman. I see Pam her way too. Thank you for watching our channel. Jim
Old people CAN learn new tricks! At 81, I discovered Wonder Bags. Thank you.
Yes we can! Excellent!
my mother told me she used to use a featherbed to cook a pot of stew. I used to make 6 loaves of bread at a time using juice cans. We loved the round bread slices. I like the round pans you are using, I will look for some. I love all the great ideas others have posted here. I have an old worn out featherbed that I can turn into a wonderbag.
You are such a blessing to us! Thank you!
You are so kind. Thank you for watching.
You are a superstar scientist for the kitchen and prepping. You’re my professor of food safety, preservation, and design
Wow, thank you! I appreciate that.
Thank you for the great idea!those beads are a force to be reckoned with ..I've found that a spray bottle of water will help alot to stop them in their tracks and you can sweep them up with a broom.i had a bean bag chair explode and I used a spray bottle and got them up.
You are always an amazing teacher. thank you for making all the videos and teaching us….
You are always giving woman more wisdom and knowledge
Wow, thank you!
I totally understand your problems with those beads. My grandson opened a small beanbag item and got the beads ALL over the living room. We were cleaning beads for MONTHS. Under this, inside that, in drawers, bags, boxes, in our hair, just EVERYWHERE! Clinging to everything! My son got a pet hair vacuum for it because the big vac just pushed them around.
Oh wow! Thanks for sharing.
The little round loaves remind me of milk loaves in the UK, and no crust is just perfect for kids who don’t like it! Thanks for another great video
Pam, quilt batting is made from several different kinds of material. The most popular is a spun polyester that can be purchased in different thicknesses or lofts from low to high(being the puffiest). But quilt batting is now made from cotton (old school updated), polycotton blends, silk and wool. There are also special battings that are made for potholders that are heat resistant. An old comforter or sleeping bag would make a great re-purposed wonder bag. Another great video.
Beads are static so i place the bag in a "funnel type" opening, wipe down with a bit of fabric softener and it works pretty well... No flyaways of the beads....
Love that idea! Thanks for watching.
Genius!!
Oh my goodness this is amazing. I never knew. I watched this with my 17 yr old and we are going to first learn how to bake bread. I use to know how to about 30 years ago but Ive forgotten. Then we are going to make this pillow bread bag and try. What a wonderful peace of knowledge you have passed onto 2 generations. Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed the video and found it useful!
Knowledge is never lost, just misplaced! It is our job to relocate it!
My granddad told me about using ' straw box' when he was in Brussels, WWI. I've used a ice chest with old towels. You can use 'cool bags' in ice chest to keep ice lasting longer.
Thanks for sharing.
We've also used the ice chest method during power outages. We used two storage totes. Put the first one down, in between we lined it with old towels and quilts and then put the second tote down, then filled with ice and contents of the fridge and freezer we were trying to save. This worked very well.
Thank you. Your demonstrations are simple enough that an inexperienced person (like me) can understand the concepts yet you cover all the important precautions too. Thank you!
Karen: You're very welcome! Jim
I have an ebook of "Scouting for Girls" from 1919 and it has instructions for making a "fireless cooker" and an "iceless refrigerator", which are essentially the same as the haybox you described.
is there a way you can share that information for a fireless cooker and iceless refrigerator
@Sabrina Wharton-Brown, what a great find. I would love a photo, of those pages.
For those asking, I did a search on "scouting for girls 1919 ebook" and quickly found the Project Gutenberg replica (it's the 1925 edition). If you go to sections [112] and [113], you'll see the hay box reference and I f9.
Here's the charming beginning to those sections:
"The Girl Scout will find the answers one at a time, if she does her own work. And if you do your own work you will at once call for a fireless cooker. The name sounds impossible, for you have always cooked with a stove, and, of course, a fire. How can you cook without a fire?
The women of Norway taught us how. When they went out to work in the fields or on the farm they took the hot kettle of soup off the stove and hid it away in a hay box. The hay kept the heat in the kettle instead of letting it escape; so the soup kept on cooking, and when the women came home from their work in the fields there it was, all steaming hot and ready for dinner.
Everyone has noticed how some things carry or conduct heat and other things don't. That's why we use a "holder," when handling a hot dish or stove lifter or tea-pot. The "holder" does not carry the heat to the hand; it keeps it away. So the hay packed around the hot kettle kept the heat in the kettle, refusing to "conduct" it away. Therefore the soup went on cooking."
