Posts tagged dried fruit
tips & tricks: dried citrus

if you ask me, most of us could really use a few extra hours in the day. i know i sure could. my house would be cleaner, the dark circles under my eyes would be much reduced and i would likely spend even more time in the kitchen. 

unfortunately, that is a pipe dream. we are stuck with our measly twenty-four/seven to get everything we need done. and if you cook regularly or entertain, you know it is always a mad scramble to get things done, served and looking pretty. 

so for todays tips & tricks, i'm showing you one of my go to make in advance styling and flavor helpers. from start to finish, drying citrus takes an hour with approximately 2 minutes of active time. you can get these bad boys going and use the rest of your hour for whatever time consuming activities you have on your plate. 

when i have a few minutes to spare and i know i will be at home, i make a point to dry whatever citrus i have on hand. and what do you use it for you may ask? i use them as garnish for savory dishes, decor for cakes and they are amazing chopped up in a sauce when you do not have citrus on hand. not to mention, they store well. you can keep them in something airtight for up to six months. 

dried citrus
serves: 10-15 wheels (depending on how large your citrus is)
prep time: 2 minutes
active time 1 hour (add about 20 minutes for larger fruits like grapefruit and oranges)
total time: 1 hour 5 minutes ingredients: 1 citrus of your choice (limes, lemons, grapefruit, oranges, kumquats, get creative!). sharp knife. baking sheet. parchment paper or silicon mat. oven. 

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start by preheating your oven to 200 degrees f. line your baking sheet with the parchment or silicon mat. slice the citrus THIN. as thin as you can based on your skills (thicker fruit will take longer to dry out). 

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lay the fruit in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. dry in the oven for 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes for larger fruit, flipping the fruit over halfway through. 

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when the fruit is dried, remove from the oven and allow it to cool till you can handle them. 

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use as you desire, but if you are storing them, allow them to cool completely before packing them into an airtight container. 

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use or store for up to 6 months. 

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xo, a

dried citrus
serves: 10-15 wheels (depending on how large your citrus is)
prep time: 2 minutes
active time 1 hour (add about 20 minutes for larger fruits like grapefruit and oranges)
total time: 1 hour 5 minutes ingredients: 1 citrus of your choice (limes, lemons, grapefruit, oranges, kumquats, get creative!). sharp knife. baking sheet. parchment paper or silicon mat. oven.
start by preheating your oven to 200 degrees f. line your baking sheet with the parchment or silicon mat. slice the citrus THIN. as thin as you can based on your skills (thicker fruit will take longer to dry out). lay the fruit in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. dry in the oven for 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes for larger fruit, flipping the fruit over halfway through. when the fruit is dried, remove from the oven and allow it to cool till you can handle them. use as you desire, but if you are storing them, allow them to cool completely before packing them into an airtight container. use or store for up to 6 months. 

tips & tricks: pineapple flowers

food has become an art. it is no longer just about fueling your body. good food is now defined not only by how it tastes, but by how it looks and pleases the senses. which is great for me, because i love to play with my food. 

but let's be real. most of us don't have enough hours in the day to squeeze in a workout, regular errands or even a shower, let alone "style" our dinner. just EATING dinner is a win on some days. 

however, it is really nice sometimes after a long day to indulge in something that feels a little special. so, when i have an hour or two at my home on the weekends and nothing much to do, i'll make some pineapple flowers or dried citrus wheels to keep on hand for when i need a pick me up. they are CRAZY EASY to make, they keep for six months in an airtight container and they are the perfect addition to a sad or boring plate or cocktail. 

pineapple flowers
makes: 10-20 flowers (depending on a mini pineapple vs regular size)
prep time: 10 minutes
bake time: 1 hour
active time: 10 minutes
total time: 1 hour 20 minutes
ingredients: mini or full sized pineapple. mandolin or very sharp knife. silicone baking mat or parchment paper. baking sheet. 

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start by preheating your oven to 225 f. line your baking sheet with your parchment or silicone mat. remove the top, bottom and all the skin of the pineapple. 

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slice the pineapple very thin. one eighth of an inch or thinner. BE CAREFUL! 

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place the pineapple on the baking sheet. bake the pineapple for 25 minutes a side (flipping them halfway through. bake for 20 minutes each side if you are using the mini pineapple. 

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when the pineapple is dried, remove it from the oven. now you can leave the flowers flat, or while they are still warm, you can use your fingers to press the sides of the pineapple up to make more of a flower shape. 

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allow the pineapple to cool completely. use or store in an airtight container in a pantry or cupboard for up to six months. 

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use as desired. 

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xo, a

pineapple flowers
makes: 10-20 flowers (depending on a mini pineapple vs regular size)
prep time: 10 minutes
bake time: 1 hour
active time: 10 minutes
total time: 1 hour 20 minutes
ingredients: mini or full sized pineapple. mandolin or very sharp knife. silicone baking mat or parchment paper. baking sheet.
tart by preheating your oven to 225 f. line your baking sheet with your parchment or silicone mat. remove the top, bottom and all the skin of the pineapple. slice the pineapple very thin. one eighth of an inch or thinner. BE CAREFUL! place the pineapple on the baking sheet. bake the pineapple for 25 minutes a side (flipping them halfway through. bake for 20 minutes each side if you are using the mini pineapple. when the pineapple is dried, remove it from the oven. now you can leave the flowers flat, or while they are still warm, you can use your fingers to press the sides of the pineapple up to make more of a flower shape. allow the pineapple to cool completely. use or store in an airtight container in a pantry or cupboard for up to six months. use as desired.