How to Make Dried Fruit Without a Dehydrator

Maybe it was the bag of "smoothie fruit" hanging out in my freezer that I kept having to pass by each morning (because starting a blender at 5:45am is really mean.)

Maybe it was the tidal wave of "healthy alternatives to Halloween treats" that other bloggers had been posting.

Or maybe it was the six hour train trip to Chicago looming in the back of my mind.

But I knew I needed a bowl of dried fruit, pronto!

Well, guess what? As hippie-dippy as you may think I am, I do not own a dehydrator. This is partially due to the fact that I lump being frugal in with being "green". I am so surprised at the number of self-proclaimed Earth-lovers who own an Excalibur, a fancy yogurt-maker, a Vitamix, a 10-layer sprouter, a nut-milk maker, an expensive juicer... and more! While I'm jealous, and can see the logic (and almost taste the deliciousness) I can't help but smile at the lack of 'eco-kitchen appliances' I've managed to get by with.

When I want to juice: I blend in a mini blender and strain. (Or I bring my produce to my mom's house.)
When I want to make nut milk - same process. Add a bit of sea salt, vanilla and stevia.
When I want to sprout, I toss some soaked seeds in a mason jar and top it with cloth held by a rubber band.
When I want to make yogurt, trusty mason jar comes out again, this time warmed in a crock pot.
When I want to can some preserves, well.. I head to my mom's again. She's got that nice big pan that does the trick.

And when I want to dehydrate, I do the lazy-Amy-method. Follow along.

So here I have a big bag of "smoothie fruit" from the farmers' market. Cal picks this up for me from time to time, and if I was smart I'd use it on my days off when I can eat a leisurely breakfast at a reasonable hour. But on those days all I want is an elaborate cheesy egg breakfast, since that's too much work before a morning shift. So smoothies often go by the way side, hence this bag.

Step one: preheat oven to the lowest you can get it. Mine was 170F.

Step two: prep your fruit. Mine needed to be thawed. Then I tossed it with lemon juice. If you're using apples for dried apple rings, try peeling, coring, and thinly slicing them, then tossing them with lemon juice and cinnamon. If you're using grapes for raisins (or cranberries, or cherries) leave as is. Bananas can be thinly sliced also.

Step three: lay in a single layer on a baking sheet. Mine was lined with a slip-mat but you could use parchment or nothing at all.

Step four: let them dry. For hours! Mine took 5 hours to dry.

Step five: store. Since ours won't last even a few days a small lidded container was perfect. If your fruit isn't perfectly dried you might like to leave it in an open container to dry out more, but if it seems nice and dehydrated you can store it in an air-tight container for quite a while.

How to Use Your Tax Refund to Go Green

 

Isn't it fun when by some magical calculation the government decides to give you a big cheque every spring? (On the flip side, my condolences to the folks who actually owe money this year. Yuck!)

For those of us whose amount was in the black this year, I encourage you not to waste the instant sum on something silly. (Silly by definition: any electronics that will end up keeping you indoors more often.)

Here are my suggestions for things that will better your life and the planet, that you can buy with your tax refund:

• A rain barrel! This glorified garbage can is often pricier than you'd expect, but it's worth every penny. I got one last year for my first official Mother's Day and I love it like a second child. You can hook it up to an existing trough spout, or just let the rain fall in naturally, and it will collect everything up for gardening use. Most have a hose hook up at the bottom so you'll be saving water in no time. This also cuts your water bill every month.
• Mini-appliances! Things like a 2-person crock pot or an apartment-sized toaster oven can get the job done with less energy than a hefty stove doing all the work. And you don't have to pay top dollar - you can often pick up cool finds at a thrift shop. Just test it in an outlet before you leave to make sure it's still in working order. Less energy = great choice.
• A bicycle! If you don't own one, it's time. A bike is quick and easy and gets you from A to B without the heavy traffic, the pollution, or the gas expense. When the weather allows, I like to bike for any trip that will take under half an hour each way. On special days, I'll load Oliver up in the front-facer seat and go for a really long ride. If the bike fits, is in good shape and has full tires, you should be able to bike for quite a while without getting tired.

Sure, it's a big bunch of money that you sort of weren't expecting, and that you sort of want to spend on make up or a leather jacket, but Mother Earth likes you a lot and I think you should like her back.. with your tax refund!