@@debbiebrugman4543see my response to Sabrina's post.
@@catherineharrison3701see my response to Sabrina's post.
I live on a sailboat in the West Indies at anchor, this video is brilliant, thank you.
You are very welcome. I am glad it was helpful!
I just recently came across your youtube and I think you are terrific. It crossed my mind that in a pinch I could take my patio furniture 5" cushions and put one under the pot I'm using to cook, a couple around, and one on top. Bungie, duct tape, tie, or velcro them together and I think it might do the trick. In emergency situations we do whatever we need to do to make it work. In the meantime I'll make a wonderbag. Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
Oh my goodness! I found myself holding my breath when you told us not to breathe 🙂. Your videos are wonderful!
I watched your video and thought I need to try this as I make no knead bread all the time. I do sew, so sewing a bag wouldn’t be a problem, but then I read a comment about using a cooler instead of making the bag. I tried it and it worked wonderfully. I put a wooden trivet in the cooler than wrapped an old wool army blanket around the pot. I put a towel on top of that, so the cooler was full with very little air space. I left it 3 1/2hrs and the bread was perfectly done. I used 2 straight sided quart canning jars. This is a great way to make bread when you can’t use a stove. The wonder bag looked great, but I already had a cooler. Thanks for the lesson. I love your videos.
Thanks. And yes--that was a great idea.
My oven element has been down.. God Bless you all ❤
I made a weighted blanket pretty much the same way. I used a paper towel cardboard tube to fill the middle sections. I really enjoyed sewing the blanket for a 5 year old with autism. She loves it. She takes it to school with her for nap time.
What a kind thing to do!
I already have a weighted blanket that is filled with little glass beads and many sections possibly 7 in by 7 in perception. Do you think that would work in an emergency; since glass conducts heat so well? It already has the little square sections. I guess it's time for me to experiment but a bread Baker I am not...
You've made me realize I already have a STEAMED cake and STEAMED bread (rice flour / celiac + plus I can't use yeast - but I use baking soda, cream of tartar, and sometimes add yogurt to leaven) that are pretty good. Those steamed recipes would convert to this type of retained heat cooking very well! How exciting. This is very empowering knowing I could cook something for myself when the power availability might be poor. Thank you for this wonderful idea. (I created the recipes from scratch. I use my rice cooker with a steamer basket to cook them. My steamed cake and steamed bread do not brown either - but you can play with the recipe ingredients to maximize the taste. Not having the brown factor removes some flavor one might expect from traditional baked items. So play with brown sugar for example instead of white in a cake, or spice if you tolerate them, I use milk as the liquid for body and flavor. Mine are made in very small portions - like half a pint to a pint bowls and ramekins. Rice flour products tend to be best if eaten in a day or two max so make small frequently.) THANK YOU! PS: I just realized - a person might need to be careful carrying the batter that has started to rise ... it could fall if jostled too much ... so be careful putting the items into place for cooking)
My grandmother made Boston brown bread steamed in juice cans. I loved it so much when I was a kid.
Oh my God! Thank you , Thank you . I haven't!, haven't! laughed in days I started laughing as soon as I knew what you were going to do with the beads. (Remember the bean bags? ) I been canning today with your instant pot max video. So when your tired and the laughing starts you just can't stop. Thank you again and may God bless you and your husband.
Glad you enjoyed it! You made me laugh as well!
I've been binge watching your videos since discovering them today. Helpful and delightful! I encountered a 'haybox' cooker at an experimental permaculture farm in Montana. For insulation they were trying sheared sheep wool inside a wooden box on the deck. I dont know how the wool compares w other materials, but I concur that the fullness of the pot matters. I hope you are still finding time to make these videos.
So glad you discovered our videos and that you are enjoying them. Yes, we publish two regular videos per week and have recently started a series we call MicroMoment which are about 5 minute videos on tips and hints related to preparedness. Thanks for your comments.
I use 2 old sleeping bags 🎒, 2 old pillows for top and bottom and silver blankets for inside. work great, lowest cost.
“They look anemic.” - Brought a big 😄 ~ You’re fun! They look yummy anyway! Thanks for sharing this with us !
I have been baking bread all my life…and I am 75 years old…and have been using my sourdough starters since about 1972, but I have never baked bread like this…great idea! Thanks.
Wonderful! Thanks.
I am so thankful for you and your dedication to teaching us the correct way to cook, can etc. Much love 🙏❤️❤️🙏
What a great idea to make your own. The first time I had heard of that idea it was from a woman who brought beans up to a rolling boil for about 20 minutes, lined a laundry basket with a sleeping bag, put the pot of beans in. She then covered it with the rest of the sleeping bag and left it for a day. It worked. But I think it be nice not to have to unroll my sleeping bag every time I wanted to cook something. I think your solution is a really good one. But I think I’ll go to fiberfill. I know that they have high loft quilt batting and I think that would be a really good choice. Any down alternative should be just great.
As soon as you showed those Styrofoam beads I started giggling. Back in the early 80s beanbag chairs were huge. I decided in my wisdom that I could make one for cheaper. We had carpeting in our house and I believe three years later when we sold that house there were still Styrofoam beads hiding in that stupid carpet. Those beads are like aliens with a life of their own. You did an incredibly good job of corralling those things and not cussing at them.
I believe we used three big bags of them - it was a huge beanbag. When my son wanted one, I said absolutely no way. He bought them for his daughters and they had a pillow fight. Now he knows why I said no way!🤣
I see many folks seem to miss the golden crust, in our home with younger children this would be a total win! Crust less bread for kids pb&j. Think of the time and waste I'd save 😃I'm sold!
LOL! Love it. Thanks for your comment.
Pam, this would be great in a grid down situation. But when the grid is up, I am going to be lazy and use my dehydrator as a proofing box. Just remove most of the shelves, put the bottom one up a shelf level of one or two spaces, pre-heat the dehydrator to 95-100 degrees farenheit, place your proofed and shaped loaves in the dehydrator and check after 30 to 45 minutes they will be ready to bake. I have used this technique for years. And like you I have some older equipment my Harvest Maid dehydrators are circa 1950-60's and I use both of them frequently. Purchased from the thrift store over 20 years ago and still going strong.
You never cease to amaze me!
I am excited to try this for all the wrong reasons. All I could see was those uncrustables! Perfectly round, crustless pb&j. Thank you so much for this video!
LOL! They are very nice! Thank you.
I have a Saratoga Jack Thermal Cooker that operates under the same principles. It came with 2 nesting pans so I can cook stew in the bottom and rice in the top. For bread pans I use empty spaghetti sauce tin cans that fit down inside the pot perfectly. But I don't like cooking in tin. I will look in to the pans you are using and see if they will fit.
The Saratoga Jack is great because it is so portable. It holds the heat in well and has a handle so you can throw it in your car and when you arrive at your destination your food is cooked and ready to eat. And everything is sealed so tightly that you don't have to worry about spills.
I have the same setup. Love it!
@@crazyaboutcards I was just going to suggest this as well. I to love my jack cooker
I would Love to see more recipes with this method. Other types of foods.
We are doing a video soon on these "thermal cookers" and I will be testing 4 different ones to see which work better.
Wow, this is amazing!!! This is perfect bread for my picky little grandkids, they hate crust, bless their hearts.. lol. The energy that you save is unbelievable. Thank you so much for educating us on this technique.
Appreciate you 🙏.
I make curtains and purchase this fabric with 4 layers in it...
Muslin...a foil like stuff ...batting and then another piece of muslin....that might work well too...
Pam...love your sense of humor and you dont even crack a smile..lol...
🤗🙃😄
I bake bread in pint wide mouth jars, for tea sandwiches, in the crockpot. They are always a hit.
Sounds very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
If you freeze the beads first, it will cut the static electricity and you will be able to handle the beads better. I have made a down jacket and had a problems with the tiny feathers doing the same thing....feathers everywhere! The freezer was a great help!
Thanks for the tips! If I ever work with those beads again, I will do that!
Wow, I love the science behind everything! You explain it so a regular person can understand it.
rochelle: Glad to hear it! Jim
Awesome,great to know we can have bread off grid ! Thank you ,lm learning a wealth of important skills from you.Youre the best. !!!🎉
So nice of you, Jim
Hi - upon inspiration from a few sources, I made a makeshift thermal insulation place in a large deep
drawer which is in the base unit of an old wardrobe - so far I used some basic re-purposed items
( was hoping to get something like Styrofoam sheet to cut and line the drawer with or some rolls
of foil backed bubble wrap ) - but so far have not got round to that and the outlet I saw them in
does not deliver to my semi rural location. So, I just continued with items that many people have.
