Fall sunrise over the sheep lotLordy, Lordy, I guess I'm finally 40.... but that's okay, especially when you have a little Birthday money burning a hole in your pocket.... *squeal*
My first purchase was-
the Pioneer Woman's new cookbook!
It has some wonderful recipes in it, including some I've never seen on her blog, and of course lots and lots of her beautiful photographs. I even caught hubby looking through it the other night... the pictures of their ranch and all the gorgeous horses just amazed him. So I guess it's a good book for girls or guys!My other purchase was something I have wanted for a LONG time-
a food dehydrator!
We went to the Bass Pro Shop in Sevierville, TN and found this one- I paid a little more for it than I had planned on, but hopefully this one will last me a long time. By the way, have you ever been inside one of those places? I know I'm a country bumpkin, but I'm in awe of that place every time we go. You can easily spot me in there- I'll be the one standing in the entrance with my mouth open.
In fact, here is a picture I took as we walked in....
I was so amazed, I forgot to take anymore pictures.Anyway, back to the dehydrator....
Hubby loves jerky, so I tried it out by making him a batch of spicy deer jerky....
I've also been drying lots of apples with it- I've had this little contraption for years and it makes peeling and coring lots of apples at one time a snap! I would have never been able to cut up that many without it.
It even cuts them into thin slices which makes drying a lot faster.
I have lots of recipes in mind for these apples, but if I don't keep my hand out of the bag, I won't have any left.
The book that came with my dehydrator had lots of wonderful recipes and ideas, even for crafts like drying flowers and modeling dough! I would love to hear from you- do you have a dehydrator and if you do, what do you use yours for?
40 isn't so bad, now is it? Been there and done that! :) Happy Belated Birthday, Paula!
ReplyDeleteThose yummy apple slices make my mouth water...they look so good!
Those apples look just so stinkin yummy! I have a dehydrator but don't use it but to do jerky. But reading and seeing your yummy apple chips, I think I MAY... I love the picture of the sunrise!! WOW
ReplyDeleteThat big store reminds me of our Cabelos stores. The dried foods are a fun to do thing aren't they? I have dries all kinds of fruits...it made me a bit nervous to leave it on for 2-3 days...small appliances..I don't know~ It never did enough for my family (8 kids) so I finally gave mine away. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you...40..I loved that birthday..I felt so liberated or something! :D
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! I'm several years past that one! I have my Mom's food dehydrator. It has been awhile snce I used it. You'll have to share good recipes and suggestions that you discover.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Lorilee
Paula, I don't know how I missed your last post, but happy belated birthday! Looks like you got some goodies with your birthday money. I used to dehydrate a lot of stuff when all the kids were home. We made apple and banana chips. I also used to dry stuff to add to soups/stews (onions, carrots, celery, peppers). I then bagged them together for the next time I made soup or stew. Dried apples make great pies. If I remember right, you use a lot less sugar with them. Have fun reading and playing with your new goodies. Winona
ReplyDeleteI love your apple peeler/corer/slicer. How cool! And no, I have never de-hydrated anything; I'm just learning how to can stuff and I'm 50. So maybe at 60 I'll start de-hydrating :).
ReplyDeleteWhat a great purchase you made.
ReplyDeleteI do not have one, but my brother does and he makes his jerky out of buffalo.
It is just super.
Happy 40th (you are still just a kid)lol.
thanks for sharing.
Those apples look DELICIOUS as well as the cookbook. I might have to keep an eye out for one as I will have a little birthday money soon as well. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWow, birthday money well spent! I too am amazed when in the Nashville Bass Pro - how do guy ever leave? Last time I was there I looked at that very dehydrator so I'm glad you've got it and love it. I've also been looking at the apple peeler you have and want one of those too!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, wonderful sunrise pic.
Hello sweetie! And happy birthday!! You're photo is so beautiful-the top one...
ReplyDeleteI've wanted one of those dehydrators for ages. You've put 2 bees in my bonnet-one of those apple peelers and a dehydrator. Now how about one of those vacuum sealers to keep everything perfectly sealed? The list goes on and on, huh?!
Love, Debra
I must be the only person who had not heard of the Pioneer Woman! I visited two blogs yesterday in Arkansas where Ree had been at Wal Mart for a book signing and they were delighted! Don't know where I've been!!! The book looks awesome - I know you'll both enjoy it. I've been a Bass Pro Shop once & I was amazed at all they have. Love your new dehydrator - I've always wanted one. I remember grandma drying apple slices on screens in the back yard. How I loved her fried apple pies! My hubby would love your jerky! So nice to hear from you and see what that birthday cash is being used for - I hope you'll share lots from the book and ideas of things to do with the dehydrator. Have a good night.
ReplyDeleteYou got some awesome presents with your birthday money! I love going to Bass Pro, only we don't live close to one anymore. When we did, my hubby wanted to go there all the time.
ReplyDeleteI used to have a dehydrator - bought it brand new in the box at a yard sale for like $3 or something. I used it a lot, then we moved and somehow it didn't make the move with us. Of course it was a while before I realized it and by then it was too late to worry about it.
ReplyDeleteBass Pro has a huge store in Duluth, GA and it's so much fun to visit! Bet you had fun on that trip!
Oh, and I LOVE dried apples, just be careful, they work like Liquid Plumber only better; if you know what I mean! :o}
Blessings, Becky
Herbs and jerky. Sometimes apples and orange slices to use for crafts. I love my dehydrator!
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Happy Birthday Paula! I love using a dehydrator. I used to make my children fruit roll ups. They loved them. Also dried banana chips are wonderful! You will find so many wonderful things to do with it. The cookbook will also be a wonderful thing! Blessings,Kathleen
ReplyDeleteHappy Fortieth, honey! You'll be okay, LOL!
