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Farm Kitchen:  What are you drying?  |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7421 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7421 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 23 2025 : 05:48:39 AM
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MS fatigue dropped on me like a ton of bricks so I washed the lemon thyme and dried it like I normally do on the stems.
Today I am drying rosemary for the winter. I prefer fresh rosemary but, in the winter, I can't always be on the back deck.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
375 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
375 Posts |
Posted - Jul 24 2025 : 11:16:12 AM
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Sara, take care of you
I have been over blessed with basil this year. Another 4 trays in the dehydrator.
I do have 2, 1 gallon bags of basil in freezer. I am also drying stevia but in the sun. I dont want the basil scent to mix with the stevia
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7421 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7421 Posts |
Posted - Jul 24 2025 : 11:48:25 AM
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Thanks Tara.
My one basil plant is doing good too. Years ago an extension agent told my sister that each year some plants did really good for everyone while other plants did not. He did not know why.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7421 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7421 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2025 : 08:04:16 AM
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Got two trays of basil in the dehydrator. Should get one more cutting before frost.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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nndairy
True Blue Farmgirl
3473 Posts
Heather
Wapakoneta
Ohio
USA
3473 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2025 : 7:02:50 PM
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My basil is not doing well at all. I have a dehydrator full of bananas :)
~Heather
“I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.” — George Washington
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4509 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4509 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2025 : 04:31:52 AM
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Sara, do you pull leaves off your basil or cut stems? I usually pull leaves off, but wondering if there is a better way to do it.
Farming in WI
Michele
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7421 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7421 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2025 : 05:04:55 AM
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Michelle, I pinch them off with my thumb nail. I don't have enough strength in my fingers to do a lot of pulling. If it wasn't for the short stem at the base of the leaf, I would strip the whole stem but then I would be left with the short stem to pinch or cut off.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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nndairy
True Blue Farmgirl
3473 Posts
Heather
Wapakoneta
Ohio
USA
3473 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2025 : 08:07:00 AM
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This may not be the right way - I just kind of jumped right in to dehydrating without researching too much - but, when my basil is doing well, I cut the stems off (it usually regrows 2 stems if you cut it just above a set of leaves) and then after I wash it I put the entire thing on the cookie sheet (I dry mine in the oven on warm with the door cracked open). The leaves dry before the stems so I know it's done when I run my hand over them and they all break off the stem. I put the leaves in a mylar bag in the freezer and toss the stems. Like I said, it may not be the right way, but it works for me and saves me a lot of time.
~Heather
“I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.” — George Washington
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7421 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7421 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2025 : 08:25:26 AM
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Heather before I was given my dehydrator I dried herbs in the oven. When it comes to drying what works best for each of us is what we should keep on doing.
This morning I read up on how to harvest and dry lemongrass. Harvest before first frost. I put it in my Day Planner for Nov so I wouldn't forget. Will have to re-read about how to dry when I harvest because by then I will have forgotten. First time for me to dry lemongrass. I did watch a video on u-tube on drying lemongrass that was interesting.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2978 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2978 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2025 : 5:48:14 PM
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| I would harvest my lemongrass but the Dobermans munch on it when they go outside, and not much is left. I guess that's OK. It must provide something they love and/or need. |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7421 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7421 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2025 : 06:36:21 AM
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Lisa, I can just see your Annie, Sherman, and forgive me I can't recall the other's name, munching away on the lemongrass. My Annie might do the same thing, but my lemongrass is in a galvanized tub on cinder blocks, well out of her reach.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
375 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
375 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2025 : 12:02:04 PM
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I cut up roma tomatoes thin and now dehydrating 2 trays.
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4509 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4509 Posts |
Posted - Aug 01 2025 : 04:40:08 AM
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Nice Tara!
Heather in my book you do what works best for you! I do think it is interesting to see how others accomplish a project or task. I might learn a better way that way.
Farming in WI
Michele
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7421 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7421 Posts |
Posted - Aug 24 2025 : 11:34:56 AM
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Drying turnip greens today for winter soups and for recipes made in my new mini rice cooker.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7421 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7421 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2025 : 05:00:01 AM
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Drying rosemary this morning. It's not for cooking but for an Epsom salts air freshener I found on-line. Equal parts Epsom salts and any dried herb, citrus peel, spice, etc. and essential oil you want to use. Mix together and put in airtight jar for 24 hours. Put into bowl to scent room.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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Blessed in Colorado
True Blue Farmgirl
7333 Posts
Debbie L.
Oregon
USA
7333 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2025 : 09:12:56 AM
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Oh Sara I am going to try that, it sounds like an excellent scent. Thank you.
Big Hugs,
Debbie
#1582
Blessed in Oregon
With Colorado on My Mind
Farmgirl of the Month September 2012, February 2018, September 2022, August 2025
“My altars are My Mountains
and the Ocean.” Lord Byron”
When I am Old I Shall Wear Purple, I am Old now!!
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2978 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2978 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2025 : 09:36:15 AM
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That sound nice Sara! Let us know how it works.
I saw somewhere a potpourri simmer (allegedly Williams Sonoma) that is rosemary, peppercorns, lemon slices and vanilla I think?
Anyway, sounded interesting |
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nndairy
True Blue Farmgirl
3473 Posts
Heather
Wapakoneta
Ohio
USA
3473 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2025 : 11:19:32 AM
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Thanks for sharing, Sara. That sounds like something I need to try out when we have to shut the windows for cooler weather.
~Heather
“I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.” — George Washington
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Jokamartell
True Blue Farmgirl
1918 Posts
Karen
Kennewick
WA
USA
1918 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2025 : 6:51:24 PM
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Thanks Sara for sharing!! :) Love this idea!!!
Karen :)
To quote one of my past preschoolers “Not one of those Karens, but a good Karen”! Haha |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4509 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4509 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2025 : 04:46:10 AM
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Great craft Sara. Hope it lasts a long time too.
Farming in WI
Michele
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
375 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
375 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2025 : 06:32:16 AM
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6 trays of oregano and 3 trays of basil. I can't give away the extra herbs. I will make basil salt and an herb salt. rosemary stems drying in the sun. I use the dried rosemary stems to lay on top of a roast or with short ribs in slow cooker
There will be a lot more oregano and rosemary in 2 weeks.
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7421 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7421 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2025 : 08:33:58 AM
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I ended up with 1 1/2 cups of dried 'stuff' so 3 cups total with the Epsom salts. It's in a qt jar and will be ready after 9a.m. in the morning. Will let y'all know how it turns out.
Tara, great job on your drying. Enjoy using your basil salt.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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Nancy Joplin
True Blue Farmgirl
433 Posts
Nancy
Ontario
California
USA
433 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2025 : 11:47:04 AM
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Great job, Sara! Can't wait to here about how it turned out!
Nancy 8352
FGOTM Oct 2024 |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7421 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7421 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2025 : 06:42:46 AM
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It's okay but I need more 'stuff' to make it really good. Thinking more citrus & woodsy notes. The Epsom salts does do a good job as a binder for the scents. The next time I order my groceries I'll get a bag of oranges to dry the peels as I eat the oranges.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4509 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4509 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2025 : 04:50:19 AM
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Tara great ways to use up extra herbs. Love the rosemary stems idea.
Sara, have fun creating!!
Farming in WI
Michele
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Farm Kitchen: What are you drying? |
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What are you drying?