Lined with reflective paper from large potato chip bags - opened out and washed and dried -
( I think these may also be useful taped with double sided tape to cardboard from delivery
boxes and placed behind our oil fired central heating radiators which are hung on exterior
facing walls ) as they are water filled radiators and have no flame etc ) but the reflective
surface inside potato chip bags ( esp some of the bags are quite thick and sturdy plus
some cardboard have come in handy to line my "thermal" drawer ) Also covered a couple
of pieces of cardboard with aluminium foil for a pot to sit on in the drawer.
Apart from that have used an old fleece jacket, an old padded jacket, old towels and
old sheet folded and some bubble wrap on top to cover a pot. My only recipe so far
has been rice . As I use wholegrain rice, it has cut the cooking time and it cooks really
well that way and stays warm a long time. I also filled several flasks of boiling water
and buried them in the drawer to make hot drinks during the day and they kept warmer
for longer.
I am interested in trying more recipes, but as I live alone, and have been engaged in other
things, I have not been making soups and stews etc as I used to.
The baking breads etc in a thermal set up really interests me as the oven in my rental
house is not the best for getting to a useful temperature - and it does seem a lot to
use the oven now esp as it is electrical.
Since watching your video here, I have looked on several online retailers for the steel
cylinder pots that you used to bake in this video, some outlets which sell to
the catering trade and did not manage to find them nor on Amazon etc.
If you have any links to these or a similar suitable type vessel ( s) that would be
appreciated, and if you have the name / trade name for these - I tried "Bain Marie"
and "Salad Bar" containers etc - but have not found anything similar, apart from a
steel storage jar with a hinged plastic lid with a rubber seal - and I wonder if that
would work ?
Or have any of your viewers come up with other types of containers that would
work for baking in this thermal method ?
Thank you for this interesting and inspiring video - it really is uplifting even to achieve
a little bit of prep and alternative methods - and there are more interesting things to
learn and apply. Looking forward to more information, if possible and more ideas
on things to bake and cook using as little fuel as possible. Best wishes.
My two oldest sons had bean bags when they were young, and being the curious boys that they were, they opened one up to see what it was made of - - I chased little balls all over this house for what seemed like months ... what a mess!!
LOL! I raised four sons (and two daughters) so I know exactly what you mean! Thanks for your comments.
I had an old down comforter that I didn’t use anymore, but didn’t want to get rid of it. I finally tossed it- one of those things that you don’t need till you get rid of it.
Next time you sew one of these use a denim needle or a microfiber needle designed for fleece in a larger size. They will go right through the balls no problem. Don't forget to make your stitch length a smidge longer than you would for normal sewing maybe 10 stitches instead of 12 per inch.
These look amazing. I will have to try these out. EDIT: Here in the south, we have a process of cooking country hams called
"Putting the pig to sleep" or "Putting it to bed". Basically the same process, only with a whole ham.
Interesting...thanks for sharing!
Interesting...thanks for sharing!
Wow!! This was awsome.!! I never ever seen this before. This is soo kool. I was amazed. I must try this. I dont mind round bread. No crusts. I make different shapes with cookie cutters at times. Glad you put this up.
I’m 62. . .who knew I’d be in home-ec again! Lol. Love your videos👏👏
Fascinating! I knew about hay boxes but just never put 2 & 2 together! Ingenious. Thanks for sharing.
Felted wool perhaps? Cotton batting that is used for stuffing toys? Sand, however, you’d have to use duck cloth so the sand didn’t work through the weave.
Yes, there are several alternatives you can use.
Very good idea to make your own wonder bag . I think thinsulate would work. It’s a fabric my father in law got for me to use as batting in a quilt for him.
I think that is a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
This is wonderful! Thank you for showing how to use the Wonder Bag (earlier video) and thermal cooking. I have had a Wonder Bag for a couple years now, but never got the foods to cook quite right. I will start experimenting with it again!
You are very welcome. Thanks for watching!
