I think it’s load #5 but I may have lost track. Since I don’t know when the a/c guy is coming, I’m not starting another load. He said the unit could be here today or Thursday. He said “If it comes on Tuesday, I’ll put in on Wednesday” but I’m betting he forgot it’s Independence Day tomorrow. If it comes on Thursday, instead of putting it in on Friday, he’s going to wait til next week in case he runs into a snag and needs parts and can’t get them and we would have no a/c in the sewing room for the weekend. Never a good thing in July.
Since he’s putting in a larger unit, he has to run new wiring so I’m pretty sure that means the power will be off for at least a while and that would interrupt the freeze dryer. I suppose if he doesn’t come tomorrow, it would be safe to start a load on Thursday and it would be finished b Monday or, if he does come tomorrow and finishes up on Thursday, I could start a load when he’s gone but . . no rush. Even the freeze dryer probably needs a rest.
So, yesterday’s load:
Two trays of pork jambalaya:
Pork Jambalaya
And two trays of sweet onions:
Sweet Onions
No doubt, if I ate it all the time I’d get tired of it but eating this stuff crunchy is not bad. The pork tasted a bit like pork rinds. The rice reminded me of Rice Krispies but with a yummy, seasoned flavor.
The onions . . I could not stop eating them! They taste like candy! I called Vince over to try them and he couldn’t believe it. He said “You better stop eating them . . you know what onions do to your tummy.” I ate way more than I should have and no tummy problems at all. I can’t even describe how good they are . . especially considering that they’re onions!
Finished Product
I put the jambalaya in 1 quart jar because we’ll eat that soon enough, and filled 3 mylar bags and I put the onions in 9 pint jars because I know we’ll go through those quickly. I cannot wait to have a grilled hamburger with those sweet, crunchy onions on it. I also think I’m going to make a green bean casserole and use these onions and see what I think.
The onions may be my best results yet.
vivoaks says
Nice!! 🙂
Cheryl says
How did you prep the onions?
Judy Laquidara says
I used a little spray olive oil in an iron pot and cooked them very slowly for an hour or so, stirring almost constantly to keep them from sticking.
Cheryl says
Thanks Judy! Hope you are enjoying your new freeze-drying adventures!!
Judy Laquidara says
I am loving it but not using it til the a/c is done or until we at least know when the guy is coming back. He’ll have to turn the power off and I don’ want to interrupt the FD cycle so, for now, it sits idle. 🙁
Cheryl says
I should be using mine right now but we have been having so many storms with brief power outages that I have been hesitant to use it. I picked up some really nice cherries so I am going to have to fire it up again. My garden got hailed out last week so I won’t have much from it this fall to run through it – but I do have a freezer full of beef that I am going to cook up and fd. Good luck!
dezertsuz says
Are those Texas Sweet onions? I loved those when we wintered in Crystal City! Every bit as good as Vidalia, I think.
Nelle Coursey says
Looks absolutely yummy!!
Judy says
I haven’t tried FB onions, but they sound wonderful! HEB sells freeze dried okra. It’s lightly salted – probably before drying, but I’m not sure. I can’t be trusted around it. I’ll eat the whole container, and they charge a lot for them! You should try some whole okra when you get the opportunity and see how you like it.
Judy says
FD, not FB! I guess I use Facebook often enough that FB just popped out!