TisaWee Farm

Dehydrating Foods

I've really "gotten into" this dehydrating thing.  Food keeps longer than in the freezer, it's faster and cheaper than canning (plus you don't lose all your vitamins and such) and it really saves space.. So far I've dehydrated onions, zucchini slices (with assorted spices), peppers, sliced potatoes, cinnamon apples, bananas, yogurt, and TOMATO JUICE!  

Now, THAT was a trick.  And a mess.  And I need to find a better way. 

Here's a visual.  Put parchment paper on a flat tray without sides.  Pour a puddle of tomato juice in the center.  Balance the tray, without slopping the tomato juice, and slide it into the dehydrator.  Repeat.

I did probably a peck of tomatoes by just dipping them in boiling water to remove the skins, whooshing them in the blender to make juice (seeds and all....gotta love that VitaMix!), and then drying the juice.  That peck of tomatoes made about a half-quart of tomato paste powder.  It dried into crispy sheets of tomato leather, and I just crumbled them into a jar. Of course, I had to sample a piece or two.  <grin>

By the way, the dehydrated yogurt is pretty good stuff!!!   I just dumped a container of fruited yogurt on a tray and dried it.  Then broke it into pieces.  It tasted like fruity taffy.  Ummm!

 

 

I'm BACK!!!

Where does the time go?? Six weeks ago, the last time I blogged, was just before I had back surgery.  I thought I'd have TONS of time to get on here and chat.   Ha!   The funny thing is...I can't even account for what I've done in the last six weeks.  Seems like I was constantly busy, but never anything of consequence.   I do have to state, however..... I could REALLY get used to this not working thing!!! <grin>

It seems like it went from summer to late fall in a blink of an eye.  I thought it was a bit chilly a couple of nights ago, so lit the gas fireplace.  Then found out that it was in the 40's overnight.  No wonder it was chilly!   I am really NOT looking forward to winter this year!

I had SO hoped to be in TisaWee by this winter.  I haven't given up yet, but its looking more dismal by the day.  Herniating a disk in my back last spring trying to move a gigantic chopsaw off the table really threw a wrench (no pun intended) in the picture.

I'm hoping to have the exterior finished in the next couple weeks.  I'm wimping out and hiring someone to finish the fascia, soffit, and siding.  Those heights just scare the bejebbers out of me.   I've been trying to find help with the plumbing (none of my friends are plumbers.....go figure) but that isn't going so well.  I think I can figure out the electric, though....at least I don't have to worry about whether it is running uphill or if it is properly vented.  Of course, I'll have someone check it out for me.   Once all of that is done, I can get the insulation in, put the air/moisture barrier over it and I'm good to go!   It will be just like camping! <grin>

A  friend was looking at pictures of the nice house that I live in currently and wondered why I wanted to sell it.  Especially if that meant that I'd be living in TisaWee with plastic-covered walls, painted subflooring for floors, and boxes for cupboards.  She thought I was totally nuts.  And maybe I am, because I am excited about it!!  I guess I have the adventurous spirit of our ancestors.  It's a good thing, too.  Otherwise we'd all be saying "Good day, Ma'am" instead "Hey, ya'll"