So hubby spent the weekend playing with the food dehydrator. Since it isn't exactly growing season yet here in Wisconsin, we started it with a trip to the grocery store. I found humorous irony in dehydrating canned pineapples, but when the fresh ones are $6 each and probably not flavorful, and you really want dried pineapples... well, you use canned pineapples I guess.
He also dried apples and bananas, and then moved into the range of vegetables: habaneros, garlic, and jalapenos. And of course, he made beef jerky. The jerky turned out pretty thick. Hubby says its because it didn't dry enough, but I'm pretty sure you are supposed to cut it more than 1/4 inch thick. The seasoning was great though.
Monday morning I decided to take a bunch of dried fruit to work with me. Vegetables were done Saturday, and Sunday was spent on fruit. I opened the dehydrator and saw little pieces of mango on the top tray, scooped them into a container. Picked out dried apple, dried pineapple, and banana chips and headed to work.
I started munching on the dried fruity goodness, and went to try out a little pieces of dried mango. It wasn't mango. It was dried garlic. YUCK! Do not try dehydrated garlic. Strong and concentrated.
When I got home, my husband showed me more fruits of his labors -- a container a home-made dried seasonings, habanero oil, and garlic oil.
I can't wait to start growing things and dehydrating food from the garden, instead of the grocery store.
