1. Garlic Harvest. Holy crap people, I can't tell you how excited I was to harvest the measly number of experimental garlic that I planted last fall. My husband was in the hospital at the time and I just decided to throw a couple garlic cloves into one of the raised beds last October. No planning, no special garlic, just the stuff from the grocery store. I didn't have a whole lot of hope for this desperate attempt at gardening, but I was so totally, pleasantly surprised by the result. Granted I only got three garlic heads out of the deal, but let me tell you, there will be a whole lot more going into the ground this year. I'll go into a lot more grand detail on how I created this end result in a later post.
2. Strawberry Jerky. My first attempt at dehydrating strawberries didn't go as well as I would have liked. I was under a little time crunch since the berries were starting to look fuzzy and I had to set them in the dehydrator overnight, so I couldn't check them like I would have wanted to.
Needless to say, they were overdone and were almost impossible to extract from the dehydrating trays. If anyone has any tips on that one, let me know. Either way, I got a 1/2 flat of strawberries for super-cheap from a local farm so it's not all bad. I'll find good use for them but just won't be snacking on them straight up for fear of chipping some teeth.
3. Drying Flowers. I've been air drying flowers like a complete and utter madwoman lately. I've got 8 bunches of English Lavender drying in the basement and I've been drying scads of rose petals on top of our washer and dryer. We have a number of rose bushes in our yard and the fragrant ones are producing like crazy.
I'm not sure what exactly I'll be doing with the dried rose petals, but I would like to incorporate them into something I'll be making for Christmas gifts. If anyone has any ideas, let me know. In the meantime, the dried flowers most likely will end up in homemade soap. Let me tell you, between the jams and the soap, you're going to wish you were on my Christmas list.
4. Little House on the Prairie Craziness. We've been renting the first episodes of Season 1 of Little House on the Prairie over the last few months. Needless to say, my daughter is completely enamored. Given her fixation, I went so far as to find a small stay-at-home operation to sew her a classic Little House nightgown complete with the hat. Let me tell you, that outfit has gotten about as much use during the day as at night. Now, if only I could get the lines from the episode, Town Party, Country Party out of my head. "Ingalls! I told you not to meddle!" Begin bitch fight between Michael Landon and actor with bad Scandahoovian accent.
The last episode we watched was The Raccoon and it scared the shit out of them. Laura gets a raccoon for a pet and it ends up biting Laura and the dog. They think it has rabies and are expecting everyone to die and Pa essentially pitchforks a raccoon to death. So, I think we'll be watching Piglet for a while before getting back into LHOTP.
5. Happy Harvest. In spite of the fact that it seems like barely anything is getting started in the garden due to the late spring temperatures, we have been harvesting a bunch of stuff. Here's the run-down for those who are interested: kale, onions, rosemary, sage, oregano, strawberries and cherries. I'm planning on putting in a few more raised beds in the next few weeks so I'll keep you posted about the plans for that and how it ties into the Food Not Lawns book club.
6. Cancer News. My husband's stem cell transplant is going better than expected. I'm loathe to announce that as I'd hate to jinx things (and I consider myself to be not at all superstitious, but there you have it). So far, he's experiencing what should be expected and will hit rock bottom in the next couple of days so we shall see. The folks at the clinic are happy with how he is doing and the numbers are looking better than they were. I'm trying not to get too excited as that's generally source for much deflation later.
Anyway, that's the shiz on this end. I'm sure I'm forgetting something highly entertaining, but them's the breaks.
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38 Crunchy Thoughts:
If you find out how to keep the strawberries from sticking to the dehydrator screens let me know. I was gonna spray PAM on them but never did.
Your daughter is a FFA (Future Foxes of America)member?
Scandahovian? Christ girl you live in Ballard. The word is Scandanavian. Thus my bitch of the day is done!
Crunchy,
No jinxing here, just some best wishes for you and Mr. Crunchy to get through the therapy. Hope it all goes well.
- Erin
As one LH fan to another, I love the nightgown! Adorable! I do recall reading the books as a child and being shocked at some parts, but yes indeed that was the reality of the times I guess. *gulp*
I hope things keep going well for Mr. Crunchy.
The nightgown is wonderful! We've been obsessed with checking out episodes of The Waltons--something very appropriate for these times (it is very much about the Great Depression) and also very reassuring and gentle. Lovely.
