I am not referring to the weather in this title of this post… for a change!
We’ve actually had quite a nice amount of rain of late. All up about 20mms in the past week or so which is fabulous for the empty tanks, not to mention the grass in the paddocks and the odd tree… or fifty.
Oops… I’m getting off track. What I am talking about is drying things.. fruit to be exact.
I’ve been coveting a food dehydrator for a while now, but I have made myself promise not to buy any more kitchen appliances until I have a nice new kitchen and somewhere to store them…. but it doesn’t count if you borrow the kitchen appliance now does it!?! So I stole… ahem… borrowed my very wonderful friend’s dehydrator (she is a gazillion weeks pregnant so not like she’ll have the stamina or the time to use it right now) and have been having a little play.
First we tried apples and some pineapple. We also tried out the fruit leather tray up the top with some apple and rhubarb smush. For a first go I was really pleased with the results. The apples were maybe a tad too dry and more like crispy chips than the soft pliable dried apple I was aiming for, but it still tasted good. Same with the pineapple. The fruit leather was awesome!
Second go I did some peaches and plums that we’d been given, some cherry tomatoes (we have a garden full, finally) and more fruit leather. The peaches were sensational! The plums? hmm… not so great, but the kids loved them. The tomatoes all went into a tomato and olive scroll bread which seems to have gotten the thumbs up from all who ate it… so I call that a success too. Once again, the fruit leather… YUM!
I am still in possession of the wonderful gadget and had planned to make more apples today… except those pesky children of mine inhaled 5 apples between them today and now there is barely enough left to make it worth my while. Plus I need an apple corer….
I am guessing my friend won’t stay pregnant forever and I will have to give the wondrous appliance back soon…. but oh how much fun are we going to have when I finally have my shiny new kitchen and a lovely (second hand – anyone got one in their shed they want to sell me?) dehydrator .. not to mention an orchard full of fruit to play with… ah one day.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
ooooo
I might have to try that out myself!!
I’ve always wanted to try this – it sound so yummy! An apple corer is a must – one of the best kitchen things I own and the kids love using it.
sounds like fun!!
I have always had food dehydrator envy.
Hmm maybe you can keep it for as long as you keep me in rhubarb fruit leather ;-)
For such a dorky sounding appliance, you’ve made me want one…
Yum yum, all that stuff sounds fab!
whilst you have been doing all healthy food experimentation with dried fruit and fruit leather, I fed the family french crepes tonight for dinner… :)
Yummoo!!!
I bought one of these last year and every month to 6 weeks it goes full tilt and dries anything i can get my hands on.
With your rollups add some yoghurt and about a 1/4 teaspoon of gelatine to the fruit and dry… YUMMMYY!!
Good luck Lea-Anne