Excellent experiment 😉. I would not mind the crustless bread nor the whiteness of it. It would be great to be able to make bread so easily. I watch from Puerto Rico, and I survived Hurricane Maria which was truly tough for about four months without power🙏. This would have worked great because the heat was practically unbearable for cooking indoors, so definitely I will be trying to sew a wonderbag soon as we are now in hurricane season again. Thanks for all your efforts to teach us. You are simply great to watch❤️
Thank you. I cannot imagine what it would be like to be without electricity for four months.
This is one of my favorite of your videos. Your personality comes out, especially when you’re talking about the styrofoam beads. Quite fun.
My father was a baker by trade. Sometimes they baked bread in gallon cans for special orders. They looked so interesting and fun.
Thank you. I have never seen that done. The demonstration was very interesting and great to know with the upcoming depression we are expecting.
Sharon: Let us knw how the Wonder bag works for you. Jim
This is the first time I've heard of this method!🤯the possibilities are endless! Power out? No worries, I'll bake bread!
LOL! Glad it was useful.
I was so hoping you would demonstrate making a wonder bag. And your presentation was quite entertaining. I just love your program!
Thank you so much!
No crust! Every kid's dream! I was just thinking that Boston Brown Bread is boiled in a can. That may be an alternative.
very cool. Ive been looking into fireless cookers from 1910 and this is the same thing.
Yes--the concept is very old. One type is a hay box--same principle.
I have several antique “Fireless” cookers and I think I have 5 or 6 vintage fireless cooker cookbooks. I also have a Wonder bag but have never used it. And actually my stove can use the principle of fireless cooking. It is a lemon yellow, 1950 Chambers “C” Model HighBack Gas Range…in fact the instruction booklet is titled, “The Idle Hour Cookbook…Cooking With The Gas Turned Off” and tells you how to cook with retained heat. I have had my stove since 2001 and we are it’s second owners. It was used for 48 years when I bought it from the Holt Family out of Overton, Texas and they originally owned an appliance store in Kilgore, Texas called, “Adams and Holt Appliance in at least the 1930’s thru the 1950’s and my stove is the one that Mr. Holt bought for his wife in 1950. If you are lucky enough to to find and buy a Chambers range, you are going to love it and save a lot of money using retained heat cooking. It has three burners, a griddle with a broiler underneath that, an oven and a Thermowell deep cooking well that also has piece that turns it into a second small oven. I have been using my stove daily since April 7th, of 2001 so it has basically been in use for almost 70 years! I love it! But now I will have to get out my Wonder Bag and give it a try. When I bought it from the Wonder Bag Company, they donated an identical one to a family somewhere in Africa, one of the reasons I bought it. Thanks for the nudge in getting it out to use it, Pam.
Fascinating! Thank you so much for sharing.
On the styrofoam beads - I keep a water spray bottle handy. If they start getting crazy, a little spritz helps to cut down the static!
Oooo. Good to know! 👍
Watching this and all I can think is, " No cutting off the crusts for the kid's sandwiches!" Thanks for a wonderful video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Such an interesting video. Thanks for showing this. I will need to watch all the videos around this one to get what it is all about. I have used a similar concept but for keeping stuff cold when the power goes off for short times. We have rolling power cuts across the city for load sharing in the summer months.
I would just throw the sliced rounds into a frying pan with a bit of butter and put a yummy crust on it. Really enjoyed this thought provoking video. Brain whirring with ideas.
That is so cool! I've been looking for an alternate way to make bread and other things without having to invest in a sun oven/solar oven. Thank you!
You are so welcome!
you can buy a crockpot. it's cheap and saves energy.
I love it. How about adding large Velcro strips instead of bungee cords?
Fantastic video!!! Love that you made your own WonderBag!!! And beside looking "crustless" your bread has a very nice crumb!!!
Thank you. It tasted pretty good too. The paleness was a little hard to adjust to!
Dutchhomestead on UA-cam also made bread in her haybox but she used a small heavy pot inside a larger pot so it came out like a little rounded loaf. Can't wait to build my own haybox.
This looks great! Warm and fresh bread is exactly the kind of comfort food needed during a blackout. Thanks!
I totally agree! Thanks for watching.
Hey Pam, I don’t know how else to send you a note, but I remember you saying you kept the rings loosely because of space. You will think I’m nuts but I use the suit hangers where the straight piece is removable. I put hem on the “bar” and put the hanger piece back . Then I just hang in closet
Great idea! Thanks for the tip.
I homeschool my daughter who will be in 9th grade this fall. My mind is whirling with ideas using your videos to put together an elective class for her transcript.
