Saving the Farmers & their Veggies (Redt de Boeren en zijn Groenten)

Recently, a commercial airplane (MH17) has been gunned down.  The origins of the missile is still unofficially determined (which might take another decade or never), due to the war raging civil war.  Some say, the war is fuelled by another country.  While the "accused" country remains its innocence.

Anyway, due to this event, boycott & banning of products has affect the Dutch farmers tremendously.  

At the sametime (totally about another topic), I found a kitchen gadget that I have dreamed to have in my kitchen ... TO USE (and not only to decorate it) ... is a FOOD DEHYDRATOR!

Now, you see where this is leading ... HAHAHAHA! 😜😜😜

What I got was a Severin Food Dehyrator (model ), which has 5-trays.  The trays are so convenient, because it has been designed to not need a separate piece for spacers (when you need one, like when you exceed 5mm thickness and would not want it to touch the upper tray).  It was so simple to use too.  After taking the gadget out of the box, I just rinsed the trays, then laid down the sliced tomatoes (skin side down for the ones with skins) in 6 mm thickness.

 

However, prior to embarking on this endeavour, I decided to do some research.  Found a wonderful video in YouTube, from an Arabic speaking woman.  I didn't understand a single word she said, because (obviously) I do not to speak, much more, understand Arabic (yet ... You never know, when one day, I have a patient Arabic speaking friend, who would pursue to widen my portfolio of languages spoken), but the video was clear (as if she had a foresight - or just intelligent enough to know that there is a world outside her own). She showed her ingredients, and edited the parts, so you would not wait for her to repeat the processes to every tomato.

What did she do?  In a nutshell (not that she is a nut ... HAHAHAHA), she basically seasoned the tomatoes (good old salt & pepper plus olive oil ... I think ... If not, it surely was oil).   

Watch it at: 

http://youtu.be/oes4jD_gN5s

Back to my actual experience ... Well, after watching videos & videos in YouTube and sliced the tomatoes, I set them out on the dehydrator's trays after I have seasoned them each one.  

12 hours of drying & 5 minutes to cool off, I packed them in a re-sealable bags & the others in a clean bottle.  Others, I placed in a clean bottle with olive oil to remoisten them.

Still do not know how long they would last, as I just made the first ones ... and I am enjoying my snack ... HEHEHEHE!!!

However, the supermaket bought ones I have, are still in the cupboard.  The last time I tasted them (before I tried making my own), they still tasted fine, but not as the tomatoes I dried myself, because I know that I used the best tomatoes which I love using for my dishes, salads & sandwiches. 

One way that I love using dried tomatoes is as toppings on my toasts or filling for sandwiches, as they are a lovely accompaniment with a nice glass of chilled white or soft red wine!

Not only will I enjoy dried veggies (and/or fruits).  I am also helping the farmers sell their produce ... and lessen our need to have more meat in our diets ... HEALTHY LIFESTYLE!