Firecracker Queen of the Week: Sharlene T

Introducing the Firecracker Queen of the week

Sharlene T! 

Sharlene is one of my most faithful readers and takes the time to comment on many of my posts. I appreciate her support, and am happy to support her as well!   Sharlene is a food blogger like myself, with a very unique way of cooking-solar cooking!  Sharlene creates her recipes, and then uses the sun to cook her meals-isn't that amazing?  I recently asked Sharlene some questions, and the following are her responses...

(My comments are in italics)

1.    What are five items that you always have in the refrigerator?
Fresh vegetables, cheeses, pickles, butters (salted and unsalted), and sour cream.

2.    What is the most unusual thing you have ever eaten?
Mmmmm, that's tough. I'll try anything that isn't grey or moving... but, I have had roasted grasshoppers and fried worms.  There's a process there, but, suffice to say, they were surprisingly good. But, no Fear Factor type eating -- ever!

(Worms and grasshoppers?  I think you could win Fear Factor!)

3.    What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?
That I'm actually a very reclusive-type person. I force myself to go out and mix with people, but would be perfectly content to never leave my home.

4.    What would be your dream vacation?

Sailing in the Greek Islands with the people I love.

(I would love to do the Greek Islands too!)

 

5.    What were you like in high school?  How did you change as you got older?

I was pretty much a loner. Unfortunately (or, fortunately) I had skipped two grades and that made me much younger than my fellow classmates. Intellectually, we were on a par; emotionally, they were ahead of me and didn't want 'the kid' hanging around. So, my friends came from other schools.  As I got older, I discovered it wasn't such a bad thing, to be alone, because it gave me plenty of time to study and get the strength to run my own businesses without being talked out of it by less-daring friends!  

6.    If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three essentials would you want with you?
Well, there goes the electronics (and my Kindle!), so the Bible, my glasses, and a penknife.

(On my deserted island, I would have electricity for my electronics!)

7.    What is the wildest thing you have ever done?  What wild thing would you like to do?

No, no, no; one does not share that! But, I did ride the bull at top speed for five minutes, as an old lady of 45, won a t-shirt, and lived to tell about it.

(Yee haw, Sharlene and I are going to have to hang out some time, she sounds like a fun gal!)

8.    What do you feel has been your greatest accomplishment?  What other things would you like to accomplish? 

  Well, everyone says 'my children,' but that wasn't mine, alone. I would have to say the SolarChief(R) solar oven for mainstream cooks that I've just invented. It's a form of legacy that will benefit so many in the generations to come. Although we're just a small group in America, today, the time will come when every new home will have one. The savings are too big -- for both the reduction in fossil fuel usage and the reduction in home utility bills. I've taken it out of the 'camping' realm and made it attractive enough for everyone in the mainstream to want one next to their grills. It's taken me over four years from conception to drawing board to creation, but it's a good thing and I'm very proud of it.

(That is amazing that you invented a machine--incredible!)
 

9.  If you could wake up in the morning and do anything in the world that you wanted, what would it be, and why?

I do that, everyday, now. I'm retired and pretty much call the shots. I have my craft shop and my workshop, and my little corner of the world. I have a funny feeling that's all about to change. Come visit my blog at http://www.mainstreamsolarcooking.com

Please be sure to stop by Sharlene's blog and see her solar cooking recipes.  If you have any questions for Sharlene, write them in the comments area below, or at her blog!