I tried drying strawberries too this year and no luck, hard little chips that stuck to the trays also. After the first batch I gave up and froze the rest.
I've tried the dried flower petals in soap and they tend to turn brown and lose their color. If you're doing melt and pour might be different, I make my soap with lye and oils and haven't had much luck.
Try putting a thin layer of vinegar inside the trays for a little while - not too long, though cuz vinegar is an acid and weakens some types of plastic. It should eat away enough of the strawberry to then be able to scrape and pop it off the plastic. Or, you could try putting the trays in the freezer. Put the strawberry through the freeze-thaw cycle and see if they aren't easier to get off then.
Oh, I forgot. ..
To keep the things from sticking to the dehydrator trays, what if you lined the trays with parchment or wax paper? Guess it would depend on the type of dehydrator you have.
Scandahovian! I am part Scandahovian! You must be too Crunchy, or at least have lived around alot of folks of Scandanavian descent. Nice to hear old jocular terms from my past! Thanks!
I'm impressed with the garlic. I may just have to try growing it myself now, thanks to you.
The nightgown is awesome! I swear one of these days I'm going to sew up one of those hats for this winter. I always get cold in the winter and end up finagling the pillow case to fit over my head to keep the warmth in.
Aww, Mr. Crunchy. He remains in my prayers, as you all do. No need to hold back your joy at a successful-thus-far stem cell transplant!
You can also use rose petals in tea. There is some info about them here: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/rose_petals.php
I hope Mr. Crunchy continues to get better and better, all the best to all of you!
We home brew and have a lot of friends who do, too. The best home brew I've ever had in my life was a rose petal mead. As soon as I get my rose bushes established (transplants from my mom's house), that's one major plan I have for the petals.
I hope Mr. Crunchy's treatment continues to be successful!
As far as use for rose petals, you could make potpurri and put it in little pillows. I did this once and made the little pillows out of old clothes. My friends reported that it kept the drawers containing their intimates smelling fresh ;-)
LOVE LHOTP! I was obsessed with Laura Ingalls - she was my hero! I can't wait until DD is old enough to watch and comprehend the stories! Even the death by pitchfolk scenes were made bearable by all of the other wonderful lessons in those episodes. And that was just the way things were back then - and maybe to be again soon!!
I am thrilled that Mr. Crunchy is getting good reports! I will continue to think of you all and send lots of positive thoughts and energy your way!
On another note: How the ^(*&*(&# do you get SO much done? I believe you are an alien from space or a superhero disguised as a chicken? I can't even go pee when I need to!!
This may sound silly, but I sprayed PAM on baking sheets and then lined my strawberries slices on them. I then put the baking sheets inside my car with the window cracked just a little. By nightfall, the strawberries were the perfect consistancy! I use this method for drying flower petals and some herbs.
I had the same sticking problem with my peaches. Maybe b/c I let them dehydrate 16 hours :)? I turned the American Harvest trays upside down and punched the little peach jerkys out from the top. Worked like a charm! Did have to soak the trays for awhile to clean them though.
High five on the garlic, those are some nice looking heads!
So glad to hear that things are going well for Mr. Crunchy, I hope rock bottom isn't too bad.
Do you have a good soap recipe, if so please share. Love your blog, I read it everyday
My childhood was filled with LHotP - I had to get the dinner dishes washed before I could go in the other room to watch the show. Motivation to get the dishes done!
You can use fresh rose petals, with the white bit snipped off, to make rose petal jam. aka gulkand
http://punjabirecipes.gurudwara.net/recipedetail.aspx?id=71
(I have a jar in my greenhouse which is just about ready to eat. Smells heavenly and tastes divine.)
I am not sure about the dried petals, maybe as an ingredient in tea?
Having never tried to dehydrate strawberries, no ideas there. My banana chips stuck, and like another commenter, I poked them from the back side of the tray and they popped off. That trick didn't work very well when using my mother's dehydrator, which had mesh screen for the trays. A dull butter knife to pry them off seemed to help the process go faster.
Glad your husband is doing better than you thought, y'all have been in my prayers. That Laura Ingalls outfit is so cute! I love Little House, but I really prefer the books to the show. As for the Christmas list, put me on there girl, JK!
