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

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

Crochet Tension Ring ~ Garden Tidbits ~ Date Syrup ~ Einkorn Flour Pancakes

 

Interesting info for anyone who crochets . . .

I received a few different crochet tension rings, and have yet to give them a try.  I have heard of them, but have never used one.  Very interesting concept.  The ring holds the yarn tension as you crochet, vs. wrapping the yarn in between fingers or around your hand.  

I never did get any comments on the best row counter.  I'm still looking into that.

 As for the lack of posts?  Well, I'm busy weeding gardens.  However, yesterday I realized I forgot to trim back the lavender plants and they are already starting buds.  I believe I am too late this spring.  I will wait for blooms and maybe trim what I can after that.  The plants are becoming too big for the flower beds.

We are slowly working on a plan to get the vegetable garden planted.  

I'm glad to say, I am back to using our clothesline, but using it is hit or miss around here.  The rain comes and goes often lately.  The electric bill however has reduced to an all time low now.

I baked us some pumpkin (einkorn flour) muffins recently, and swapped the maple syrup/honey with date syrup.  We both like them, but I will most likely make them again, and try it with the honey.  These did not cause a sugar spike with my husband, using the date syrup.  I thawed pumpkin puree I froze from processing last years garden pie pumpkins.  I'll be back to update you on using honey in this recipe.

I tried yet another einkorn flour pancake recipe. I found this one online with Nourished Kitchen.  I added frozen blueberries I thawed, cinnamon and nutmeg.  We both loved these!  The recipe is small batch (a huge winner) and no sugar or sweetener in the recipe.  Of course, that all depends on what you also put on top of them, but the actual pancake recipe is a big keeper for us.  Pancakes are nice, but not when you have to eat them all week long. 

The recipe requires buttermilk, so if you are avoiding the fat, this recipe may not be for you.  However, like I said, it's a smaller batch recipe too.  I did use butter on the griddle to make them as per directed by the recipe.

The extra ones stuck together in the container, so the next time I make them, I will line waxed paper between them, to store in the refrigerator.

Question. . .

I need to replace my only single muffin pan soon.  I have looked at what America's Test Kitchen suggests, but they are expensive, and I cannot find any other reviews.  I don't want silicone or silcone lined pans either.  Any suggestions (non-stick)?

Crochet Tension Ring ~ Garden Tidbits ~ Date Syrup ~ Einkorn Flour Pancakes © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Early May Blooms

Dianthis

I forgot what these are called.  I think it's called Alpine Columbine.

Tulips still in bloom.

Sage starting to bloom.

A dwarf variety of phlox.

Chives

 

We have a lot of purple blooms this spring, and a few pink, but there is one tiny yellow one too.  Last June I planted some half price rannuculus bulbs.  I planted out of season, and hoped for a few blooms.  

We planted a few blue delphiniums, but so far I do no see any blooms yet.  I'm hoping they survived winter, but I did lose a few dianthis that I had for several years.  I also have one blue bell type flower, that I have had for about 15-16 years.  I am hoping it also survived this past winter.  

Early May Blooms  © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Update on Thawing Shredded Zucchini in Waxed Paper ~ Thawing Pumpkin Puree in Freezer Bags

 Last summer, we had a plethora of zucchini in the garden.  

I came across a different way to freeze shredded zucchini.  Here are my thoughts on it....

The idea is to place a cup of shredded zucchini in the center of a piece of waxed paper, and twist both ends.  You then place as many as you can in a gallon freeze bag, label and store in the freezer.

The idea was to waste less zucchini.  For example, if you thaw it in a smaller freezer bag, it's harder to get all of it out of the bag (unless you turn it inside out).  The waxed paper freezer version works great, as it leave very little mess on the waxed paper.

The way you freeze shredded zucchini is entirely up to you, but there you have my results.  The only con I have with the waxed paper, is that it takes more freezer space to store.  The pro, is that it is less expensive, as you use less freezer bags.

I honestly can't remember why I froze the last of the pumpkin puree in freezer bags, but I did.  To empty the bag, I cut a corner and squeezed it all out.  However, the con for freezing it this way, is you do lose some of the puree, as it is hard to get all of it out of the bag.  I much prefer a container, although freezing it this way saves you a lot of space.

Update on Thawing Shredded Zucchini in Waxed Paper ~ Thawing Pumpkin Puree in Freezer Bags © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Lemon Facial Toner ~ Butterfly Pea Flower Tea? ~ Weeding

I am trying a new facial toner to use at bedtime.  It's made with real lemon juice.  In the past, I have made one with rose petals.  I do have yet one more new recipe to try, but it uses a flower I would have to buy.  I'm on the fence with trying it yet.

Question for tea drinkers?  Has anyone tried butterfly pea flower tea?  Any benefits of drinking it?  Good sources to purchase the dried flowers for tea making?  

Question for those who crochet - what's the best beginner crochet kit for someone who wants to learn?  I have all the supplies, but I thought a kit would be a great way to teach the basics and actually make something too.  I see Knit Picks has kits, but wondered if any of you had suggestions.  I have another person asking me to teach them.

Or....if you have a book suggestion, and then I can put together the yarn and hook for the person, that would be great too.  I learned from my Mom, so have no "how to crochet" beginner books here.

(One of many books)

I have a bunch of library books to look at yet.  I have just been putting it off, as I'm exhausted at the end of the day.  I flipped through a few of them, and that's about it. 

The song "with a little help from my friends" comes to mind on a daily basis here lately (ha ha!).

I was gifted these garden knee pads by one of the kids.  I've used them once already, and love them.

I am back to weeding, but have only had one full, good day of it.  The weather is whacky for us again.  It goes from storm weather, to rain, to cold and windy, and so forth.  I have purchased disposable covers to put over my medical boot to keep it clean and dry.  It works for now.

 I have not meant to turn my blog into a "recipe" blog, but with everything I do, taking 5 times the amount of time to get done, there hasn't been much to post about.  I don't think you'd enjoy me prattling on about how I managed to get myself to my dental cleaning, and survived the long walk to get in and out of the place.  It's always busy, and the parking lot is always full.  I was actually late, but they smiled as they saw me hobbledehoy into the office (see, I'm prattling on...).

Having said it takes me longer to get things done, I have had little time to read or to crochet, but I have added a few more rows to the current baby blanket. 

I have also finished another baby washcloth (using discontinued thin cotton yarn).  

Lemon Facial Toner ~ Butterfly Pea Flower tea? ~ Weeding  © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Hot Bean Dip

Here is how I make our Hot "taco" bean dip now (we've changed it just a bit).  It is great for an appetizer for any get together as well, and especially for a Mexican food themed meal.  So good!  We topped ours with some snipped herb garden green onions too.

To make the dip (this is baked):

Mix together first:

2 blocks of organic cream cheese (16 oz. total)

1 can of refried black beans (organic, 16 oz.)

1 can of refried pinto beans (organic, 16 oz) 

Once that is combined well, add:

8 oz. sour cream (organic)

2 Tbsp. of homemade dry taco mix (add more if needed)

Spread the mixture into a baking dish and top with about 1 1/4 cups of shredded cheese of your choice.

The thicker it is in a baking dish, the longer it will take to heat up.

Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes (30 if it is thicker).  Serve with tortilla dipping chips or any dipping food of your choice.

I have not cut the recipe in half, as it goes quickly around here, but I think it would be just as good with one can of beans of your choice.  You could also use homemade beans, homemade sour cream, or homemade cream cheese in this.  

If you don't have homemade dry taco mix, use one packet of store brand instead.

Hot Bean Dip  © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart