Sun-Dried Tomatoes

The end of the gardening season is near. I have been picking, the last of my beauties below. My rockin' oven has an incredible dehydrate option on it. I did some "sun-dried" tomatoes with today's crop. I put some of the stickier tomatoes in olive oil, but most of them I put in a plastic container because they were very dry and will keep for months on the shelf.
I did learn a few things:

• Line the pan with "Wax paper", for easier removal of the sticky slices.
• If the tomatoes are too thin they don't dehydrate as well; they almost disappear. An ideal thickness is 1/4 of an inch.
• About 5 or 6 pounds of tomatoes shrinks down to mere ounces, but the flavor of the dehydrated tomatoes is outstanding.
• It takes several hours to dehydrate anything. Mine took about 8 hours. No wonder they are so pricey in the store.
  

I have also been busy with some art. Batik art to be exact. I did these pieces while we were living in Malaysia, (you can click on the photos to enlarge them.) I entered them in a local art show and both were a delight to see on the wall. You can visit the gallery at the Provo Health Department and Judicial Building. I have been busy on other pieces as well, and I will be entering them in a Spring Art show with the city as well. I have had a busy, but fulfilling day. I always have a fulfilling day when I preserve food and push myself in unique ways.

I Feel Like a Pioneer

Okay kids, by now you know all things for me are food related. Will you just look at all I got accomplished today!

Look at what came from my garden today.I bought some incredible peaches at the Farmer's Market at Pioneer Park. I made this dynamite Lavender Peach Jam. (I grew the Lavender, thank you)

I even had the energy to make Tiny and her crew some homemade chips, and guacamole.
Tomorrow I sleep in.

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