Any tips for using a Rayburn in a holiday cottage?

[MummyToOneForNow]

I've just spotted that the cottage we're going to be staying in on holiday from next weekend has a wood-fired Rayburn (plus a combination microwave/grill) for cooking on.

Give the weather at the moment (hot!) we're going to want to run it for the miniumum amount of time. I have never used one before - any tips on how to use it or recipes that we can try (suitable for a largely vegetarian couple (sometimes eat fish) and toddler)? Do you have to light it ages before you want to cook? Think we might need to borrow a microwave cookery book from the library

[MummyToOneForNow]

Have re-read property details and Rayburn isn't wood-fired (that was the stove in the living room which I don't think we'll be using!). Would still like tips on using the Rayburn though...

[MummyToOneForNow]

Any advice? I'm hoping there will be instructions etc but can you pretty much cook things like pasta/rice as normal on the top plates? How do you convert recipes or do you not need to?

[Niecie]

There should be instructions - we've had one a couple of times.

As far as I can remember you have to open vents to heat the oven. Like 'proper' cookers they do seem to vary a bit.

It is just a case of lifting the lid to use the hob though. Fill the pan, put it on, dead simple.

You will be an expert by the end of the week - either that or you will have eaten out a lot!!

Happy holidays.

[MummyToOneForNow]

thanks - just panicked slightly when I was looking through the details - might try to find a suitable cookbook in the library to take for ideas just in case.