8
39
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ATTIINNGG GGUUIIDDEE
Zucchini
PREPARATION:
Wash, trim, cut into
¼
-inch slices or grate.
PRETREATMENT:
Not necessary.
DEHYDRATE:
Dry at 100
º
for approximately 12 hours, until brittle.
REHYDRATE:
Soak in hot water for 30 minutes; drain.
NOTE
•
Dried zucchini is great for baked goods, such as breads or cakes.
•
Dried sliced zucchini works well in casserole dishes.
•
Dried sliced zucchini can be seasoned before drying and used as chips
for snacking.
PPRREETTRREEA
ATTM
MEENNTT
Steam-Blanching
Steam-blanching is ideal for most vegetables, since it keeps their internal
temperature low, thus retaining more vitamins and enzymes. It also helps retain
more of the vegetable’s natural color. Place vegetables in a steamer basket
(The NutriWare
™
Stainless Steel Rice Cooker is excellent at steaming vegetables
and more. For further information on it, and other products, visit our website at
www.mynutriware.com
.) After steaming, immediately chill the vegetables
under cold running water, drain thoroughly and place on trays to dry.
Water-Blanching
Water-blanching is quicker than steam-blanching, but more nutrients will be
leached out in the water. Place the prepared produce in boiling water and
measure the time from when the water resumes boiling. Boil for the
recommended time, chill under cold running water, drain thoroughly and place on
trays to dry.
Syrup-Blanching
Use syrup-blanching to retain color and add flavor to dried fruits that are
intended for rehydrating. Combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup corn syrup, 2 cups water
and 1 tsp. ascorbic acid powder in a heavy saucepan. Bring ingredients to a boil
and add prepared fruit. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes,
depending on the variety and thickness of the fruit. Syrup-blanched fruit takes
longer to dehydrate.
Checking
Checking is used for fruits that have a natural protective coating, such as
grapes, blueberries, cherries, cranberries and plums, to make their skins more
porous and allow moisture to escape. Checking helps the fruit dry considerably
faster, which reduces nutrient loss. Drop fruits into boiling water until the skins
burst slightly, about 2 minutes. Drain fruit well and place on trays to dry.
RREECCIIPPEESS
Date Sugar
Makes 2 cups
Date sugar is sold in health food stores as an alternative to refined sugar. It
is substituted in recipes as a sweetener, but cannot be used as a substitute in
baking recipes where the sugar and butter are creamed, as it will not produce
the proper texture. Mix date sugar with cream cheese as a spread for tea
breads.
1 lb. dried dates
Cut or chop dried dates and grind into fine pieces with a food processor,
food mill, or blender. (The NutriWare
™
Whole Food Blender
™
will easily grind
these dates or nearly any other food. For more information, visit our website at
www.mynutriware.com
.) Spread on drying trays and dehydrate at 100
º
for 3
to 4 hours, until dry and not sticky. Grind into a fine powder with an electric
coffee mill.
