PROJECTS 589 



in the nest. Cover the nest, lay on the pad, close the box, and 

 fasten the hasp. Allow the food to remain undisturbed in the cooker 

 for six or eight hours. 



Selected recipes for preparing food to be cooked in the fireless 

 cooker may be found in Farmers' Bulletin No. 771, "Homemade 

 Fireless Cookers and Their Use." 



Leave the cooker open when it is not in use. 



PROJECT XXI. How to Make a Cheap Ice Box, page 92 



The fireless cooker described in Project XX may very readily 

 be used as an ice box for keeping milk (or any other food that may 

 be put in an inclosed vessel) at a low temperature. Simply put 

 the bottle of milk tightly sealed or corked into the middle of the 

 nest and pack ice solidly around it up to the neck of the bottle. 

 Close the lid and keep the box in as cool and shady a place as 

 possible. 



A much better and safer plan, if you wish to continue the use of 

 the fireless cooker for an ice box, is to obtain a covered bucket tall 

 enough to hold a milk bottle and of a diameter that will allow about 

 an inch of air space all around between the bucket and the metal 

 nest. Pack the bottle in this with crushed ice, place the bucket in 

 the nest, and close up the box. The double advantage of this is 

 that the air space between the bucket and the metal nest gives 

 extra insulation against the heat, and the bucket may be more 

 easily taken out once a day, emptied of water, washed with soap 

 and water, and sunned. 



If the milk, or other food, is cold when it is put into the cooler, 

 it will keep safely for 24 hours. If the food is warm, or the weather 

 is exceptionally hot, the food may require re-icing at the end of 12 

 hours. Much depends on the care you have exercised in construct- 

 ing your box. If ice is not obtainable, very cold well water is the 

 best substitute. Put the milk bottle or other closed container 

 into the bucket and fill the bucket almost to the top with cold 

 water. Change the water every twelve hours. 



If you have not made a fireless cooker in accordance with the 



