dehydrating or not?

[SamuelWilson]

I am just wondering if I am the only person that is really less enthusiastic about dehydrating. For some reason, I am more interested in fresh produce recipes as compared to dehydrated recipes. Just curious of anyone else's thoughts on this.

[theresaann]

since I"m new to raw, I love the fun of "creating" things in the dehydrator, but honestly, I'm finding myself not really wanting to eat them much. Maybe the longer I'm raw, I just dont' want the "heaviness" or something.

[CAdreamer]

My husbands nutritional needs seem to be best met by juicing, eating raw fruits and vegs (salads, raw soups), nuts....and, dehydrated foods. There just doesn't seem to be enough bulk for his needs without it. He's hungry all the time on just veggies and fruits. He's 5'10", 145 #. I don't eat much that I dehydrate, but I probably don't require as many calories as he does.

[fiddler]

I'm with you Samuel. I prefer to have my food fresh and full of water instead of dried -- that way, you get higher quality nutrition and you don't need to drink as much water in the middle of the night either :) On occasion though, I do use the dehydrator but not very often -- maybe I'll get it out once or twice a week.

[maydolphin10]

i was wondering myself that wouldn't everything get oxided after being exposed to the air for so long? I prefer wet things but occasional dehydrated shouldn't be so bad.

[mandarin honey]

I use my dehydrator for a few things but I prefer fresh fruits and vegetables.

[rawpriestess]

In Alissa's book she gives you a one month menu plan, and the dehydrator doesn't even make an appearance until the third week.

She has tons of recipes without dehydrating, the date nut torte, fudge balls, pesto stuffed mushrooms (dehydration is optional) salad dressings, pates' nut burgers, I mean there are tons of things without dehydrating in her book.

Zucchini pasta and marinara sacue,
banana papaya pudding
raviolies with marinara sauce
pesto
potato salad
quacamole on portobello mushrooms
Chocolate cake with whipped cream and toppings
all the smoothies, and nut milk shakes
sushi
mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy
avocado chutney
apple sauce
avocado cups
marinated portabellas in ginger vinaigrette
cranberry sauce
marinated asparagus and tomatoes
cucumber wheels
marinated greens
marinated onions
spicy fries
onion dip
spinach dip
Indian spinach dip
dill cream cheese dip
all the nut cheeses
hummus
black olvie tapenade
all the salsas
mango
pineapple
regular
avocado
etc.
pepper dip
cucumber dip
cream cheese
ricotta cheese
creamy cheddar cheese
mayonnaise
sour cream
whipped cream
pineapple nut cream
apple nut cream
nori rolls
collard rolls
cabbage rolls
broccoli soup
watermelon soup
corn chowder
creamy pea soup
carrot soup
berry soup
sweetness
easy cucumber soup
squash soup
curried yam bisque
zippy tomato soup
mushroom soup
miso soup
spicy green lime cilantro soup
thai coconut soup
red pepper soup
summer tomato sauce
tarragon pepper sauce
spicy ginger marinara
barbecue sauce
mushroom gravy
stacie's mint chutney
cucumber sauce
chinese dipping sauce
honey mustard paste
curry sauce
chili sauce
apricot jam
apple-cilantro chutney
strawberry sauce
blueberry sauce
plum sauce
fettuccine alfredo
mock salmon pate
bean-less falafel
almost tuna
sunny pate
gnocchi
stuffed portabella mushroom caps
mock turkey loafpad thai with sauce
spanish rice
walnut-mushroom loafchile
sweet apple nori rolls
butternut noodles with golden curry sauce
pesto pasta
pesto lasagna
stacie's samosas
paul's pate
purple pate
thai cannelloni bites with pignoli herb pate
spicy refried beans
raw veggie stir fry
collard roll-ups
purple pockets
avocado sandwiches
creamy cabbage rolls
porridge
bananas, berries,and cream
ranola
crunchy thai salad
waldorf salad
tomato, mushroom, and basil salad
wild rice salad
hijiki-yam medley
fennel salad
wheat berry salad
pear, beet, and jicama salad
japanese delight
fennel, quinoa, orange, and basil salad
carrot-raisin crunch
kale salad
pineapple-pecan salad rolled in radicchio leaves
easy slaw
wakame cucumber salad
curried cabbage and arame
california salad
prince caspian sea veggie salad
spinach slaw
spinach salad
lentil cups
grated turnip and apple salad
pineapple boats
cabbage-pear salad
easy papaya salad
daikon and celery root salad with mint
pineapple-apple salad
sweet 'n sour cole slaw
italian dressing
marika's goddess in the raw dressing
tahini dressing
dill vinaigrette
creamy oriental spicy sweet n sour sauce and dressing
french dressing
creamy italian herb dressing
alissa's dressing
caesar salad dressing
cynthia's raw caesar dressing
mock blue cheese dressing
raspberry vinaigrette
smooth and creamy avocado dressing
honey mustard dressing
ginger vinaigrette
cilantro vinaigrette
orange dressing
mrs. ackerly's dressing
apricot puffs
date nut torte
blueberry pie
chocolate turtles
easy apple pie
black forest cake
berry bars
carrot cake
sweet potato pie
pumpkin pie
raspberry banana cream pudding pie
creamy, no-crust fruit pie
pecan pie
walnut fudge
charoses
peach pie
blueberry cheesecake
amond butter balls
chocolate cake
Ann Wigmore's banana ceam pie
banana ice cream
banana butter berry pie
lemon pudding
lemon meringue pie
banana crunch
pineapple sundae
key lime pie
strawberry pie
stacie's soul fruit cobbler
banana leather
pear leather
apple/prune leathers
juice pops
mint thumbprint delights
chocolate mousse
spice bars
carob fudge sauce
almond milk
Alissa's green drink
lemon-ginger-cayenne shot
dennis'morning smoothie
power up
doctor doug's shake
mudslide
mango lassie
lemonade
banana nut drink
pina colada
green apple and parsley
chocolate-mocha milkshake
celebration of life
smoot as silk
nature's diuretic
no more cellulite
pain relief
be happy
cramp reliever
skin repair

and that is what I could find in Alissa's book that take no dehydration.

[Old Fashioned Oats]

In response to the dehydrator question. I do use mine, mostly for specific recipes. I do prefer to eat everything fresh, but some days it is nice to have something with a little bulk. For example, raw soup with an onion cracker; raw pizza and sometimes on occasional raw cookie. I mostly use the dehydrated cookies, bars etc. to send with my dd to work in her lunch. Where I live we have plenty of regular grocery store produce in the Winter but not so much organic, so in the Summer I partially dehydrate all the organic fruit I can get my hands on and freeze it for Winter snacks.

Just my two cents worth :rolleyes:
Malinda

[Autumn]

I don't use my dehydrator that much at all. I might make a bunch of things things in a day or two, and not touch it for a couple weeks or sometimes more. For me, it's hard to know what I'll feel like eating 4-24 hours from now. LOL Plus, I like the grab and go option of whole foods, or the simplicity of puddings, smoothies and soups.

<<you don't need to drink as much water in the middle of the night either>>

Gil, oh wow, once when I had some flax crackers I woke up in the middle of the night and drank nearly a 1/2 gallon of water. I just couldn't quench my thirst! By the way, it's nice to see your smiling face! :D

[Ariannah]

As excited as I am about my new 9-tray dehydrator and all the things I am enjoying making, my diet is mainly green smoothies and fresh fruit. I'm getting back into less mixed foods and more mono-style eating (aside from the green smoothies).

My main objective with the dehydrator is to satisfy the needs of my transitioning family and to serve them high-quality breads, crackers, and desserts, etc. I've tasted many of these things, but I feel so much better with whole, unprocessed foods.

I'm always for the "fresh is best". The dehyrator was a necessity, because my kids love their breads and desserts.

Ariannah

[Vandy]

I don't believe in it either. To me, it's extracting the water, which is in a way like cooking your food. Your body needs that water, and I don't seem full when I eat dehydrated foods. I love them big, and full of water!

[JMD]

For me, I much rather raw foods in their simple state. I prefer the water in my foods like was already shared. Whenever I eat dehydrated foods I tend to overeat. With things in their "whole" form I can tell when I am full much sooner too. Dehydrated foods appeal more to my eyes when I want a treat but end up totally unable to have a "BM" like I normally do the next day. OK too much info...but you get my drift:)

[rawstrawberry]

I very very rarely dehydrate. I have been raw for two years and feel the food is not quite raw but every once in a while I have have a cracker or pizza crust. I also use Juliano's raw veggie burger recipe and deydrate that just enought to get slight warmth but nothing more. Also sundried currants and raisins yum!!

Better fresh and full of life.

Raw Strawberry

[star1919]

Hi... There have been various requests for recipes that don't use dehydrators. For those that have Alissa's book or want to get it... will bump this up... Raw Priestess has a great list of these recipes :D