Tin Can Stove and Blueberry Compote
Cool! A new thing to do with tin cans besides buddy burners! Thanks to Jane Maddin of the 1st Orleans Pathfinders for posting this idea to the Guide Mailing List!
Tin Can Stove: You need two different sized cans. For example, a one pound (450 mg) coffee can and a three pound can. And you need a lid for each of them - but not plastic ones! If you keep the metal lid from the cans that is fine. If not, tin foil works as well!
Layer the bottom of the larger can with gravel. Wash out your small can well, because this holds your food. Add the food, cover it and put it in the large can. Carefully, pour gravel in between the small can and the large can, so that the small can is not touching the large can anywhere and there is a layer of gravel between the two surfaces. The gravel does not have to completely fill the large can, but about 2/3's of the way up the side of the small can.
You may now put the tin can oven DIRECTLY in the fire. Embers are nice, but not necessary. This was reasonably fast, for camp food, if you get my drift.
Here's a great idea for what to cook in the stove:
Blueberry Compote
Directions: Put half a pound of blueberries in the bottom of the small tin. Add water, (about half a cup) and sprinkle with white sugar. Cover the berries with biscuit mix, no more than 2/3's of the way up the inside of the can. Cover this can with foil. Place in large pan. Fill with gravel as described above. Cover the large can with foil.
It takes about an hour to cook. Test for doneness with a tooth pick, a piece of clean straw, a skewer or improvise something else at camp.