We Get Seriously Into Dry Fruit

Ok, can I say that we have used several solar fruit drying methods over the years?

We've had the 3 leveled hanging screen-over-wood-frame things. We've had the wooden box with the glass lid and the ventilation holes on the side. Most recently, we've had the cookie sheet with the netting over it. All of these have been home-made creations, some that followed actual plans. (I think you can guess that the cookie sheet with the net over it was not one for which we followed building instructions.)

To be honest, we've never been happy with any of these methods. That would explain why we keep changing things around. My 2 major complaints have to do with the length of time it took to dry bananas (days) which meant I had to move the thing in and out of the house several times, and the fact that flies seem to still figure out how to beat these systems.

So I got this cool electric dryer that came highly recommended by a environmentally sensitive friend. It's a Nesco American Harvest FD-1010 Garden Master Food Dehydrator.

We're making hay will the sun is shining, so to speak, around here as fruit is in gonzo amounts in the market. We've have been drying lots and lots of really nice stuff. We've done loads of banana and mango, tried some pineapple and oranges and tangerines too. The oranges and tangerines were kind of marginal but everything else was amazing. Fantabulous. (Our family is particularly fond of dry mango.)

I love that it only takes about 6 hours to do 10 trays and that's it's nicely energy efficient. And my eco friend who recommended it says that the nutrients are better preserved when the fruit is not in ultra violet rays. That's a big plus, eh?

But my favorite thing is that it fills the house with this wonderful warm, sweet and fruity smell.

Byron is really, really into this at the minute. He has been Breakfast King in the past. He has been BBQ Master and Salsa King as well. Right now, he is the Dry Fruit King.

I like him. Pretty much.

Jackson Browne and My Tangled Necklaces

Yesterday I sat on my bed and spent at least an hour struggling to untangle three fine chains that had knotted themselves over and around each other.

(Note to self: don't store necklaces together and then ship them across the world again.)

As I sat there, I thought of Jackson Browne's lyric that says--

"... maybe we've found what we had lost when we've unwound so many crossed and tangled misunderstandings..."

How knotted relationships can become. How much work to untangle the misunderstanding.

A toothpick finally helped me loosen and untie some of the knots in the chains.

I've found that forgiveness does the same for the other knots.

The necklaces hang free now on pretty hooks by my dresser.

Nice. I feel inspired.

Fast Food

My hands smell like fast food. I feel like washing them.

Tonight we went to In-'n-Out, a classic hamburger joint. I would like to pause here and point out that this fine city, Pasadena, had the first ever In-'n-Out AND the first ever Trader Joe's. This is a cool city, except that it's now getting taken over by condos.

But the truth is, I didn't want to go to In-'n-Out. I'm a little spoiled about food. I have this thing about processed white bread. I don't believe it should be eaten. So I felt very brave eating the hamburger bun. It was an act against my first-world finicky-ness that says I should only put certain things in my mouth.

Now, I actually believe it's good to avoid white bread and mayo and greasy meat etc. I believe it's right that I make choices for whole foods.

But I don't think it's right to be a snob about that.

Heather won an award at school and part of her prize included a coupon for In-'n'-Out. Clever of the joint to give one free hamburger, knowing the child will likely come with a family that will order quite a few other things. Anyway....

I used to be against beef and pork for health reasons, and I would still find it hard to down a sausage or hot dog or piece of lunch meat. (But you should see me finish off the black pork in our favorite little village restaurant in Portugal!)

To be honest, as the afternoon moved on toward evening and I knew we would be going to the fast-food place soon, I thought about eating before or after the trip. I thought about making my own healthier option at home.

But I really felt this would take away from Heather's celebratory meal. She was honored with her prize and this little outing was for her. I felt like I needed to participate and not be a food-snob.

I realize this must all sound pretty ridiculous to most people but it really was kind of a big deal to me. I ate the hamburger with both sides of the bun, even though I think white bread is an idea from hell meant to take all the goodness of out a grain and leave us fat and un-nourished.

I took it a step further. I ate some french fries and I even took big gulps of Heather's chocolate shake. It was quite a night!

I'll admit it: I feel like I need to make fresh carrot juice now to cleanse my body but I don't have any carrots so I don't have to fight this urge too hard.

Now I realize this makes me sound like a health food nut or at least a really healthy eater. I don't think I am, particularly. I just have a few rules in my head.

Somehow I feel more grown-up to have broken my rules for a good reason tonight. Yes, I wanted Heather to be blessed. And I was mindful of all the people who would be so thankful for that burger, white bread and all.

Caffeine-free

I'm trying to go caffeine-free for an undetermined length of time. I think my body will benefit from it. Right now, though, it's only suffering.

I don't even drink that much caffeine! No fully caffeinated coffee and somewhere between 2-4 cups of good black tea daily.

But it's 6pm on day two and I'm dragging badly. Tesugen. That's what I would say in Sweden. Not sure if it should be one word or two.... But it means something along the lines of tea-starved or craving tea.

That's me :-(

tea with the chiropractor's daughter

when ali came to stay, i suddenly got very insecure about what i serve with our afternoon tea. byron has been telling me that i plainly allow our children to eat far too much sugar. he clucks his tongue and reminds me of how careful i was of what i allowed the two older boys to eat when they were in their major growth years. he tells me i allow heather to eat crisps for breakfast and chocolate for dinner. (that's a black lie from the pit, but never mind.)

well, we went to uni with ali's parents and we know what healthy people they are. they eat really well. they use soya milk and goat cheese. they use whole grains and lots of veggies. they do not sit around eating hobnobs with cup after cup of caffeinated tea!

so i got inspired and placed cut fruit, good cheese and wholesome crackers out with the afternoon tea tray. and ali enjoyed it.

several days later, though, as she followed me around the shops, she finally spoke up.

"would it be ok if i went and got some chocolate?" she asked.

within the hour we were settled on the tea porch with our bar of milk chocolate. we taught her the art of quick dipping where you plunge your strip of chocolate briefly into the hot tea so that just the very top layer softens. then you suck it off and start again. it's so fantastic!

i must admit i felt much better. our days of hypocrisy were over!