"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Dehydrating Onions ~ Onion Powder

 I took advantage of a few rainy days, and dehydrated onions. Yes, the windows were open for this yearly event.  I may dehydrate one more time this year, but it's a start to re-stock.  



I chop a few onions at a time, and toss into my food processor.  I pulse the onions until they are about evenly diced.  I have had this simple food processor for about 13 years now.  As you can see, there are few options.  I do plan to buy one with more options when this one stops working.  Also, you can use a hand chopper for a smaller batch as well.


I spread the diced onions onto parchment paper lined dehydrator trays, and dehydrate at the temperature recommened for my dehydrator.









Once dry, I use latex gloves to remove the onions from the parchment paper.  I then grind the dried onions in a specific coffee grinder, that is dedicated to grinding dried food items.



I dump out the current onion powder, wash the container and add the newer ground onions first, then the older.  Otherwise, I rotate two jars.  What ever works for you, but remember to use the older ground onion up first.

I made us some onion powder, but will need to dehydrate more onions for making minced onion for future meals.  It's a go-to staple in our house.  I do use a dehydrator, but now-a-days, the newests ovens have a dehydrator option, and smaller batches can be made in most air fryers.

I have stored our onion powder in the freezer for years, because dehydrated onions re-absorb moisture quickly.  I keep it in an airtight jar.  I often times, have to wipe the rim before putting it back, but otherwise, the moisture stays out of it.


Converstion charts are available online to decide how much of the powder or minced etc is equal to fresh onion. 

Example:  1 tsp. ground onion powder = 1/3 cup fresh chopped onion.

Dehydrating Onions ~ Onion Powder  © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

This and That

 

Here is a photo of the other crochet tension ring.  It's hard to get a close up photo.  Each one is different.  There are actually YouTube videos online, and other videos, to view how to use them.  

The rain is back.  Again.  I have a few new recipes to try.  No surprise there.  I seem to collect them again, but it's not all me ha ha!  My husband keeps finding a few for me to make.  One is a wrapped date recipe, but I am out of medjool dates right now.

We seriously need to hire someone to get up on the roof.  We need a net or whatever they call it installed on the chimney of the woodstove.  We had another bird fall into the woodstove.  Just another job added to the to-do list around here.

I used up a few more bags of our garden green beans in the freezer.  I have many more to use, so that is a good thing.   I actually doubled the most recent green bean dinner, so we have some to freeze for go-to quick meals, which seem to be needed around here lately.



A photo of the other half of the dinner.  I typically make it in the cast iron skillet and then heat it in the skillet to serve.  It is delicous.  I'll have another post regarding the seasoning in the near future.  By the way, remember the green bell pepper powder I made last summer (thanks to a bumper crop)?  I used it in this recipe, and we were very happy with the overall flavor.  

This and That © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart