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Farm Kitchen:  What are you drying?  |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6816 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6816 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 31 2017 : 07:49:12 AM
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Sara your 8 trays of apples puts my 2 trays of anything to shame.
My dehydrator is a hand-me-down so I don't know how old it is or how much it was used before I got it. I have thought what I will replace it with when it finally burns out. 8 trays is more than I need but sometimes I do wish I had another tray or two.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6816 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6816 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2017 : 10:50:06 AM
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2 8oz containers of diced celery in marked down bin for $.60 each.
2 8oz containers of Pico De Gallo in marked down bin for $.80 each.
First time to try drying Pico de Gallo. Will see how it goes. Should be good in soups.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2017 : 1:21:13 PM
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first of all, if your Pico de Gallo is what I think of when you say Pico de Gallo, I can't imagine it ever drying out, its so juicy! Please let me know how that goes!
second, I have realized that you have marked down produce in Texas! In California they just throw it away if it looks bad! Sometimes it goes to the gleaners or the local food closet, but there's never an effort to sell it fast.
My dehydrator I bought about 30 years ago. Its just a base with a fan to blow warm air upward, and the trays stack on top of it. It has an on/off switch, and no temperature controls. I've definitely gotten my money's worth out of it! |
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2017 : 1:23:37 PM
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| Sara, as we move into the cold season and away from the growing season, I would hope you could begin to share with us your meals that are made from a years' worth of dehydrating. I'm very intrigued by your wide variety and the many, many containers you must have put up! |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6816 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6816 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2017 : 1:48:34 PM
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Sara you are right about it being wet. I plan on letting it drain overnight in a strainer. If it's still wet I'll roll it up in a flour sack tea towel and squeeze it before putting in dehydrator.
I guess I thought all stores mark down food when it reached or was about to reach the to sell or best by dates. The store I shop at does it for produce, meat, dairy, bakery items, and also pkg/can goods. The produce that is way best it's prime is put in a trash barrel for a large animal rescue center like horses and llamas to pick up.
I use dried veg all the time in soup. I hydrate them before adding to meatloaf and tomato sauces. I don't like the texture of most dried vegetables to serve as a side dish. They work best in soups, stews, casseroles, meatloaf, and patties.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6816 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6816 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2017 : 06:21:13 AM
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Yesterday I put the Pico de Gallo in a sieve over a bowl. Laid a double piece of wax paper on top and weighed it down with 28oz can of tomatoes. This morning I measured the liquid in the bowl and it was 1/2 cup. I spread the Pico de Gallo out on wax paper and dried with paper towels. It's now in the dehydrator lined with wax paper and spread thin on two trays.
The liquid tasted good with a little heat so I added Kosher salt, black pepper, dried minced garlic & onion and dried Mexican oregano. Put in small cube ice cube tray. Each cube holds 1 tsp. When frozen will put in freezer zip-lock bag. Use soups/sauces and see how it does.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2017 : 08:23:20 AM
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I am impressed! You need to start a blog called the Frugal Kitchen!
What's really impressive is your bravery in trying anything in that dehydrator. That's great! |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6816 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6816 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2017 : 08:36:57 AM
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Thanks Sara.
Yesterday the produce manager asked me how I got the idea to make mushroom powder. I told him I had a recipe for making onion powder so I figured other veg could be used too. Once I have a basic recipe or technique I will experiment with other things. I do all my experimenting with mark downs so I have little $ invested - just my time and effort.
The produce manager and I have become friends. He tells me what he has grilled and what new seasoning he is using. I tell him about my drying, canning, and fermenting.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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jillyd
True Blue Farmgirl
711 Posts
Jill
Saanichton
British Columbia
Canada
711 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2017 : 09:57:13 AM
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A book would be a wonderful idea, Sara! We also, rarely get vegetables on sale. Once in while mushrooms go on, so I'll try those next time I see them. Most of what I dry is from my own garden.
Jill
Farmgirl #6748 |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6816 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6816 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2017 : 10:16:23 AM
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The Pico de Gallo is dried and is pretty with it's white, green, and red colors. The secret was draining it overnight. I will use this technique for other wet veg and combinations.
Collard greens next to dry - should be ready by the time I go to bed or sooner.
A book about my kitchen and Yellow Rose Cottage I'll think on it and get back to you. Thanks for liking what I do and write about.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2017 : 3:05:00 PM
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| sounds like a winter project! Put me down on the pre-sale list! |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6816 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6816 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2017 : 3:17:49 PM
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Thanks Sara for the gentle push.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2864 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2864 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2017 : 9:01:18 PM
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Your pre sale list has 2 takers!