ReplyDeleteThat cookbook looks good! You got yourself some nice gifties there!
Happy birthday, only 40 years old and so young.
ReplyDeleteI do have a dehydrator and I usually dry herbs in it. I did dry fruit one year but was not happy with the results, completely my fault...I might try that again next year though.
Looks like you did a great job with your birthday money! I keep seeing that cookbook and I think I am going to HAVE to get it! I have never had a dehydrator but those apple chips you made look delicious!!! Hope you have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Paula! You're just a baby, girl. Just coming into your own. (or so they say)
ReplyDeleteLove me some Bass Pro Shop, too! No, I don't have a dehydrator, but I think it would be really handy - especially for jerky. Is your apple corer/peeler Pampered Chef?
Well Happy Birthday to you!! Enjoy your gifties!
ReplyDeleteI have that same exact apple peeler, slicer, corer apparatus and love it big time! Congrats on the nifty purchase - wise choice! Around here lots of people make turkey jerky - really tasty with a teriyaki spicy tang on 'em.
ReplyDeleteYou picked some great birthday gifts!
ReplyDeleteI love the apple peeler. I need one of those things.
I have a dehydrator. I need to get it out now to dry some of these hot peppers that are still producing.
Love the sunrise picture. It is beautiful.
Have a great weekend.
Pam
I had a dehydrater years ago and used to make jerky. I think it got lost in the move.
ReplyDeleteI love going into Bass Pro everytime I go to Vegas. They have some neat things. I think the apples would be so good to dehydrate. I love that peeler thing you have.
so those apple thingamajigs really work? The little slices are plumb beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI'd heard that cookbook was terrific..what are you gonna try first?!!
Oh, Miss Paula....
ReplyDeleteI tried and tried to leave you a comment on your birthday post, but Blogger would NOT let me! I'm sure that I said something silly and forgetful, but I know that I wished you a most Happy 40th Birthday!!!
I would love to have a dehydrator, too! I think they're so neat and my hubby would love some deer jerky! You do know that you're gonna have to post your recipe, now, don't you?!?!?
Bass Pro always leaves me in awe! I even take pictures of the bathroom and have you seen the dressing rooms???? We love that place! Yeah, people can tell we're easily amused and look at us like we're crazy - but how can you NOT think it's gorgeous in there?!?!?
It's beyond me, I tell you!
Blessings,
Julie
Looks like you spent your money well : )
ReplyDeleteWow, you've made some great purchases! I imagine that the pioneer woman's cook book is fantastic! I love all of her recipes that I've tried.
ReplyDeleteI like your food dehydrator~mine is a little different than yours. I love the bass pro shops, too! They are really amazing places to go!
That Bass Pro Shop looks an awfully lot like a Cabela's. Are they the same thing?
ReplyDeleteI do have a food dehydrater but don't use it very often. I forget all about it actually. I have used it for jerky, dried apples and banana's and that's about it. Thanks for the reminder. I should get it out!
Paula...Hello...where are you? You are the WINNER of my blog GIVE A WAY...email me your address so I can get this into the mail for you as soon as possible! Congratulations :D
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect purchase! Yes, we do have a dehydrator and use it often. I dry everything and anything..even flowers. You'll have fun experimenting!
ReplyDeleteI do have a problem with fruit leather. Sometimes it just doesn't want to put off the plastic tray. I don't know if a little oil would help...seems like it would.
Happy Late Birthday!!! I have the same peeler! I love it!hughugs
ReplyDeleteHey, I've been there! I usually stop here on my way to my daughter for a rest and cuppa Starbux.
ReplyDeleteMy dh makes jerky too. Venison mostly. I've dried apples also. I don't know about those apple peeler things. Looks to me like it cuts a bit of the apple away with the peeling. lol! My mom would fuss if we cut away too much with the peeling, so I always made it a personla challenge to cut as little off as possible. Hoep you had a good birthday.
You're a smart woman; those are wise choices.
ReplyDeleteYou and my mother share a birth date but she's a bit older -smile-.
Happy Belated Birthday! May you enjoy many, many more.
Happy Belated Birthday :)
ReplyDeleteI love your new dehydrator!! I want a new one with the settings on it mine only has the on and off button so you can't control the settings. I've had it for years and years and years! The kids are like little scavenagers when there is beef jerky. I love doing onions and garlic. I'm weird I love the smell of them dehydrating.
I'm going to have to look around for an apple contraption like that. So Cool!
Take Care :)
Well happy belated birthday to you!!! So sorry i'm late with my greeting!!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE your birthday purchases! Dehydrators are wonderful!
I've been 40 myself...for three years now in fact...it's growing on me :)
DOreen
Oh, Paula, I hope you make some fried apple pies. Wonderful to eat a warm fried apple pie and have a tall glass of ice cold milk. Yum!
ReplyDeleteOh, Hon, those apples look so good! And that peeler looks to be a very handy tool indeed. Slices too? That is awesome.
ReplyDeleteIf you're a country bumpkin, I'm a river rat.....for real! And 40? That is a minor bump in the road. You are so beautiful-inside and out. Age is irrelevant. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and know I will be thinking of you. Big HUGS((()))!
Happy belated birthday to you Ms. Paula!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
~Ann
We dry what seems like a ton of Roma tomatoes. I did some apples this year but waited too long and they often didn't come out of the apple peeler in one piece like yours did.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand your love for the Bass Pro Shop. I love the Cabela's Stores. It's beyond imagination everything that can be found there, and there are kennels for your dogs, corral's for the horses, and the kids love it too.
ReplyDelete**Happy Birthday!! Welcome to the club, we've been waiting for you.** :)
~Jil~