A Link

Previously, I have dehydrated jerky, jalapenos, bananas and apples and that is ALL I have ever used my dehydrator for. It is a well-used piece of my kitchen equipment, but not with variety~just with quantity. I guess, because I had never done it all before and was never taught, I never realized the great potential the dehydrator offers.

This year though, I decided to embark more fully into the land of dried foods, mainly because I have a sweet, adorable calf getting larger by the day and a freezer that is already stocked full. And~ I won't pretend that the last four or five days where electricity randomly went out (for many hours) didn't get me a wee bit uncomfortable when I realized how much food would be LOST if it didn't turn back on soon.

The other day I took to making squash chips. I figured they might be yummy (and less fat than fried potato chips) when eaten with homemade dips. It was a trial run and SCORE! Turns out, they ARE good (besides the ridiculous amount of seasoned salt I put on them. ick) I have another batch working now.

That feat got me thinking about what other foods were dehydrate-able. (Don't ask me why I never thought ALL foods were...) and led to my discovery of THESE videos....

How to Dehydrate and Store Food

This lady is pretty admirable. I never realized what you could do with a dehydrator! And her message is a good one. The fact is, we need to start taking control of our lives and not being so dependent on everyone else (or the grocery store). I think it was Part 4 or 5 where she shows her homemade kitchen shelf JUST for dehydrated things and I gasped at how pretty it was. Oh my. Eventually, she covers cooking with it too. What a treasure trove!

I have determined to use my food dehydrator every weeknight for the rest of this week and next. We'll see if I can do it (and what the results will be.) Hold me to it, will ya??

I am on Part 7 of the videos now and looking forward to the rest. Thought I would post a link here, for those interested, in case someone else might glean some good information. ESPECIALLY since we've been talking about it here lately (Bonnie and Peggy!)

That's all. (said in a very Meryl Streep Devil Wears Prada voice)