"We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.” – R.R. |
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jillyd
True Blue Farmgirl
711 Posts
Jill
Saanichton
British Columbia
Canada
711 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2017 : 9:12:14 PM
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Me too, me too!
Jill
Farmgirl #6748 |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6816 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6816 Posts |
Posted - Nov 03 2017 : 06:05:17 AM
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Oh my, with all this confidence in me I better get cracking.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Nov 04 2017 : 10:45:46 AM
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Today I am grateful for the first rainfall of the season, as it prompted me to steep a cup of lemon verbena tea from the leaves youall encouraged me to dry. It was so yummy that I went out and harvested an armful of branches to increase my supply for the winter. Had I waited til a frost I'd have lost the chance!
I will just hang them to air dry as my dehydrator is full of apples. |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6816 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6816 Posts |
Posted - Nov 04 2017 : 11:34:48 AM
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Sara, tea from your garden is something special - enjoy.
I make a winter tea for colds with dried rosemary, sage, thyme, spearmint, lemon slices, and rosehips. It's not the best tasting tea but it makes me feel better and if I start taking it at the on-set of a cold it might stop it. All are medicinal herbs. A better tasting tea can be made with spearmint and lemon slices. Honey or raw sugar are my sweeteners.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2017 : 08:00:39 AM
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I heard your voices in my head while in the produce section, and picked up some mushrooms to dry :-)
Oh, I also wanted to share that I invented a pumpkin version of the granola I make regularly, and I added in some of the 'pumpkin gummies' that I created. Its fun how things can evolve in the kitchen! |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6816 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6816 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2017 : 08:14:59 AM
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Yes Sara one thing does lead to another. I find the more we "play" with our food the more creative we become.
Glad you listened to us and bought mushrooms for drying.
Right now I don't have anything to dry but tomorrow is grocery shopping day so I may find something in the mark-down bins.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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jillyd
True Blue Farmgirl
711 Posts
Jill
Saanichton
British Columbia
Canada
711 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2017 : 12:39:24 PM
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What are pumpkin gummies? Ingredients? Recipe? I'm curious.
Jill
Farmgirl #6748 |
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2017 : 1:09:27 PM
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| Lol! Jill, refer back to the previous page. It was something spontaneous that I experimented with because I have so many pumpkins from my garden to put to use. |
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jillyd
True Blue Farmgirl
711 Posts
Jill
Saanichton
British Columbia
Canada
711 Posts |
Posted - Nov 09 2017 : 10:22:21 AM
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Found it, thank you. Sounds delicious.
Jill
Farmgirl #6748 |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6816 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6816 Posts |
Posted - Nov 10 2017 : 05:10:00 AM
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I have a recipe that calls for chipotle powder. I want to control the heat so I bought 2 small cans of chipotle peppers in adobe sauce. I scraped out the seeds and ribs then chopped the peppers. Will dry than grind in blender. Put half of the sauce on another tray and will see how it dries. The other half of sauce I put in fridge.
It's 41 this morning and cold in my Yellow Rose Cottage. So far I like having my dehydrator out there and since I don't stay the cold doesn't bother me.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6816 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6816 Posts |
Posted - Nov 10 2017 : 11:49:41 AM
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The chipotle powder is a success but a little more trouble than drying herbs/greens. First I put parchment paper on the trays instead of wax paper. I can usually use the paper several times before replacing but after drying the peppers and sauce I had to throw it away.
Drying it was easy. Just unstuck it from the paper once during process. When dried I put it in blender and than sieve. What was left in the sieve I put in blender again but about 1/2 tsp still wouldn't grind fine enough. Yield a heaping 1/4 cup.
Glad I tried it and will do it again.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Nov 18 2017 : 08:21:29 AM
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I like that idea! I appreciate chipotle flavor but find it very overwhelming in most recipes. I'd love to have the powder to be able to add as little as I want.
Do you always line your trays with paper?
I packed 2 quart jars with dried lemon verbena leaves for winter teas. Oh! and I dried mushrooms and LOVED the smell of them in my house! I decided not to grind those because leaving them in slices gives me the ability to see how much mushroom I'm using and also opt to drop some into a soup if I want. I'll grind as I go to add to broths. |
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Farm Kitchen: What are you drying? |
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What are you drying?