Pam, For those who want crusty texture, these would sure work great for Grilled Breakfast and Lunch Sandwiches. Build them like breakfast biscuits, or even hamburgers. Any thoughts on how this method would do with sourdough? As for those foam pellets-- they're a life-form of their own. The static is crazy! Great job on the camera work Jim! Love what both of you do for us! Have a great weekend.
Thank you, Mary and thanks for the sandwich ideas!
Her dough was fermented overnight, so it's like a sourdough, just not from a stable culture, right? I can't imagine why that slight difference would change this, so it's a good bet it'd work fine.
I would think Corn Bread would be a winner in these tins.
I think you are right! Great idea.
Mari: No reason why not. Jim
Thank you for posting this one man wonder bag , I ended up wearing mine out and it was a great big one I live alone now and I need a smaller one really enjoy this video
So glad it was useful for you! thanks for your comments.
This is really cool idea. I'm going to have to learn how to make bread. Thank you for all you do.
You are very welcome.
You could if desperate for a crusty loaf, brown in the oven at the end. Still less power so win win. I've loved this video. Thank you
Great idea! I will try that next time. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for your time and sharing your know how. It's much appreciated! .
Glad it was helpful!
Wow! You r the definition of articulate!
How fun! Your excited face was a pleasure to see. I imagined that you used a tripod for filming (I don't know why) but when Jim spoke it startled me! Hahaha you come up with marvelous ideas.
Thanks. Jim works the camera so he can follow the action. I think he does great! thanks for watching.
I am going to put a wicker trivet and my metal burner from my stove in the bag under my pan. No point in wasting the heat its holding. Thanks for the video.
I have never heard of this method b4. So thx u, this is a very good thing to know how to do
Have been re watching some of your videos with a friend and we both were curious if the two 'tube' bread loaves had a consistency akin to crumpets? If so we will make some and then simply toast on both sides in a cast iron skillet on the gas stove/wood stove.
That was interesting. Being a city girl I enjoyed the experiment. You could also steam your bread as well in a open cake pan, like the Chinese steam some of their cakes.
That's a great idea! thanks for sharing.
That bread looks totally fine, and really reminds me of Czech knedlicky, which I've made in the long ago past to look like that on purpose. They are soooo good with any meal that has gravy! (For sopping purposes.)
Thank you.
I used a duvet and newspaper as isolation it retaind The heat for a long time. I use it when i clean the freezer too.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing.
I don't think I would use those beads :D I've made quilts and although I haven't made potholders, I believe there is a type of fill (cotton I think) you can use that won't burn. That seems like a better idea than these messy beads! The cotton fill is more expensive. I read about this method, a lot more rough, used in England during/after WWII. They would use a wooden box and straw or hay that would sit under the table or somewhere in the kitchen, and use to cook oatmeal /rolled oats overnight, So they would start it in the evening and by morning it would be completed. I thought this was so cool when I first learned about it that I called my mother. She wasn't as excited lol
Thank you so very much for these video's! You make everything sound easy, while many channels seem to deliberately make things as complex as possible! I learning so much and getting prepared, while hoping I never have to use my new knowledge or tools!
You're very welcome! And I agree with hoping we never have the kind of emergency that would have us using these skills.
Catching up on some videos. One of these would be a good use for the crappy pillow I just bought.
LOL!
I wonder if a highly rated sleeping bag for cold weather might work you know one of those kind of quilted ones PS I think you and your husband are such wonderful people you just do such wonderful instructional informational videos you're such a blessing to all of us thank you for all that you do to both of you
This is exciting to learn! Thank you!
What an amazing concept. I e never heard of it. Thank you for sharing this. Mind blown ..
Thanks for watching our channel.
Hi Pam, I bought used comforters at Goodwill a couple of years ago to cover my rabbit cages when it's too cold. I'm thinking those would work by lining a cooler and putting the pan down in that....all cozy. I might even use 2 comforters. I'm going to see if I have a pot big enough for a loaf pan. Thank you for this brilliant idea!
Love your channel! What a wealth of information!
Thanks so much!
How amazing. You are so much fun to be with. I hate that I did not find your channel sooner. I have a whole lot of catching up to do. Thank you.
Definitely and absolutely brilliant! This entire video is so up my self-reliant alley! Much thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks.