dehydrating!!!!

[wiccedfae23]

Well i just bit the bullet and bought myself a dehydrator. I have looked all over the place but i finally found one online. i bought the excalibur 9 tray, is anyone familar? i hope its a good choice because i paid a pretty penny but i have been using the fact that i dont have a dehydrator to stop me from experimenting with recipes, so i am SO excited! hopefully i will be in business in a week making lots of yummy stuff!! i am looking forward to drying some green beans from the garden and some mangos! anyone have any suggestions for starting out? Did i mention how happy i am ? yay early bday present to myself!!

[GoingRAW]

Congrats! I don't have one, but I want to save up to get one. Keep us updated on how you like it.

[MarciaN]

I have the 9 tray Excalibur dehydrator. I love it, love it!

One of the easiest and delicious fruits, I think, to dry is pineapple. Just take the skin off, and core, and slice it. I always dry at 105 degrees to make sure the enzymes don't die. Most things take about 24 hours. Flip everything about 1/2 way through. Fruit rollups are a favorite of my kids. And raw granola bars and raw, crunchy crackers. Good luck with experimenting, and expanding your delicious raw world!

Marcia

[wiccedfae23]

thanks so much.... i am truely excited i feel like ive taken a step in the right direction! i know it will help me get through my first 30 day( i plan to start 100% in august) i know i am planning early but i really am psyching myself up... i am eating more and more raw everyday just knowing its coming up! i think the excalibur was a good choice and pinapple without the added sugar they sell in the store sounds great!! i'll be sure to make it one of my first experiments. :)

[Aleesha Sattva]

mmmm crackers!!!

here's the combo i made today:

golden flax - ground in my vita-mix
double the water (so one part flax to two parts water)
add in any or all of the following:
carrots
spinach
kale
basil
parsley
onions
tomatoes
red peppers
sunflower seeds (lightly ground)
jalapeno pepper (one)
cayenne
salt to taste

mix together... let it sit two - four hours and then on to your dehydrator sheets. leave it nice and thick (about 1/4 - 1/2")

turn your dehydrator on full for 2 hours then turn it down to 105-110 degrees for approx 24 hours. be sure to put the crackers on your teflon sheets and then 1/2 way through, turn them off the teflon sheets and on to your other sheets (the ones the air passes through)... leave them till they are sooooooooo crispy you can't possibly make them any crispier! i usually cut them with a knife when they are somewhat done and put them back in. this helps to crisp them up even better.

cool completely before storing in a bin.

enjoy!

[wiccedfae23]

thank u so much aleesha ...... yum!!! i will def make those asap i know i need some crunch and those soound perfect!

[wiccedfae23]

aww rawlinda order yours as soon as you can!! i cant wait to get mine!!! we can experiment together!!

[wiccedfae23]

rawlinda have you got yours yet i have been "cooking" up a storm!!

[foxieroxie104]

I have the 9 tray and so glad I got it. We were thinking about just the 5 but what a mistake that would have been. Best investment besides the vita mix. I had all 9 trays pack l/n I made cracker (ritz) on three then the other 2 I mixed in raw honey and cinnamon the house smells so good. Then I did 2 sweet potatoes or yams not sure what I had and 1 banana but I am not really sure about that. The s/p are like chips so I want to get some potatoes and try them too.

Does anyone know the secret to bananas??

[Veganforlife]

Bananas and potato chips - have NEVER worked for me. So now I do kale chips...the banana chips one buys at the store that are crunchy? They are coated with something.

Congards on your dehydrator. I too have the Excalibur 9-tray and LOVE it.

Aleesha - I just snagged your combo today and printed itcomplete with your nice smile and am adding it to my collection...! Sounds yum-oh!!! :D

[roseyonnex]

I have the nine-tray dehydrater, too. I really love it because it holds so much. You can make a huge batch of food at one time. It works great!

The downside of that machine, though, is it is a bit loud. I put it in a room where it wouldn't bug me, and that took care of the problem.

So far the favorites hae been banana leather and corn chips dipped guac.

Good luck!

[joyfulmama]

we make banana strips- slice lengthwise and dehydrate until leathery. they all like them better that way. I also dehydrated mushrooms, cherry tomatoes are awesome in all kinds of things.. My hubby likes the mushrooms and tomatoes reconstituted and added to his salad.
I made a flax cracker last night- it is a thin crispy cracker that we all love! it is in the recipe section.
I hope to get the excalibur 9 tray later this month. I have a round dehydrator- 8 trays- it is a industrial model- it works well but an excalibur- I could do so much more.