Thanks for the update on Mr C and glad it is going better than expected. And its great that nature gave you some head; I love garlic so I think I will try your scientific method. My dad had as green a thumb as any I've ever known and he had no luck w/ garlic.
It would be good for all the LHOTP fans to check out the revies and discussion on American Indians In Children's Literature at Blogspot.
I really like the car as dehydrator idea, it's hot and dry here and I have too many vehicles I am not otherwise using and it is mango season. Hmmm.
All best wishes to the Mr. Crunchy. I hope you are not hanging out at that hospital any longer than you need to.
Crunchy needs you at home for new and more convoluted eco-experiments.
I got some garlic all set up for sprouting and then planting about two weeks ago.
The damn stuff was irradiated. Nothing happened. Usually a green shoot will emerge in two days. I really think we need to revisit the
idea of demanding that irradiated foods be so labeled. With ginger I can usually see if they zapped it or not, with garlic I can't tell.
Anyone else have these problems?
You can tell if the product has been irradiated usually if you have it in the refrigerator forever and it finally just kind of liquifies or shrivels.
Maybe they irradiated the Pharaohs.
That is lovely garlic. Pretty good considering the year we've had weather-wise.
What are you going to do with the lavender? I'm a huge fan of lavender in cooking: roasted potatoes, shortbread, added to anything with berries. I also make lavender sugar (2 tbsp dried buds + 1 cup of sugar, let infuse in a jar for a few weeks. Strain the sugar, or grind the lavender in it, before using.)
This might not be the best idea for keeping berries from sticking to dehydrator trays but I use screening. You know, like the metal screens for windows. I bought a length of screening from the hardware store and cut out circles that fit on my trays. Maybe there's a metal toxicity issue I'm missing somewhere, I don't know... Berries will stick but the screens are flexible enough to pop them off. Screening also works for apples and pears and probably will work for stone fruit as well.
HOWEVER - this works for non-gloopy fruit. I've dried partially collapsing, drippy raspberries on screens and it was a pain to get them off. I'd go with parchment for the really wet stuff.
Scandahoovian? Ya shure, you betcha! I lived in Wisconsin long enough to hear more than enough Ole and Lena jokes (performed with the appropriate Scandahoovian accent) that I now understand the Swedish Chef! Doncha know!
Kerri in AK
I've never done strawberries, but for soft fruits like peaches, apricots, and mangos the key is (if you have time) to peel them up when they're still flexible and turn them over so a dry spot is against the tray for the last half of the drying. I do mine on a high temp for about 10-12 hours, flip them, and then finish on a lower temperature until they are jerkylike but not stuck.
But for really yummy fruit like strawberries, I mix them with applesauce and make fruit rollups -doesn't take a ton of grape juice or raspberry or sour plum to make the rollups be that fruit's flavor, and the fruit rollup trays are smooth so no sticking.
On the strawberries... I think you could probably turn the jerky into a strawberry syrup or a jam by simply soaking it in hot water for an hour or so. We do this on backpacking trips all the time... soak jerkied and dried food to get a reconstitued sauce.
You saved the best for last, and I hope it is good news that does last.
No jinxing, but I will keep hoping for the best for you and your husband. I'm glad that the stem cell transplant went well.
Glad to hear that so far things are going well for Mr. Crunchy. I'm keeping your family in my thoughts and prayers. Keep us posted.
As another posted stated, "How do you do it all?" I have a 2 and 4 year-old. Many days I feel lucky to get the basics done -- laundry, basic cleaning, dishes, making meals, and dog grooming. Yard and garden are hit and miss.
--Ave
Crunchy- I am a major LHOTP fan. I loved that show growing up and it got me through many a months of bedrest while pregnant. I have always looked forward to my daughter falling in love with that show. She is still too young. Anyways- I had a lady I found on etsy make a ton of bonnets so I could give them away as gifts to little girls. I would be happy to send you one. It would be my thanks for having such a great blog that I look forward to reading every day. Every little girl needs a Laura Bonnet. Also- where did you get that nightset made. I need one.
Finally- so very happy to hear your husband is responding well. I will continue to keep him in my prayers!
