Dehydrating

Soon the gardens will be abundant with all the goodies that we have planted.  One way to save these items is to dehydrate them to use later.  I have dehydrated items from the garden last year and when I get items on sale that I use and can dehydrate I do it,.  Last fall when we were in Colorado on vacation I picked up 50 lbs of organic grown Yukon Gold potatoes for $8.  When we got home I spent 2 days dehydrating them; I made shredded potatoes, sliced and diced potatoes and used them in soups, stew, and cheese potatoes.  I still have some and they are delicious.  At Thanksgiving I got 20 lbs of sweet potatoes for 19 cents a lb and dehydrated them.  All I do is add water and a little butter and simmer for 1/2 hour or so and they are as good as fresh mashed sweet potatoes.  I also picked up several bunches of celery and dehydrated them.  They were 59 cents each and I use them in soups, stew, and have made dressing using some. Below is a picture of some of the items I have in the cabinet right now that I have dehydrated.  Uses for these items are numerous and when you can get them on sale or from your garden you save money.

Not pictured are apple slices, these went about as fast as I could make them.  I sprinkled them with some cinnamon and sugar before putting them in the dehydrator and they were wonderful.

L to R; front; lemon slices, 4 lbs of carrots in a pint jar, cilantro, cherry tomatoes, red and green peppers; back; onions, celery, pineapple, orange slices, mushrooms.