What are you DEHYDRATING today?

[FarmerDenise]

You can also freeze hot peppers. They are still penty hot, especially habaneros. We grew them 2 years ago and still have plenty in the freezer.

I dried apples yesterday. They are so flavorfull. I had used the few apples the dog left me from our tree and then some of the apples I picked at a friends house. I'm going to wait for the rest of them to turn a little less green and do another batch.

Today I am dehydrating gypsy peppers. I have tons of red ones and they are so nice in stews and soups. Plus I am working on gathering up my christmas gifts that I will be mailing to my parents and siblings. They will be getting dehydrated foods and herbs and seeds.
I know they really appreciate it, especially since they live in a totally different climate than I do. My parents live in upstate NY and you New England folks know how bad the weather was for growing tomatoes and such.

 

[Ldychef2k]

My birthday present to myself came today: The Excalibur. The economy model, to be sure, but at least I am not using the oven or breaking the Mr. Coffee, or solar drying in the fall, which would not work. And at least I am not using my cardboard box dehydrator which got so hot that I actually burned the carrots.

Nope, today I dehydrated six pounds of frozen peas and two pounds of frozen corn. I was too excited to get fresh, and I do tend to use more dehydrated frozen vegetables than most anything else...which is probably going to change now that I have my baby.

 

[dragonlaurel]

My birthday present to myself came today: The Excalibur. The economy model, to be sure, but at least I am not using the oven or breaking the Mr. Coffee, or solar drying in the fall, which would not work. And at least I am not using my cardboard box dehydrator which got so hot that I actually burned the carrots.

Nope, today I dehydrated six pounds of frozen peas and two pounds of frozen corn. I was too excited to get fresh, and I do tend to use more dehydrated frozen vegetables than most anything else...which is probably going to change now that I have my baby.

Happy Birthday !
I'm curious about this cardboard box dryer, and the solar dryer too.

 

[FarmerDenise]

I ended up with 3 quart jars of dried sweet peppers. Yesterday I zested a whole lot more lemons, which I put in a 1/2 pint jar today.

 

[Farmfresh]

Happy Birthday Ldychef2k!

Great present! The first things you need to try are some of those sweet onions, finely diced celery, leeks and mushrooms. (Warning: Do the onions where it is well ventilated)

I keep a nice large supply of those things on hand to make cooking a breeze!

With me the dehydrator came first and then the herb garden! I also love fresh dried herbs and I make my own teas from mint, lemon balm and blackberry leaves. You are going to love your dehydrator!

 

[Ldychef2k]

Thanks for the well wishes, all !

So far, I have dried apple slices, bell peppers, carrots and frozen: corn, carrots, left internal mammary artery beans, peas, mixed veggies. In the wings: peaches.

You are right about the herb garden! I only have one container of basil and one of thyme, but in the spring that will change!

I have started maybe 25 fennel plants for the winter, which is going to be SO wonderful to dehydrate !

Onions...I just bought 20 of them and hope to do them on the patio tomorrow. Green onions have doubled in proce recently, so they will wait.

I wonder when I plant leeks in zone 9? They are one of my favorites.

Yes, I am going a little nuts. Like that's a surprise !

 

[ORChick]

Thanks for the well wishes, all !

So far, I have dried apple slices, bell peppers, carrots and frozen: corn, carrots, left internal mammary artery beans, peas, mixed veggies. In the wings: peaches.

You are right about the herb garden! I only have one container of basil and one of thyme, but in the spring that will change!

I have started maybe 25 fennel plants for the winter, which is going to be SO wonderful to dehydrate !

Onions...I just bought 20 of them and hope to do them on the patio tomorrow. Green onions have doubled in proce recently, so they will wait.

I wonder when I plant leeks in zone 9? They are one of my favorites.

Yes, I am going a little nuts. Like that's a surprise !

In zone 9? Just about anytime, I would think; right about now would probably be good. When I lived in zone 9 I put off starting my Spring seeds until Jan. 1st - only because of all the festivities, not because of the temperature. And leeks don't mind colder weather. Go for it. What will you lose? At most a few seeds.

 

[Ldychef2k]

You are exactly right. What have I go to lose but a few seeds ! Think I will give it a shot.

 

[Ldychef2k]

Frozen veggies for my end of the world pantry: Peas, yellow corn, white corn, green beans, mixed veggies, broccoli, carrots, and frozen hasbrowns on sale at the canned foods store.

 

[Farmfresh]

Rosemary

I had to bring in my potted Rosemary plant the other night, so I pruned it back quite severely and took it upstairs to my sewing room to winter with the Lime tree under the roof window. I dehydrated the prunings to use on winter lamb and chicken dishes. Yum.

And the house smells wonderful!!