Solar Cooking Event at Mosque in Northern Virginia

Pat McArdle of Solar Cookers International and Louise Meyer of Solar Household Energy participated in a Solar Cooking Expo at Dar al Noor Mosque in Manassas, Virginia.

“Solar cooking in Islamic countries is on the rise, but its wide-spread acceptance as a significant way to reduce the damage caused by smoky cooking fires will need greater support from the international development community. Solar Cookers International (SCI) board member Patricia McArdle and Afzal Syed of the Dar al Noor Mosque congregation contributed to this goal by hosting a well-attended solar cooking demonstration at Syed’s mosque in Manassas, Virginia on Saturday July 9. Louise Meyer, co- founder of Solar Household Energy, and two of the organization’s volunteers from Washington DC also participated in this event.

A popular DC radio show interview with McArdle about her novel Farishta two days before the event drew large crowds from around the northern Virginia/DC metro region. Visitors sampled a variety of traditional and modern foods (lentils, rice, eggs, spiced potatoes, mixed vegetables, dahl, popcorn, chai tea–and for dessert, chocolate, yellow, lemon and spice cakes) all of which were baked, boiled, fried and roasted in the many solar cooker models on display. McArdle also demonstrated a StoveTec rocket stove and a retained heat cooking basket in her integrated cooking display.”