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Post by richardw on Sept 16, 2013 3:31:06 GMT -5
At least youve got a lot more ozone over head than what we have down here,mind you there will come a day when there will be too much ozone and they will have to kill some off with a few fluorocarbons.
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Post by steev on Sept 16, 2013 11:13:37 GMT -5
Comes that dire day, we'll realize the wisdom of having established fluorocarbon refuges.
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Post by Drahkk on Sept 18, 2013 20:32:13 GMT -5
Pulled two more Pecka melons yesterday:  No, there are no stems attached. After the last one came free so easily, I pulled on these, and they did let go, albeit reluctantly. Once inside and cleaned, these were much sweeter and more pleasant in flavor and texture than the previous one was. I'm saving the seed from these two as the best ones of the season. So it's back on the other side of the fence: I may regrow them after all. Spent the afternoon cleaning and dicing melons and loading up the dehydrator. I'm harvesting more than we'll ever eat fresh at this point, so why not make some treats for later? MB |
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Post by steev on Sept 18, 2013 20:48:36 GMT -5
You get a good product with dicing, how big? I've only tried 1/4" slices.
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Post by Drahkk on Sept 19, 2013 2:32:10 GMT -5
I'm afraid I used the term a bit loosely. What I really did was cut each one into 12 wedges and trim the rind from them, like I usually do cleaning them fresh. Then I cross cut each wedge into 1/4"-1/2" thick bite sized pieces to lay out on the dehydrator trays. I didn't exactly measure, but 1/2" is the limit that will fit between trays without touching if I load them all. This is actually my first time doing this; time will tell what size gives the best result.
MB
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Post by 12540dumont on Sept 19, 2013 16:46:02 GMT -5
Drahkk, how do the melons taste dried? I have 18 Ananas melons! I was going to make granita or sorbet, but I have room in the dehydrator, if the tomatoes would shove over for a day.
The great melons of this season are: Ananas, MaryGold, Grover Delaney H20, Golden Honeymoon. Still waiting for Cortona's melon to come out of the field.
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Sept 19, 2013 17:33:06 GMT -5
Drahkk, how do the melons taste dried? Dehydrated muskmelons are one of my favorite winter foods!!! |
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Post by steev on Sept 19, 2013 19:27:11 GMT -5
Dried melon is excellent, although very hygroscopic.
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Post by Drahkk on Sept 20, 2013 1:10:26 GMT -5
Dried melon is excellent, although very hygroscopic. Glad to hear that. I think I ran this batch a bit too long; many made it closer to crispy than chewy. May need to take them back out of the jars, spread them out and let them draw just a bit back in from the air. I also discovered (like you already knew, Steev) that 1/4"-3/8" is the best size range. Some of the ones closer to 1/2" dried an outer shell first, then somehow exchanged moisture for air, ending up with a bubble in the middle. Great flavor, though, especially from the stronger flavored Pecka and the sweet Ha-Ogen. Can't wait to try an Ananas this way, when I get more ready. I think next time I'll try thin wedge slices, instead of bite sized pieces. Put the mandolin slicer to some use other than B&B pickles. The sorbet idea sounds good too, though. May have to try that with a few. Do you have a set recipe for it? MB |
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Post by davida on Oct 3, 2013 17:44:37 GMT -5
Drahkk,
How is your father's health? Hope he is doing well. For the new memebers, Drahkk's father had a lung transplant awhile back. The wonders of modern medicine.
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Post by richardw on Oct 4, 2013 2:12:15 GMT -5
Hope for all the best for your dad Mike
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Post by Drahkk on Oct 17, 2013 4:35:33 GMT -5
Dad's doing great Davida and Richardw, thanks for asking.
Sorry I've been so quiet lately, everybody. Been dealing with a bout of anxiety/depression, mostly related to my day job. As much as I used to decry our have-a-problem-take-a-pill society, there may be a reason some of the pills exist; my doc has me on Prozac, with Klonipin as needed in addition. May be due for a career change soon. I'm SO tired of switching jobs, but something has to give. We'll see what the next few weeks bring.
The only things I haven't finished harvesting for the year are sweet potatoes and Lima beans. Usually dig sweets in September, but this year I've been lazy and decided to see how big they'd get if allowed to go longer. Limas I actually have a bowlfull of seeds from, but they're still going strong... I'll be posting a proper trade list soon. Unfortunately it turns out I cooked a number of tomato and pepper varieties in an overheated dehydrator, so I'll be hunting replacements for a few rather than offering seeds...
MB
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Post by davida on Oct 17, 2013 15:14:57 GMT -5
Drahkk,
Good to hear from you. Glad that your Dad is doing good. Hope things look up for you soon, also.
David
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Post by richardw on Oct 18, 2013 3:14:31 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about your depression,thank goodness its something ive never experienced.
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Post by Drahkk on Oct 18, 2013 7:18:37 GMT -5
It's more anxiety disorder than depression. Runs in the family, unfortunately; my sister's on Xanax for the same problem. I can think of a good many things that probably contributed, but the main thing that triggered it in me was a recent management change at my day job. I used to enjoy working there; now I dread every day. Told my doc that if I need prescription drugs to handle my day to day job, it's time for a new job, but I need to be able to calm down and FUNCTION until I find one. Although now that I'm on them, I can't help thinking that if I'd been taking this stuff years ago I might not have quit teaching...
MB
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