PLUMMY GOODNESS

I went to the Farmer’s Market last weekend and picked up about six pounds of plums.

I washed them, cut them in 8ths and put them in the dehydrator.

Twenty-four hours later I have nearly two quarts of dried plums ready to eat and enjoy!

Dried plums, can be used whole, in pieces, or pureed for baked goods, and cooked or soaked to make a sauce or marinade. They are a simple add-in that adds natural sweetness and nutrition to a recipe. Or, you can just eat some straight from the jar as a snack.

I used a new tool to vacuum seal these in the jars.

If you’ve known me long, you know I love my Food Saver! Well, I saw a portable, hand-held vacuum sealer for jars on a You Tube video and purchased one. It is a great tool. It’s small enough to fit in a drawer so I don’t have to haul out my big Food Saver and it’s jar attachments. Just pop this thing on top of a jar and lid, push the button, and your jars are vacuum sealed, extending the shelf life of your dehydrated and dry goods.

My Food Saver still has it’s place in my repertoire of freezer preservation techniques but this gadget has won my heart for use with stuff I vacuum pack in jars.