On Saturday morning I made my way around to estate sales in my area. Got an old fashioned dehydrator that I thought I would try out.
It was originally listed at $12 but was 50% off. It has 20 trays!
Came home before 10:00a & made more pepper jelly (no pic). This batch was much lighter in color & hotter than the 1st batch. Had about 1/2 c. left over which I promptly heated & poured over 1/2 block cream cheese & ate w/a few wheat thins for dinner. Delicious!
I also got my seeds planted for the fall garden (1st time). I am starting cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, regular cabbage, chinese cabbage & romaine lettuce. Plan to plant carrots & spinach directly.
I went to a local seed & feed store to buy my cauliflower seeds & decided to stop at the farmer's market. Bought a box of local tomatoes & cut up 1/2 the box before going to bed Saturday night.
Got up early Sunday & started cooking the tomatoes & making marinara sauce. This took ALL DAY LONG, but damn if it isn't good (only 8 pints but it's very concentrated).
Decided to try Sci Fi's idea of tomato paste w/the skins & to use my 'new' dehydrator. Loaded the trays (8 in all) & dried for a couple of hours.
I found out that you really need to make sure there are no 'folds' on the skins as that takes a whole lot longer. Live & learn - my new motto.
I don't have a spice grinder at the City House but do have the Ninja which I used to cut up in pieces in order to store w/an oxygen pack until I have a grinder (searching on Craig's list & estate sales for one).
I got a pint jar full of tomato pieces which I will grind, once I get my grinder, to make paste. No more 2/3 can waste!
Isn't it pretty?
Thank you Sci Fi! I can't wait to turn this into paste.
8 comments:
You found the right sale! I wish I could find a dehydrator that size. Mine has about 7 racks. Glad to see you're starting the seeds, and got to some canning. I just haven't had the time. I too wish it were cooler. The heat makes most things almost impossible. What did our forefathers do? Probably drank sweet tea on the covered porch.
DFW,
Nice find on your dehydrator! I love finding tools for the kitchen at estate/farm sales. I use my coffee grinder to grind up my nuts and skins, this may work for you instead of trying to find a spice grinder.
And, it worked like a charm! The older I get the hotter is seems.
Sandy, I would definitely settle for a coffee grinder if I could find one.
DFW - wow gurl - you have been busy - good for you! everything looks lovely - i can't wait to hear how your tomatoe skins work out - you know that i am definitely dehydrating mine. SciFi always finds the neatest things - i have loved her for years...she is a dear friend and if she says something is worth your time - i always trust her! and Sandy is correct - get a coffee grinder - it will work just fine! lots of love to you and yours!
your friend,
kymber
Thank you kymber!
Six years ago, my answering machine had a message from my bestest friend in the world. She was, as usual, happy and so chipper! She was asking me to come to her house so she could teach me how to make pepper jelly. I ADORED hers so much. Before I could call her back, my phone rang. It was a mutual friend, telling me that my dear Judy had died suddenly. NO WARNING! Healthy one minute. Gone the next. I reeled for a year. Your mention of pepper jelly brought my Judy back in a flash. I'll always regret not knowing how to make it so that I could feel close to her.
Dumb, huh.
Hey lotta,
Remembering her is not dumb at all. I love it when something jars my memory of a person I miss, even if the memory is bittersweet. If you just follow Sci Fi's recipe you will have pepper jelly in no time at all.
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