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17
30
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Artichokes
PREPARATION:
Wash, remove leaves, remove and discard the fuzzy chokes and
cut the hearts into quarters.
PRETREATMENT:
Steam-blanch for 4 minutes; drain.
DEHYDRATE:
Dry at 100
º
for approximately 18 hours, until brittle.
REHYDRATE:
Soak in boiling water for 15 minutes, adding a little lemon juice to
help retain the color; drain well.
NOTE
• Canned artichoke hearts dry beautifully.
• Dried artichoke hearts are good marinated or in appetizer dips.
• Artichokes are good for you, so don’t neglect them in your diet.
PREPARATION:
Wash and remove tough ends.
PRETREATMENT:
Steam-blanch for 3 minutes; drain.
DEHYDRATE:
Dry at 100
º
for 35 to 40 hours, depending on the size of the
stalks, until very dry and brittle.
REHYDRATE:
Soak in hot water for 30 minutes; drain. Stalks tend to remain
slightly tough.
NOTE
•
Asparagus has a very high water content, so it requires a long drying
time. Make sure asparagus is very dry and brittle before storing to
avoid mold.
•
Dried asparagus is best used in recipes that require mashed asparagus.
Or you can cut it into pieces and mix it into a casserole dish.
Asparagus
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Mushrooms
PREPARATION:
Rinse quickly and cut into
¼
-inch slices. Mushrooms absorb
water like a sponge, so work quickly.
PRETREATMENT:
Not necessary.
DEHYDRATE:
Dry at 100
º
for approximately 18 hours, until crisp.
REHYDRATE:
Soak in cold water for 30 minutes; drain. It is not necessary to
rehydrate dried mushrooms before adding to soups or stews.
NOTE
• Dried mushrooms are excellent in spaghetti sauces, creamed dishes, and all
types of savory casseroles and stuffings.
• Save precious time by indicating the weight of the mushrooms before
dehydrating on the storage container of dried mushrooms.
Nectarines
PREPARATION:
Peel, remove pit and cut into
¼
-inch slices.
PRETREATMENT:
Ascorbic acid. Soak in solution for 2 minutes; drain.
DEHYDRATE:
Dry at 100
º
for approximately 30 hours, until pliable.
REHYDRATE:
Soak in hot water for 10 minutes; drain. Nectarines tend to lose
flavor and color when rehydrated.
LEATHER:
Excellent for leathers.
NOTE
• Dried nectarines work well for baked goods, infusions, and snacks.