Holiday Garland

My dream kitchen would have a large fire place where I could hang my herbs and fruits from to dry. For now the dehydrator in the corner of my kitchen has been working non-stop all fall. I have been drying jalapeno peppers, stevia, apples and bananas not just to preserve them, they also make great snacks for school or long car rides as well as healthy gifts. I gave my dad a basked filled with dried fruits and nuts for his birthday, he love it. But the last load in the dehydrator was now for eating it is for decorating. I like to decorate my kitchen for the winter holidays with garlands made from dried apples, dried oranges, and fresh cranberries. I hang it over the entrance to the kitchen with a sprig of mistletoe in the middle. Here is how I do it...

take 2 apples and cut them in about 1/4" slices cross-way so that you will be able to see the star inside that is make by the seeds. Cut 2 oranges the same way so that you can see the sections. Put them into a dehydrator or a gas oven with just the pilot-light on for about two days or completely dried.

You will also need a bag of fresh cranberries, fishing line or heavy thread measured out to length you will need for area you will be hanging in, and a large sewing needle. Mark the center of the thread with a marker. Thread your needle and put a knot at the end.

When your apples and oranges are dried arrange them on a table in a pattern that you like knowing that you will be adding cranberries in between. Starting with a cranberry put your needle through the center from end to end. Do this again with the same cranberry to secure the end of your garland. Now you can continue adding cranberries until you are ready to add an apple or orange. Go on stringing the pattern of fruit adding cranberries between the apples and oranges until you get to the center mark of your thread. If you want your garland to be symmetrical just reverse what you have just done. When you get to the end of your garland take the needle through the last cranberry twice like you did in the beginning and knot. The cranberries will naturally start to dry and shrivel and they may leak some of their juice so be careful that it is not hanging against anything that could get stained. Now you are ready to hang your garland in a doorway, window, a fireplace, or on a tree and enjoy.

When you are done with your garland after the season has past take your fruits off the thread and put them outside for the animal to enjoy.

Happy Holidays!

Mixed-Berry Cobbler

A few weeks ago I went to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia for a getaway weekend with my honey. After a full day of hiking, spotting coyotes, and playing with the many very friendly deer we headed to the lodge for a much anticipated dinner. To my pleasant surprise the menu items were made mostly with local ingredients. We both had a wonderfully satisfying meal yet the desserts coming past our table were very inviting. One in particular caught my attention, the wild-berry cobbler. I now could not wait to get home and make this distinctive dessert.

I decided to make my version, mixed-berry cobbler for Thanksgiving for those who like something other then the traditional pumpkin pie. But do not wait for a holiday to try this very simple recipe.

First I made some very berry sauce and whipped cream. Then I took some all natural animal cracker and broke them in half. Into an individual dessert bowl I spooned in some warm very berry sauce then I put in the broken animal crackers and covered them with more sauce, then topped it off with a dollop of whipped cream. I need to go buy some more berries so that I can make it again!

Enjoy

Mixed-Berry Cobbler

Very Berry Sauce

3 cups mixed frozen berries
¼ cup brown rice syrup
¼ cup water
2 Tbs. cold water
2 Tbs. corn starch or kuzu

Combine the berries, brown rice syrup and ¼ cup of water in a sauce pan. Stir and bring to a boil. Have ready the corn starch and 2 tablespoons of water mixed together to make a thin paste. Slowly pour the cornstarch mixture into the boiling berries while stirring, it will quickly get thick. Remove pan from the heat continuing to stir for about 1 minute more.


Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla
¼ tsp. stevia

Add all the ingredients into a blender in the order that they are listed while on medium speed. Cover and turn blender speed up to high. When cream has gotten thick, about 30 seconds, it is done.


(Excerpts from Trish’s Dishes Copy right 2009)