Microwave Bread???
Just hear me through on this. I know the idea of baking bread or I guess it would be "cooking" is never going to produce artisan loaves. But, here is the situation---
I recently sent a microwave oven to a family member that is doing his 4th tour in combat. He's in Afghanistan near Torra Borra where all the noise is being made at the moment. Normally he has been based in some remote location living in a tent far from civilization but now he is in a small FOB that has electricity. I also sent 60 boxes of MW popcorn so the guys could have a little snack between being shelled by rockets. I send him something every 3 or 4 weeks and I try to keep it interesting. His father sends toothbrushes and Twinkies which they love and things they know he will share with his buddies.
I started to think about things I could send that would work in the new oven and bread came to mind. I did a search on the net and only found old references to baking in a MW but it does seem like it should be possible to turn out something that would be passable for crumb. This is a small .8 cu ft dorm type model so no convection heater. I have a 3 cup batch in ferment now I plan to try later today as a first effort. They have water that gets trucked in with the ammo so if I can get this to somehow work I could send mixes with all the dry ingredients in the right proportions.
Does anyone have any experience baking anything in a MW oven? I was also thinking muffins might work in a silicone muffin pan. Ideas anyone?
I could just send a toaster oven I suppose but in a couple weeks he is going to get the MW and I'm trying to find creative things they can use it for.
Thanks for listening folks, I know this is a little weird.
Eric