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Farm Kitchen:  What are you drying?  |
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shennandoah
True Blue Farmgirl
126 Posts
Shennandoah
La Vernia
TX
USA
126 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 04 2024 : 03:22:53 AM
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After a rough start I finally get to start harvesting and drying blue butterfly for tea. Hopefully will have Roselle hibiscus soon too. Fingers crossed I have enough for Christmas. I have 5 family members who want herbal tea in their stockings each year.  |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Aug 04 2024 : 05:14:27 AM
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Shennandoah, blue butterfly is a new one on me, please tell me about it. It is great others want your herbal teas.
Hugs, Sara "FarmGirl Sister" #6034 Aug 2014
FGOTM Sept 2015 - Feb 2019 - Oct 2023
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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Jokamartell
True Blue Farmgirl
1627 Posts
Karen
Kennewick
WA
USA
1627 Posts |
Posted - Aug 04 2024 : 7:35:15 PM
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Today I am drying some limes and lemons (that we’re going bad…). I will use them in stove top potpourri and potentially some garlands..
Karen :)
To quote one of my past preschoolers “Not one of those Karens, but a good Karen”! Haha |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2024 : 04:36:23 AM
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Karen, I haven't done stovetop potpourri in a long time. I might dry up some citrus and apple slices for the winter. I used to put peppercorns in mine, don't know why, I guess I thought I could smell them in the mix.
Hugs, Sara "FarmGirl Sister" #6034 Aug 2014
FGOTM Sept 2015 - Feb 2019 - Oct 2023
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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Jokamartell
True Blue Farmgirl
1627 Posts
Karen
Kennewick
WA
USA
1627 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2024 : 6:38:32 PM
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I love having potpourri on the stove top. I just have to remember to keep adding water to it! :) lol
Karen :)
To quote one of my past preschoolers “Not one of those Karens, but a good Karen”! Haha |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4313 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4313 Posts |
Posted - Aug 07 2024 : 03:42:45 AM
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Basil, thyme, and sage going in the dehydrator. Do you all always run your dehydrator at the temp is says for herbs, or do you kick it up a notch or two, to get things dry in a day or two rather then forever?
Farming in WI
Michele
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Aug 07 2024 : 05:34:36 AM
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Michelle must confess I dry my herbs at 135 and it takes hours instead of days. They retain their aroma and flavor.
Hugs, Sara "FarmGirl Sister" #6034 Aug 2014
FGOTM Sept 2015 - Feb 2019 - Oct 2023
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2381 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2381 Posts |
Posted - Aug 07 2024 : 10:39:12 AM
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We have low humidity in the summer so I don't use the dehydrator -- just hang in bunches.
Judith
7932 FGOTM 6/21, 6/24
I'm old and I do wear purple |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Aug 07 2024 : 10:55:45 AM
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Judith, you are fortunate to have low humidity in the summer. We have high humidity and it's the pits.
Hugs, Sara "FarmGirl Sister" #6034 Aug 2014
FGOTM Sept 2015 - Feb 2019 - Oct 2023
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2381 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2381 Posts |
Posted - Aug 07 2024 : 4:29:01 PM
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Sara --- that's about the only thing I am thankful for lately. Only 104 today.
Judith
7932 FGOTM 6/21, 6/24
I'm old and I do wear purple |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4313 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4313 Posts |
Posted - Aug 08 2024 : 02:57:47 AM
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I finally got those herbs dried. Thanks Sara, I am going to crank it up on a regular basis. Sage and basil takes so long if I don't.
Farming in WI
Michele
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nndairy
True Blue Farmgirl
3139 Posts
Heather
Wapakoneta
Ohio
USA
3139 Posts |
Posted - Aug 08 2024 : 08:51:27 AM
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Shennandoah - if you have enough tea I'll gladly be a long lost cousin for Christmas LOL! Your tea looks wonderful!
Michele - I've started putting my herbs on a cookie sheet with parchment paper, then place them in the oven on warm with a wooden spoon in the door so it doesn't close completely. They dry super fast! I put some spearmint in about an hour ago and it's all done already.
~Heather
“I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.” — George Washington
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Jokamartell
True Blue Farmgirl
1627 Posts
Karen
Kennewick
WA
USA
1627 Posts |
Posted - Aug 08 2024 : 7:36:10 PM
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Great idea, Heather! :) Thanks for sharing!
Karen :)
To quote one of my past preschoolers “Not one of those Karens, but a good Karen”! Haha |
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2381 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2381 Posts |
Posted - Aug 08 2024 : 9:01:17 PM
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I also like drying in the oven. Ours is electric but with just the light on makes it warm enough to dry. Also perfect for defrosting meat for dinner.
