Soup Weather ~ Dehydrator Weather

There is nothing better than to enjoy some crock pot Italian Soup during a cold spritz in May. It was a new recipe (Food.com), but I utilized some tomato sauce I canned last year, and dried herbs from the herb garden. Not sure what they meant by "brown" onion, but I used a yellow onion, and used fresh minced garlic (not from a jar). I also used sweet Italian vs. mild sausage (what was in the freezer), and it turned out delicious!

I'm taking advantage of these cooler weather days, and getting dehydrated items re-stocked.

I'm dehydrating ginger for tea making and other uses. I can also grind it as needed. I do freeze some as well, which has come in handy several times for homemade ginger-ale and other meals and recipes.

Has anyone, who uses a dehydrator, dehydrated turmeric root? I just froze us a bunch, but would like to dry some. How do you dehydrate it without staining your trays? Will it stain stainless steel if I layer it with parchment? I know it stains my hands when I go to peel it. I do use gloves. Anyone?

Today's reading from the book "A Year of Positive Thinking" by Cyndie Spiegel. It's a neat idea, and a great blog prompt if you are in a rut with what to post, or in a "rut" in finding joy in your life perhaps. I just thought it was worth sharing today. Perhaps a journal entry if you enjoy journaling?

We had zero rain yesterday and a load of wind. We are once again setting a date to till the garden.

Soup Weather ~ Dehydrator Weather © May 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

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Chit Chat

The pickings are slim right now, but we'll take anything we are blessed with. I made a salad and cleaned the beans. The rain will give us more for a meal in a day or so. The green beans are every so slowly coming on this season. I made a batch of homemade granola, and instead of my homemade vanilla extract, I used my homemade Christmas Spice Extract. It smelled so good in the oven, and while cooling. I picked some purslane, and am doing an experiment with it this time. Update soon. Chit Chat © August 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

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I've Been MIA and Heat Wave

First day of July. It's hot. I'm definitely not entering a stage of boredom any day soon. Although I've been doing a lot, it's been productive. We are in the middle of the worst heat wave I can ever remember. So humid, there is very little to no work being done in the gardens for the last few days. Heat index has been up to 106 degrees, and nights did not get any cooler than about 77 degrees. The heat wave will continue for the rest of the week. No rain yet. I froze water in small bottles to keep the chickens water cold, and froze treats for them. I canned a small batch of reduced sugar peach jam (before the heat wave). I have to admit, it's been very nice to can for two people now. Enjoyed the last of our asparagus harvest. The last two stalks were harvested June 29th. The longest asparagus season we've ever had. They look light colored, but taking them out of the fridge, they quickly...

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Reminders?

On the positive side (after the hot pepper debacle). . . We are looking forward to creative healthy meals, derived from the garden and whatever is in abundance, or available. The chickens helped supply this meal last year and was delicious. Beets roasted with onions and rosemary from the herb garden. Also, a picture from previous garden years. Oh, we put thyme on these too, and also from the herb garden. Not to forget those tomatoes and all the sauces made over the years. That dish included asparagus from the garden, as well as oregano from the herb garden. Sometimes a roll down memory lane gives us the spark to keep gardening and planting. Maybe. Reminders? © June 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

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