[shokkyy]

Do you have to do anything to the peppers other than cutting into chunks? They don't need blanching or treating or anything? I didn't think of trying those.

[New shoot]

No special prep required    just de-seed and cut into chunks or slices, whichever you prefer.  I was dubious they would be worth it given supermarket peppers are so tasteless usually, but the drying really works to improve them.

My other discovery is that even the cheap big bags of apples and pears dry into really tasty dried fruit slices.  I don't eat either usually as they are tasteless again, but the dried ones are lovely.  Much better taste and texture than anything you can buy    You dip them in either lemon juice and water, or I sometimes use cheap orange juice and dry them as they are or you can sprinkle spices on them.  Cinnamon on apple is particularly nice  

[Madame Cholet]

I did apples over the stove last year just finished eating them. most were given to me fortunately very nice as New shoot said. just planted 7 trees hope to be self sefficient in 5 years?  with fresh and dried. Also picked up one of those peeler things for £2 in barnardos recently.
might try the cinamon next year, what about pear and ginger?

[shokkyy]

I'm just experimenting with greens and they are quite useful to have around.  I know Rachell posted she had done kale not so long ago and found several uses for it.  It is more of an 'add to stuff' ingredient than eat alone as a side dish I think.  Not bad munched straight out of the jar either    

I just went back and looked at the Mary Bell book and noticed something I hadn't before. She says that leaf veg like kale and spinach can be dehydrated and rehydrated and used just like fresh with no discernible difference in the veg, so they should be fine as side veg.

There's a lot of useful info in the Mary Bell book but I wish she'd used less space for recipes and more space for info on individual veg. I doubt I'd ever use those recipes because the measurements are Americanised, all in cups, and sometimes ingredients too (general purpose flour?), and I don't go backpacking In the section where she runs through every type of veg with instructions for prep and drying, it would have been really nice if she'd given at least some info for each on rehydrating and usage.

[Madame Cholet]

yes i agree back packing receipes take up a lot of room I think its best to dehydrate the receipes that you normally do, so you know you like them, for back packing, that what i'm going to try for my next yha adventure. things like veggie bolonegse and  veggie scrambled egg and veggie mash.  

Just wondering about ratatouille tooee