All Dried Up

Kelli asked me about my dehydrator last week. What I use it for and what I do with the stuff I dry. At this time of the year, the dehydrators on holiday. But come spring, I'll bring it out to dry any stored goodies going bad. Like sprouting onions or garlic. Then it will become a permanent resident on the kitchen counter from summer through fall as I try to keep up with all the herbs, peppers and tomatoes. By fall I'm tired of making sauces, ketchup and salsas with my tomato bounty and start oven roasting and drying them. Cherry and paste tomatoes work best. I also dry hot peppers and my paprika peppers. But the herbs are the biggest user of the dehydrator. Sometimes I can't use up all the bounty before they start to flower so I harvest in batches and dry for winter use. And again in the fall, I hurry to get as much dried as possible before the first hard frost does them in.

As for uses, the herbs are obvious. The tomatoes find their way into soups, stews and stocks, as that's the easiest way to rehydrate. Although I also use them in any recipe calling for sun dried tomatoes. I've also dehydrated carrots and onions for using in soups, stews and stocks. You can make powders by grinding your dehydrated goods as well. I've made onion, garlic and paprika powders. This year I want to make my own cayenne and chili powders as well.

I've never made jerky or fruit roll ups with mine, but I know many do have success making these items with their dehydrator. Someday, when the children are older, I'm hoping to grow and dry my own beans and peas as well. (I cannot grow legumes in my garden right now because my children are allergic to their relative, the peanut. When they're old enough to understand their allergies and know they cannot eat them, I may possibly grow them again.) I think there is nothing so pretty as a jar full of dried peas or beans! :)

This is a small portion of my dried herbs. I currently have dill, chives, sage, basil, cilantro, parsley, savory, rosemary, mint, oregano and thyme.

Dried hot peppers and paprika peppers.

Dried tomatoes.