Garden fresh tomatoes are a cornerstone of summer harvests, and sometimes the windfall of tomatoes is much more than we can keep up with--or maybe it’s just me! Both consistent harvesting from the garden and vigilant organic pest control are taking up a lot of time, leaving time for little else. There's an easy way to deal with this wonderful problem, and that's freezing tomatoes for later canning jobs.If your summer days are like mine, you will need to figure out a way to pace yourself when dealing with your tomato crop. Of course, we want to be eating them fresh in salads, made … [Read more...]
No Waste: Cool Ideas for Using All of the Harvest
I am always trying to figure out no waste ways to use my produce scraps before they go to the landfill or compost pile. I've got a great handle on how to use the whole strawberry by making strawberry syrup from the tops. I love that I can control food waste in my kitchen and have extra uses for my scraps, even on the way to the compost pile!When I began composting, I thought I had found my answer to less waste—and I did. However, learning that there were things I could do with fruit, vegetable and herb scraps before they go into the compost absolutely revolutionized my … [Read more...]
Save Money! Make Your Own Chili Seasoning and More!
One of the best ways that I have found to save money is to make more from scratch. Being busy and on the go all the time makes it really tempting to let others prepare our food. In the end, though, it's best to make our own seasonings. I'll show you how to make your own chili seasoning that will go beautifully with dehydrated, canned, or in the chili recipe in this post.It seems like whenever we are looking for places to cut corners in our budget, it is always from the grocery bill! Thankfully, there are so many things you can do to save that won't skimp at all on the … [Read more...]
5 Tempting, Easy Dinner Ideas You Need to Know for Using Your Dehydrated Beans
One of the best things about beans is that it is a completely perfect food to convert into convenience food! Don't believe me? Well, why not dehydrate some beans and I'll give you some easy dinner ideas so you can have home-cooked convenience foods on your shelf that are both healthy and quick!First of all, I want to tell you that if you are looking for super convenient, healthy, and easy dinner ideas to have on your shelf, you are in the right place! I'm all about easy, but also being a homesteader who grows and preserves food, my habits need to include what I already do here on our … [Read more...]
Drying Beans in a Dehydrator for More Convenience Food
As homesteaders, we are constantly busy, aren't we? There is so much to do on our properties that needs attention, and all of it seems to be RIGHT NOW. Despite the fact that we have plenty of food at our fingertips from growing food in our gardens, chicken coops, and perhaps even our livestock, the one thing our homesteads can't really give us back is time. Let me show you how drying beans in a dehydrator can redeem some of your time, and provide quick nutrition at meal time!Dehydrated Food as Convenience FoodSo dehydrating doesn't seem like it would be a convenient thing to do at … [Read more...]
Homemade Convenience Food Recipes Using Dehydrated Potatoes
There's nothing like opening up the cupboard an hour before dinner and having absolutely no idea what to make. Been there? Done that? Me too. Banish that problem with these homemade convenience food recipes! In my previous post (linked above), I talked about how the boxed convenience foods we get from the store are pretty much just full of dehydrated ingredients. All we need do is "just add water" to them, and maybe some milk and butter, to make a creamy, delicious meal to set on the table in only a short time.The problem with these foods is that we pay for that … [Read more...]
How to Dehydrate Potatoes for Convenience Food
Life is just busy, no way around it. And homesteader's lives tend to be a little more busy than other people's, but that could just be a matter of opinion. Whatever has your life busy, busy, busy, there's definitely that temptation to stroll through that boxed convenience aisle! We throw caution to the wind in exchange for the ability to quickly get something delicious on the table for the family after a long day. Let me show you how to dehydrate potatoes so that you can make delicious AND nutritious convenience foods for your family!So dehydrating doesn't seem like it would be a … [Read more...]
How to Dehydrate Tomatoes for Everyday Use
Having a well-stocked pantry is 100% necessary for the home cook that is striving to stay away from precooked, prepackaged, and fast food. He or she is seeking to create better, more healthy, and flavorful meals like chili and spaghetti without having to run to the store, or worse yet, order in when one item hasn't yet been replenished. Tomato products are one of those items that we tend to go through quickly, and perhaps you do too. Thankfully, they are super versatile! Learning how to dehydrate tomatoes for your pantry shelf can solve any problems you might run into when you are out of your … [Read more...]
How to Dehydrate Food for Beginners
It's an hour before dinner and you have no earthly idea what you are making for the family. Is there any macaroni and cheese? Nope. Spaghetti sauce? Nada. Canned beans? Yep, but no cheese or tortillas. Ever been there? You won't have to be once you learn how to dehydrate food!Imagine always having on hand the items you need for a recipe. I'm not talking frozen or canned foods, but those are definitely helpful. I'm talking stuff like nutritious fruit and veggies, even out of season, that you can pull from your shelves when you need them.Or how about having your very own prepackaged … [Read more...]