Judith
7932 FGOTM 6/21, 6/24
I'm old and I do wear purple |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4313 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4313 Posts |
Posted - Aug 09 2024 : 02:59:26 AM
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That goes really fast Heather, wow. I just looked and my oven has a dehydrate setting on it. I have never used it. It also had a proof setting and I have used that. Gets the breads a rising, when the house is chilly.
On a side note.......I have been wanting to tell you that the plastic pizza cutter is amazing that you had sent to me. I was skeptical at first, thinking that is not going to cut pizza, but oh my it is wonderful!! Thanks again for sending it.
Farming in WI
Michele
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Aug 09 2024 : 04:14:14 AM
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In the past I have dried herbs in my oven but that was when I had an electric stove, now I have gas, wonder if it would work with gas. May give it a try this winter. Rosemary lasts through the winter and so does the sage & Greek oregano until a hard freeze.
Hugs, Sara "FarmGirl Sister" #6034 Aug 2014
FGOTM Sept 2015 - Feb 2019 - Oct 2023
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
7227 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
7227 Posts |
Posted - Aug 09 2024 : 3:19:02 PM
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The only dehydration I have done in my oven is turning my tomatoes into sun dried tomatoes. Oh they are so yummy that way. I look forward to doing that again this year. I will also have to try my mint that way. My air fryer has a dehydrate setting but I haven't tried it yet.
Krista |
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
310 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - Aug 10 2024 : 11:00:26 AM
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More chamomile in dehydrator. Sadly plants have developed powdery mildew and have about died. I have about 12 ounces of chamomile to enjoy over winter. I have a lot of mexican oregano in dehydrator. I used some to make taco seasoning. This herb is very strong and a little is plenty for seasoning. Any ideas on what else to use it on?
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Aug 10 2024 : 11:13:24 AM
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I like Mexican oregano in black and pinto beans; chili; beef or lamb stew.
Hugs, Sara "FarmGirl Sister" #6034 Aug 2014
FGOTM Sept 2015 - Feb 2019 - Oct 2023
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2381 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2381 Posts |
Posted - Aug 10 2024 : 12:43:53 PM
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I finally had a nice patch of chamomile growing but our heat this year killed it. My valerian that was doing so well also died. It's been a learning experience discovering what survives with only two waterings a week. So far thyme and Mexican oregano are doing well and I'm very surprised and happy that my barrels of Egyptian mint are thriving (with a couple extra midnight waterings a week).
Judith
7932 FGOTM 6/21, 6/24
I'm old and I do wear purple |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Aug 10 2024 : 1:21:27 PM
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Judith, we are blessed here with no watering restrictions so I water the raised beds in the morning and the containers on the deck in late evening if needed. The deck has more shade so I can usually go a couple of days without watering. I break up my watering so it's not too hard on me.
Hugs, Sara "FarmGirl Sister" #6034 Aug 2014
FGOTM Sept 2015 - Feb 2019 - Oct 2023
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
310 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - Aug 11 2024 : 4:04:10 PM
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I was looking on a local farmer's page of what to buy for the week. I saw the 1 ounce of dried chamomile was almost $8-whoa! I have a jar of it from my garden. It's worth a lot of money-ha ha Nope not selling it.
Mother Nature watered garden today. I'll pluck more basil and dry it
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4313 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4313 Posts |
Posted - Aug 14 2024 : 05:19:43 AM
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Tara, wow that is some price on chamomile. I should of been harvesting more of mine this spring. lol
Picked more basil yesterday, turned the dehydrator up to 125 and boom it was done in one day. It was on the warm side, outside and did not want to turn on the oven to try that.
Farming in WI
Michele
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2915 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2915 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2024 : 09:25:46 AM
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That's crazy! We get that chamomile that pops up as a weed. It doesn't really get the white petals, just the big yellow center, and it is on a short stem. I have never done anything with it, but it smells divine! Does anyone know what I am talking about, and if so, has anyone every dried it etc.?
I am drying pumpkin puree, which I will then grind up in the Vitamix. I had a bunch of baggies full in the freezer, and I am showing my dog Steffi at the Doberman National in Oct. I always pack pumpkin and psyllium in the case of diarrhea and was out of the powder. SO much easier than trying to take a container of fresh.
I guess I should have said that the psyllium and pumpkin was for Steffi, but heck, I guess it could work for us too! |
Edited by - nubidane on Aug 20 2024 10:53:15 AM |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2024 : 09:59:12 AM
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Lisa, I did not know about pumpkin & psyllium for diarrhea for dogs. Good to know.
I might be the only person who can't drink chamomile tea because it makes me nervous instead of calming me down. But I am curious about wild chamomile so I will look it up, I like finding out new things about herbs.
Hugs, Sara "FarmGirl Sister" #6034 Aug 2014
FGOTM Sept 2015 - Feb 2019 - Oct 2023
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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Farm Kitchen: What are you drying? |
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What are you drying?
