Too Many Eggs? Why Not Dehydrate Them!

 Considering it's winter time, I usually get just a few eggs daily, or often one or none from my little brood of 9 Black Australorps.  But not this year.

My little gals have been working overtime laying on average, 13 eggs every two days.  Even during the coldest snaps.

For our empty nest, with just the three of us (yes, our youngest daughter is still stuck at home...poor thing...) we can't possibly eat all of them.  

Since July I've been inundated with eggs, and so something needed to be done.  Can I just say, I love my dehydrator?  It always comes through for me!

It's a simple process that anyone can do, regardless of the brand of dehydrator you might have.  



Step One:

Crack your eggs into a blender, and whip them on high.  The fluffier you get them, the better they dry...and the quicker.

Step Two:

Line your tray with wax paper or a "fruit leather" tray cover.  I fold up the edges of my paper, to make a tray with sides.  That way your eggs don't run off the edges.

Step Three:

Place your trays in your machine, and if you have a temperature gauge turn it to 135-145 degrees.  Otherwise, just turn it on, and wait for it to get crackly and crispy. 
Then turn it off and let it cool down before you put it in the food processor.

Step Four:

After you brush off the dehydrated eggs into the food processor, you'll need to alternately pulse it, and let it run, and do this back and forth, until you get the nice powder you're going to be happy with.

Step Five:

Place your powdered eggs in a zippy bag, and store them in a paper lunch sack in a cool dry place.





Using Your Eggs Is Simple:

2 T. dry egg powder + 1/4 c. water for a large egg, will work perfect for baking.

I've never thought they re-constituted really well. I think they seem to be  better as baking items since they get a strange texture when you rehydrate them and scramble them, but that's just me.  You may love them in an omelette!  Experiment for yourself, and see what works best for your family.

Done right, dried thoroughly, and stored properly, these eggs can have a shelf life of 5-10 years.   


I would love to hear how you put dehydrated eggs to good use!  Leave a comment below!

 The information presented at Herbs and Wildcrafting is for educational purposes only. No statement has been evaluated by any federal agency, medical expert, nutritionist or even the town gossip.  Remember to do your  research.  

Settle Those Nerves! The Calming Effects of Skullcap.

Just By It's Looks...

It's always interesting to me how an herb, often just by the way it looks, gives an idea of what it's good for.

Skullcap is the color of soft twilight, and that's exactly what is needed when our nerves are jangled, and we face another sleepless night.

Skullcap is a member of the mint family, and can be gathered in late summer all through North America, using the flowers, leaves and stems for tincturing or drying.

Skullcap has been used for trouble with sleeping, anxiety,  even stroke paralysys. 

 It can help with:

• Lowering fever
• Epilepsy
• Nervous Tension
• Menopausal Anxieties
• Topical Infections
• Arthritis
• Lowering Blood Pressure
• Lowering Blood Sugar
• Exhaustion
• Diahrehea

It's also considered good for involuntary movements, like you might see in Parkinson's Disease or Restless leg syndrome.

Be aware, it is considered a sedative and can affect your reflexes, just like Valerian Root, or any other muscle relaxant, but one of it's best traits is once it's done its job it is out of your system with no residual tiredness, and you feel better!  It is well known for toning your nerves, and has a cumulative effect.  It increases blood flow to the brain and helps in lowering cholesterol.

Typical doses: 

• Dried herb: About 1 T,  3 times per day in a tea.
• Tincture: 1/2 t. 3X per Day

Side Effects:

"Skullcap may slow down the central nervous system. Healthcare providers worry that anesthesia and other medications during and after surgery might increase this effect. Stop taking skullcap at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery."

Sources:

Herblist

WebMD

Any statements or claims about the possible health benefits conferred by any foods or supplements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  See Disclaimer.

 

How To: Dehydrate Potatoes

Dehydrating potatoes is one of the easiest things you'll ever do, that brings the most comfort in hard times.  It's a great way to preserve nutrients.

Step One:

• Wash and scrub your potatoes, you can peel them if you're so inclined.  

 I don't since all the greatest nutrients lie within the skin but it's completely up to you.

Step Two:

• Slice your potatoes without stressing that each one is identical to the other. 

Generally, as long as they are about the same thickness your project will be successful.  Even my food processor gets them all different thicknesses, but they still turn out, and even those that are like paper, don't seem to change the outcome. 

Step Three:

• Place the sliced potatoes in salty water.  When you can taste the salt in a drop of the water, there is enough, and let them soak while you slice away.

The salt keeps them from turning brown.

Step Four:

Boil salty water (same amount of salt as above), and place potato slices in the boiling water.  Let them simmer on a low boil for 3 minutes.
Step Five:

• Drain and let cool for 5 minutes

Step Six:

•  Place blanched potatoes on your dehydrator rack, and set your temperature for 135-145 for about six to eight hours.  

If you don't have a temperature dial, then just keep an eye on them.  Make sure they are dry enough to "snap."

 Step Seven:

• Let cool for at least a half hour, and then place in Mylar bags with an oxygen packet. And place in a cool, dry place.

You can also put them in Zippy bags without the oxygen packet. (I'm still using my potatoes from 1999, and they were stored in clear zippy bags only...but use common sense for the area you live in).  

Since I live in the Inter-mountain West we have very low humidity, but if you are living anywhere with higher humidity, play it safe and use a Mylar bag with an oxygen packet.  They're about .05-.10 cents apiece, and worth the peace of mind.  I get mine from Amazon.com.