Thursday, July 15, 2010

Revision Two

Here's my second try at zucchini chips.  I cut this round thicker, so they're more solid when dry, and put seasoning salt on them.  Nope.  That's not the flavor I'm looking for.  My dehydrator is one of the cheap, round ones from Target, and it's got 1-1/2 zukes in it now.  Not much!  It's extremely difficult to keep clean - especially from making beef jerky.  That dark, sticky fluid gets into the small corners and it's there forever.  If I get into this dehydrating thing, I may get a machine that's easier to clean and has more space.  I wonder what the zucchini will taste like if I try the beef jerky mix - worchestershire sauce, onion salt and a few other things.  Or maybe soy sauce.  Good thing I harvested a thousand more zucchini last night.

I also tried rev 2 on the cucumber soup last night.  I dug out the seeds before blending, but ended up with a very bitter soup.  Next time - taste each cuke first to make sure none are bitter.  Good thing I got a thousand of these, too.  Good thing the chickens like cucumber soup.

Thankfully ONE thing worked right.  (I hate, hate, hate to spend my entire short evening working on stuff and have nothing to show for it!)  I harvested basil and made pesto that was very Yum.  Basil, olive oil, garlic, fresh-grated parmesan cheese and walnuts.  I think I've got about 15 basil plants, which is enough to make a cup or so of pesto every few weeks.  Plenty to eat and plenty to freeze.

The barn is almost done!  I almost want to move in, I like it so much.

8 comments:

  1. Watching your zucchini chip experiments with interest. About a zillion different seasonings we could try, huh?

    LOVE your barn! You will feel soooo good this winter knowing your goats and chickens are warm and cozy. I don't want to sound too cutesy-poo, but it's adorable!

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  2. It IS adorable! I have barn envy, Jordan. Your goaties and chickens will have it made this winter.

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  3. This could go into one of those, "You know you're a homesteader when..." lists. You know you're a homesteader when you use your tax refund to build shelter for the animals!

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  4. You know you're a homesteader when on the coldest night of the year you're warm and toasty but can't sleep because you're wondering if the animals are. [Been there, done that! :o)]

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  6. You know you're a homesteader when you look at your new barn and figure out the best location for your OWN bed!!

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  7. my niece uses parchment paper to line her trays; makes clean up a breeze.

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  8. Ditto on tasting the cucumbers! I put a terrible one in a dinner salad last night and took it to a friend battling cancer. Had to call and apologize. Yuck!
    Love the barn! So cute.

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