There are moments on this journey toward life aboard LunaKai that feel bigger than they probably look from the outside.
Today was one of those moments.
I've been curious about my GoSun Fusion solar cooker ever since it arrived. The idea of preparing an entire meal using nothing but the sun seemed almost too good to be true. Could it really work? More importantly... would it actually taste good?
So today, I decided to find out.
The sky over Deltaville, Virginia was crystal clear. The temperature was 89°F, the heat index had climbed to 97°F, and at exactly 1:25 p.m., I slid a tray full of colorful ingredients into the solar cooker.
Inside was a hearty combination of quinoa, vegetable broth, chickpeas, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, carrots, tomatoes, and a blend of savory seasonings.
Then I did something that still amazes me.
I walked away.
No propane.
No electricity.
No stove.
No oven.
Just sunshine.
Four Hours Later...
At 5:35 p.m., I pulled the tray from the cooker.
The vegetables were perfectly tender.
The quinoa was light and fluffy.
The chickpeas held their texture beautifully.
There wasn't a drop of scorched food or burnt edges.
I stirred in nutritional yeast, hemp hearts, and pumpkin seeds, bringing each serving to around 30 grams of plant-based protein.
Then I took my first bite.
Oh my goodness... it was so delicious.
Not "pretty good."
Not "good enough because it's solar cooked."
Honestly delicious.
The kind of meal I'd happily make again and again.
More Than Just Lunch
As I sat there eating, I realized this wasn't really about dinner.
It was about another piece of the cruising life Skip and I have dreamed about for years finally falling into place.
One of the challenges of living aboard a sailboat is managing heat and moisture inside the cabin. Every time you use the stove, especially during the summer, you're warming the boat and adding humidity to a small living space.
Today, the sun did all the work.
The cabin stayed cool.
No propane was burned.
No electricity was used.
No extra moisture was added inside the boat.
That's a game changer.
A Simpler Way to Live
Between thermal cooking and now solar cooking, I can already see how much simpler life aboard LunaKai can become.
It's not about giving things up.
It's about learning to work with nature instead of against it.
Using the warmth of the sun instead of fighting the heat.
Cooking nourishing meals while conserving fuel.
Living more intentionally.
There's something deeply satisfying about preparing dinner with an energy source that rises every morning and asks for nothing in return.
The Beginning of a New Series
I have a feeling this is only the beginning.
This first meal was such a success that I'm already imagining soups, lentil stews, curries, vegetables, breads, breakfasts, and countless other recipes cooked entirely by sunshine.
So welcome to what I hope becomes a regular feature here on Substack...
☀️ Sea Sister Solar Galley
Together we'll explore what it means to cook with the sun, live more sustainably, and continue preparing for the day LunaKai finally carries us beyond the horizon.
One sunny meal at a time.
One adventure at a time.
One step closer to casting off the lines.
💜 Your Sea Sister
Have you ever cooked with the sun? Or is there a sustainable way of living you've always wanted to try? I'd love to hear about it in the comments. 🌞⛵🌱
I would think it’s a good choice while in a marina or at anchor on smooth days, but probably not a good choice while at sea.
Great to see. I enjoy cooking with the sun. Where we sail it's difficult on the boat to have consistent sun all the time. And storage of another thing is always an issue.