Re. the flowers, I *love* lavender tea. Kind of warm and spicy, a bit like honeybush tea if you're familiar with that. You just take the dried flower heads and rub them between your hands and then put the tiny bud bits that fall out in a jar. Use about half a teaspoon per cup, add boiling water and steep for a couple of minutes.
I also love lavender cookies, I use this recipe:
http://whatscookingamerica.net/Cookie/LavenderCookie.htm
And lavender jelly is good on turkey. We used it like cranberry jelly last Christmas. It's also yummy on milky deserts like plain yoghurt or with cheese. There's a recipe here:
http://www.happyvalleylavender.com/lavender_recipes.html
Both of these mean the little bud bits when they refer to lavender.
I love rose jelly, too, but have never made it, and some people like rose added to regular tea but I find the flavour too subtle!
With rose petals and lavender you can make 'bath teas' - herby mixtures that you put in a muslin bag or large tea ball and put in the bath while it's running. I made lots of this for Christmas presents last year. Here are my recipes (use about 2 Tablespoons per bath):
**Rejuvenation**
* 1/2 Cup Lavender
* 1/2 Cup Rose Petals
* 1/2 Cup Sage
* 1/2 Cup Rosemary
**Skin Toner**
* 1 Cup Chamomile
* 1/4 Cup Comfrey
* 1/4 Cup Lavender
* 1/4 Cup Lemon Peel
* 1/2 Cup Peppermint
* 1/4 Cup Rosehips, Crushed
* 1/4 Cup Rosemary
* 1/4 Cup Sage
**Hard Days End**
* 1/2 Cup Lavender
* 1/2 Cup Uncooked Oatmeal
* 1/4 Cup Dry Orange Peel
* 1/2 Cup Chamomile
* 1/4 Cup Rosemary
* 12 Bay Leaves, Crushed
**Sports Remedy**
* 1 Cup Chamomile
* 12 Bay Leaves, Crushed
* 1/4 Cup Rose Petals
* 1/4 Cup Sage
* 1/4 Cup Rosemary
* 1/4 Cup Oregano
Hope that's not too long a comment!
--Heather from New Zealand :-)
I will light some sage, and be thinking of Mr. Crunchy. You are crackin' me up about LHOTP, I am reading the series to my kids, also have a few of the abridged, illustrated books that my younger kids like. Your daughter's outfit is sweet, where'd you score it? My mom sewed me a bonnet when I was young. Great post! JenK
One of my favorite things to do with dried fruit is to put it in oatmeal. Just pop it in while the oatmeal is cooking and the water is boiling. It warms up and partially rehydrates, and is then yummy and chewy. I bet strawberries would be awesome in oatmeal.
dried flowers are really nice in homemade papers as well. Figured I had to stop lurking for that one. I do enjoy your blog. Keep it up super-girl.
Just hooked up to your site via Casuabon's book...enjoying it very much...about sticky dehydrator fruit...if you have an American Harvest style dehydrator you must get these inserts:
http://www.amazon.com/Nesco-American-Harvest-Clean-A-Screen-Tray/dp/B00004W4V8
They work like a charm...I imagine you could make some like these but they are a worthwhile investment...you can compare site listings for the best price
Thanks for all the dehydrating hints and tips. I'll have to try those Clean-A-Screen trays. I do have the American Harvest (borrowed from my brother).
Mimi - I haven't made homemade paper, but that's a good idea!
How do you dry the rose petals?? I have climbing roses in my front yard that produce thousands of mini pink roses with a wonderful smell. I have been resenting them because they give no food. Would be great to make them useful beyond being pretty.
Glad to hear medical stuff is going well. Would also love the soap recipe. Garlic, I had the same thing happen with garlic that wouldn't grow.
Great news on your husband. Um, no jinxing right, so let me try again. Interesting news on your husband. I'll be sending loads of good vibes your way. Love the Little House on the Prairie get-up.
Love the outfit! My daughter loves historic garb. She has a sunbonnet, and I just made her a colonial outfit after our visit to Williamsburg. Have been meaning to blog about it ... What's the going rate for Laura nightgowns? Maybe I should set up shop. ;) We have read all the books and my daughter is starting over. We had a lot of discussion about the depiction of Native Americans ... and yet it also is informative to understand how people saw each other.
Oh wow! I remember that episode with the raccoon! And I remember being terrified too.
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