I love summer for a few different reasons, but the main one is the abundance of fresh, delicious food. I love food. Like I really, really love food. I love smelling it, touching it, making it, reading about it, and of course eating it. Sometimes I just Google pictures of food on the Internet and stare at them.
So how do we keep all this summer goodness around once summer is over? With all the bounty we get this time of year, I always like to stock up and preserve some goodies for the winter when these delicious treats are no longer in season. My go-to approach is usually fermentation or freezing, but lately I have been fascinated with dehydrating as a means of preservation. And you don't even need a fancy dehydrator, you can just use your oven on a low temperature or even the power of the sun.
Dehydrating food has been a preservation method since ancient times. It’s a process in which water is removed, inhibiting the growth of mold and bacteria. Just like any other preservation method, making food last longer and through the changing seasons was critical to our survival. In our modern world, this means of preservation is making a comeback. Whether you are dehydrating your food because Pinterest told you to, or you have chosen to live sustainably and want to preserve your summer bounty, it's a quick and easy and old school way to save yourself some money and have some fun in your kitchen.
There are so many fun delicious things that you can make by simply dehydrating your food. Here are some great ideas you can try.
Fruit
Got a sweet tooth? Instead of crushing a pack of gummy bears or Skittles, dehydrate some of nature’s candy. Not only is dehydrating fruit a great way to preserve them, it is convenient as a daily snack for both adults and children. You can also add dried fruit to your morning oatmeal or mix it with some nuts and pack it on the trail when you hike or camp.
Jerky
For any road trip, jerky is must in my opinion, and there is something so satisfying about making your own (not to mention all the smells that it will produce in your kitchen). It is so simple and fun to create, and it’s a great way try out new marinades.
Chips
Save yourself some moneys and instead of buying a bag of fancy potato chips, grab a potato, yam, sweet potato or even zucchini and make yourself a yummy healthy snack that you can brag about and even send your kids to school with.
Fruit Leathers
Remember fruit roll-ups? They were delicious and sported a million different preservatives and fake colours that were hella toxic. Well now you can have your cake and eat it too in the form of fruit leathers. All you need is some fruit and sweetener of your choice (the internet has you covered for recipes).
Backpacking foods
Save yourself some money and time by having ready to go meals for camping, hiking or even for busy nights. You can dehydrate veggies to make soups or stews, add your choice of flavorings and just add water to hydrate and voila! Instant delightful meal!
Recipe: Spicy squash chips
Ingredients:
• 2 butternut squashes with long necks
• Chili flakes
• Olive oil
• Himalayan salt
• Ground pepper
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Cut the necks of the squashes off of the bases, and peel each neck. Slice each squash into thin slices, about 1/8 of an inch thick.
3. Drop the slices into the boiling water and boil for 2 minutes, carefully drain and rinse the slices until they are cool to the touch. Dry with a towel.
4. Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper and place the slices on top, making sure that the slices do not touch. Brush the slices with a bit of olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper and chili flakes.
5. Bake the chips until crispy, about 15-20 minutes. Remove the chips once they turn brown and crispy.
6. Once cooled, store the chips in an airtight container.
