Chang the World Wednesday - energy-efficient cooking

I was doing so well posting these on the Wednesday that they actually were published and then last week I flaked.   Better late than never though right?

Here was the challenge posted on Reduce Footprints last Wednesday:

This week, if possible, try cooking a meal outside over a clean, Eco-friendly fire.

Or ..

If you are unable to cook outside, or if it's just too cold, please cook at least one day's meals using energy-efficient methods (table top appliances such as crock-pots, electric skillets, etc.). Do not use the stove or oven.

Or ...

If you are already cooking meals in an energy-efficient way, please share information and suggestions on how we all can do better.


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I don't have much to report on this one.  We aren't doing too great with it ourselves.  We have a crock-pot but rarely use it.  I think it's because we don't always think about it.  This month alone we have made spaghetti sauce, chili, and 3 soups.  I guess we could have made them in the crock-pot but we never even thought of it. Instead we cooked it on the stove.


Husband has been cooking outside on the grill once in awhile in this weather though..  Not even once a week, but he has a couple of times when it hasn't been too bad.


As far as not using the stove, well, that didn't happen.  In fact, we use it so much that I've been thinking of getting a toaster oven for at least a month.   We use the oven at least 5 times a week.  This is because we eat rolls with dinner 98% of the time.  I make the rolls from scratch and cook them, then freeze them, then Husband heats a couple up in the oven for dinner.   This could easily be done in a toaster oven.    I think several other things we eat could be done in a toaster oven too, if we get one big enough.  


I just need to research the best options first.  Do you have any recommendations?  


I can't say that I exactly failed at this challenge because I was already thinking of making some changes and it did make me realize that we probably could use the crock-pot for things we already make.