Oz Girl's Picks: American Harvest Dehydrator

So, based on my reader comments last week, I ended up choosing a more modest and economical dehydrator.  I ended up going with the Nesco American Harvest Snackmaster Express. 

The price was around $60 - I see it has already increased to $64 on Amazon.  I should have it by the end of the week, so I'll let y'all know how I like it once I've given it a whirl.

In the meantime, I picked most of my spearmint over the weekend and dried it in the oven.  The bugs were starting to snack on the leaves and I didn't want to take a chance of losing it while I was waiting for the dehydrator to arrive.

We also picked some of our corn - the worms were starting to nibble at the tips, so we cut off the tips and the ears were still good.  I mean, they were DELICIOUS! 

First time ever in my life, growing our own corn, and eating it fresh from the garden.  We bought our seeds from Johnny's Selected Seeds and they were definitely a "winning" choice.

The reason I bought our seeds from Johnny's this year:  Eliot Coleman of The Winter Harvest Handbook fame recommends and uses products from Johnny's Selected Seeds. 

If you haven't had a chance to read his "Winter Harvest" book, I highly recommend it.  Fantastic book.  Also, check out his Four Season Farm website.

Ok, I think I've blathered on enough today - 

I have definitely gotten off topic, huh?  

Sometimes I just can't help myself....

One more off-topic moment - I got a little closer to our family of deer yesterday morning.  You'll have to click on the photo to enlarge it....  hey, it's better than last week where all you could see were their little heads poking up above the prairie!!

Don't forget - the Country Giveaway is coming

and it starts this Thursday!

How Your Comments Influence Me

The Excalibur dehydrator blog post is just one example of how your comments help bring me back to a better place.  

Sometimes we WANT more
than we really NEED.

I don't need the Cadillac of dehydrators.  I'm not drying enough produce for an army.  The biggest and best dehydrator really isn't necessary here on our tiny homestead.

I had a dehydrator, once.  A cheap model I bought at Walmart many, many years ago.  Maybe it was an American Harvest - I don't remember.

I happily made my own beef jerky using that dehydrator.  And it was good. It was a delicious snack when I forged a road trip to Yellowstone National Park, all by my lonesome.

When my ex-boyfriend borrowed that dehydrator, he most conveniently decided not to return it to me, in spite of my repeated requests to have it back.  (Jerk!)

I think, based on the comments received on my last blog post, I will purchase a more cost efficient model again, perhaps the American Harvest model mentioned. I think that's the model I put on my Amazon wish list last year??

I'd like to dry the spearmint that is growing with wild abandon in our garden, before it's too late.  I've made some wonderful mojitos with same spearmint the last few weekends.

That's not to say that the Excalibur model might not retain a spot on my wish list.    ;-)

After all, if the economy decides to go to hell in a handbasket, who's to say I might not have a small army of friends and family here on our homestead to feed??!!

P.S.  Thank you for all your wonderful, informative comments!

Oz Girl's Picks: The BEST Dehydrator

The Excalibur 3926T is, quite simply, the Cadillac of dehydrators.

The Excalibur 3900 series has 9 trays (15 square feet!) for drying veggies, fruits, fish and meats, beef jerky, fruit rolls and home crafts.  Model 3926T has a timer, enabling you to be away from home when the drying time is over and the machine needs to be turned off - set the timer, and you don't need to be up at 4 a.m. to turn it off!

After all my research, and reading the rave reviews of other users, the Excalibur 3926T has earned a spot on my wish list.

What about you - have you ever contemplated the purchase of a dehydrator?  If so, what would you use it for?

Note: The link to the 3926T model will take you to a web special page which offers additional freebies with the purchase of this model.  Also note, the Excalibur company has never heard of Oz Girl, and likely never will - this blog post is simply my opinion and personal recommendation.