It is minus twenty outside as I write this and the heat from a summer's sun couldn't be further away. An overcast sky diffuses the winter sun and a wind is driving snow against the windows. This seems like a perfect time to get into the kitchen and practice drying food so that I won't have to lug a huge amount of weight this summer.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92yte-yANOWh7h1O7h9izOK7O5BaPUHL-UmxcrY7xtyWG7Fj9P9t3hY5lUztPv-DcrBY7ZserzkjlcNBEdM61aVKMMJpaIKBxpVxPGWlFlNFW494MrSy0Nly6Pe0aEKu5StcptHygAxxW/s320/C%2526W+29.JPG) |
Carrying a lot of crap (Christina Lake down there) |
The idea of dehydrating food comes from discovering an ultra - lightweight camper named
Ray Jardine. His name was briefly mentioned in the movie "Wild" and I was curious to know more about his system of lightweight camping.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInuxLKJbO-5a7-g5zMznq6G1JduY6bkGmBVBIfm2WV5rljHRCTm6pse7rok9dV-6TgYgeskCt9tRLLSnh7GbWpfGqH9wUWtvUGTcTV22CUGIPw19D3MqH8bOFXUjRCHDCSxp3-5LDi_M/s1600/ray.jpg) |
The man himself |
One thing that Mr. Jardine does is to take all the moisture out of his food and then by rehydration at camp, the food becomes edible. My daughter has a sophisticated dehydrator that I am allowed to use but only with organic and vegan food.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJ_zR-ce6TU7Mo_a1ly8dO910DouSig3YlVrRBmALhbMlApRrrgrxYAVqiPx_BDghDUYbNAYAhIAnRN7EhyphenhyphenFzquN_WGA7pWF5TIpFBnzSnBCLDxWtMCPFnETerUr77QR0nf5iwDv5paA/s1600/dehydr.jpg) |
Very sophisticated |
Sitting in the fridge was a huge bunch of purple grapes which I knew I could not finish before they spoilt so it was a no-brainer that I would start my dehydrating with them. What I wanted to make was fruit leather. A healthy, chewy, light treat for the trail.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzrzHcyFnI-IhChMlfN24prvLnirQR9lYB4mMYbLEX8Kew1Kzv_fZlYcAKtUNcCq0oSms05QEAz7huoYlzMbP9rmTuk1FW7MTSbwEO18CuBAPToOLuU3Lew2be_vGjeKkD4EqEm8GZaA/s1600/fruit2.jpg) |
Doing the reverse |
The
Vitamix got a slight workout grinding up the grapes into a glop that spread easily onto the dehydrator tray and within a couple of hours, I was able to turn over the "leather" to dry it on its reverse side.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UUNCCm6TczlXPLlXXIKSEBOe09yDT7emZOIZs6eTUYCiRLHcJ4HN_TUxIdTJtjhO9-PE_a8xfdVidU4ovbexztuWrB51cWBqbIxX6MikLfYo0Fq9duJzbJ0qAo3zsQB5p76YP99yPEA/s1600/fruit1.jpg) |
The end result |
I surprised myself that I could make fruit leather so easily and in so little time. Maybe I will be toting a lot less weight this summer on one of my bike camping trips.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8H15kC68fPsOaO2XUKbPy6Jw9IYcwuOMfBkYy3aOsAOWh8UEHAFJz-6EHRs0JI37WN_BMHl0s6FDCqdVmWQxr4RUtxRQ8FwuBLYyOzAOCioy9xxFvmc0PyDSe0civG9L3UI4tB7uaVWIn/s320/P1060478.JPG) |
Look at all the crap |
While I will continue making dried foods (spaghetti sauce is next), I next want to try eliminating my three and a half pound tent using Ray Jardine's kit for a tarp that offers shelter for mere ounces!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGLCCUdFFmCzh0EiBhM3i5EYacPhCGSR6h94j1-BM9gVHTjyKd_g-rOVogkFaOiXiqWkTqVrAeh5oA8KBBCpBLaFBcf4OsWfauFhSYluUt7OHW2pdUXTG4-1ns5SKS6gYWhjT9sSwe_k/s320/tarp.jpg) |
Here it is |