What preps are you doing this week? part 2.

[hobo]

Psyching myself up to go and rotovate my allotment today!

[hobo]

Oh, and I bought a Freeplay Tuf radio for our numerous camping and hostelling plans this year. Long term members might remember my love of all things Freeplay
The most recent - yellow - range (the indigo plus, sherpa and mini sherpa) have proved sturdier and having better rechargeable batteries than previous versions. I'm hopeful that the Tuf will be likewise.

http://www.freeplayenergy.com/shop/tuf-radio

[Brambles]

Psyching myself up to go and rotovate my allotment today!

No.1 son did half of ours on friday, the other half and the new 1/4 plot will get done this week. My neighbour at the field remarked how great the plot is looking now, compared to the mess we took over 3 years ago. It's very pleasing to be complimented on your efforts.

[valderee]

Hi everyone, as im fairly new to putting prepping into practise from watching videos and reading , eg only a few weeks ago started filling up my cupboards with tinned food, packet foods, so this week im still prepping up the cupboards and still will be for a while id imagine just must remember to stock rotate. Ive also a new bag I think I will use as a short period away from home bag, emergencies etc, and also use this as an extra when camping. ATB to all.

[hobo]

Rotovated!
And moved the huge polytunnel.
And planted 5 rows of onions!

[Decaff]

Decaff, exactly how good and useful are these dehydrators??? Are they expensive etc??? Has been a lot of talk about them. Thanks.

Hi Dusty, I find mine very useful indeed, I have dehydrated fruit (cherries, bananas, peaches, strawberries, kiwi, apples, tomatoes, mango, pineapple, blueberries, raspberries and pears) tons of vegetables (onions, mushrooms, carrots, peppers, celery and leeks) I've made Turkey and chicken bouillon powder, tomato powder and garlic powder. If you like to know what's in your food and want to preserve the best if the season I would recommend. I find that blanching all veg improves the rehydration process as it opens up the pores, I don't with fruit though.

Mine is just a basic square Andrew James digital one with 7 trays and I bought the small liners for the smaller veg/fruit. I'm amazed at how good it is and that you can stack trays on a higher depth by turning round if needed. Cost under £40.

Garlic was a success but compketely reeked the flat out for 2 days... Well worth it though as I have over a years supply for a cost of £1!!

I hope this helps.

[Decaff]

*Note to self*......Don't dehydrate Garlic indoors!

And that's the truth....

[DustyDog]

Thanks Decaff, sounds very interesting, I'm guessing with the bouillon powder, u are just drying onion an whichever meat you are using and then blitz it in food processor etc, Mmmm sounds very interesting. Will look into it. Thanks.

[Deeps]

The 14500 batteries are pretty impressive, I trialled a couple of Cree torches with a brand new AA battery against a fully charged one and the 14500 was a good bit brighter, they ain't cheap as rechargeable batteries but they are quality.

On the dehydrating thing, I'm still finding my feet but its not just garlic that reeks the place out, both me and the missus have noticed that we're a bit whiffy with the onions I've been doing. I'm jealous of all the stuff folk have been doing with theirs, I've not had much success with carrots but I'll be trying another batch soon and I'm desperate to do my own spicy beef jerky.

[Decaff]

Thanks Decaff, sounds very interesting, I'm guessing with the bouillon powder, u are just drying onion an whichever meat you are using and then blitz it in food processor etc, Mmmm sounds very interesting. Will look into it. Thanks.

I kept all the skin and bones from a turkey roast, along with some of the roasting juices and then boiled everything in a huge stockpot with added chunks of carrots, half an onion, peppercorns and celery sticks for 12 hours, strained to remove everything and left to cool, skimmed all the fat off and then boiled down the stock remaining till it was very concentrated. Left to cool then stored in the fridge till it turned into jelly, sliced this into chunks and after lining my dehydrator trays with baking/parchment paper put chunks of the jelly in and it melted and ended up like a sheet of sticky old leather, when dry I whizzed this in my Nutribullet to a powder, put back in dehydrator on clean paper till it was really dry (there were a few clumps indicating it wasn't quite dry) then when it cooled down poured it into a jar. I have used to add to soups and gravy, makes a wonderful hot drink and now I save up my chicken bones to make more to add to the jar. I don't add salt as it would be too salty but you can add when using in your cooking instead if you feel it needs it.