Enoki Dehydration Day

 

Song:  Marriage d'Amore

Original Composer:  Chopin

Today was sunny...

and as we are in a cold spell of subfreezing and below zero weather...

I took advantage of the sunny but freezing day 

to go to Colorado Springs to shop at the Asian market...

and then to stop off at Woodland Park on my way home to shop at Walmart...

and to get a car wash.

Most of the roads just have compacted snow powder...

and not ice.

That is what is good about constant sub freezing weather...

the snow never melts...

and so...

no ice forms

(at least up at my altitude).

So...

I decided to go shopping for my dehydration projects.

After getting down my mountain...

I stopped at the mountain estates community center to get this photo.

The snow and shadows made the mountainside near the community center stand out...

and I thought it looked nice.

I continued on.

People of this area know how to drive with snow on the road.

Everyone drove more slowly...

and kept a good following distance from each other.

I drove through Woodland Park on my way to Colorado Springs...

but I would stop in at Woodland Park on my way back.

I love this market.

I can get most all of my Asian food needs from this one stop.

I went for only three items today...

Enoki, Shiitake, and Japanese Sweet Potatoes.

On my way to Woodland Park...

passing cars kicked up a slushy mix from the road...

and my windshield washing fluid was frozen...

and so...

I had to wait until after Walmart before I got the car washed.

On my way home after shopping at Walmart and getting a car wash in Woodland Park.

I only got three types of items from Walmart...

Meat, Frozen Fruit, and a Rotisserie chicken.

This deer walked across the road in front of me...

and then scampered up the mountainside.

I am on my way up my mountainside towards home.

With no ice...

but just compacted snow...

there was plenty of traction.

Another deer was out and about.

Home was just ahead.

I parked in the upper driveway to transfer the groceries to the kitchen.

I used my medium wheeled cooler to do so...

still...

it took three full trips.

I bought 50 Enoki mushroom packets...

3 bags of Japanese sweet potatoes...

and 7 packets of dehydrated Shiitake mushrooms from the Asian market.

I bought a lot of bags of varied frozen fruit to include with my homemade yogurt...

and the sweet potatoes I will cook and then dehydrate...

after the Enoki mushrooms are done dehydrating.

I had bought 50 Enoki mushroom packets to dehydrate.

I had bought plenty of frozen fruit to put into my homemade yogurt.

It is a lot less of a hassle than slicing and dehydrating tons of fruit.

I usually only eat red meat occasionally

(and so my strong cravings for a good burger or taco every so often).

I will make roast beef to include it in many meals afterwards

(I will freeze them until I cook a roast).

This is my medium wheeled cooler.

I had to fill it and transport the load three times from the upper driveway...

before I was done.

I put on some music and got to trimming the Enoki mushrooms.

It is important to do this as it is impossible to thoroughly clean the mushrooms 

without doing so.

I had a 12 and a 24 quart stock pot to hold the trimmed Enoki.

I set up a washing station for the Enoki.

I would take the Enoki bunches from the large container and separate the bundles

into individual stalks and wash them in a bath in the second container.

I would then place them into the third container (strainer)...

where I would run them under a shower of fresh water to ensure they were 

thoroughly clean.

I would then allow them to drip dry in the strainer...

and I would place them into the last container.

Once the last container was full...

I would take it down to the dehydrator in the garage.

It would take me three full trips...

and the dehydrator had just enough room.

I had guessed the number of packets of Enoki to buy...

and it was right on the money.

After loading the last batch...

I took it down to the dehydrator and turned it on.

It runs on a 24 hour cycle...

so...

once a day...

I will reset the timer on it.

More than likely...

I will run it continuously for a week to ensure the mushrooms 

are thoroughly dried out.

I will then bag them up for later use...

along with the dehydrated Shiitake and green onions...

in my ramen and udon over the next year or so.

The dehydrator gently doing its work on a full load.

That is why I got a very large dehydrator.

This way...

I can just do one shopping trip and one dehydration cycle...

and I will have a year's worth of a particular dehydrated veggie.

In my ramen or udon...

I use a lot of mushrooms...

besides to greatly add flavor...

but to make them as a meat substitute...

that along with eggs.

I finished up just as the sun was setting.

So...

I opened up the third floor deck door in the loft...

and enjoyed the view.

After the Enoki is done...

I will bake all of the Japanese sweet potatoes...

 slice them up thinly...

and then dehydrate them for meal side dishes or for a healthful snack.

I love eating...

but having to cook each meal...

and making frequent shopping runs...

 quickly becomes mind numbingly boring.

Solution...

dehydration and batch cooking.

That is why I am gathering all of the necessary ingredients

for a year's worth of quick...

but nutritious and delicious meals.

Mushrooms are very healthful...

and they are delicious.

Soon...

I will be able to include them in my noodles...

or I will rehydrate and then butter sauté them with 

some sliced fermented honey garlic...

and then serve them as a side dish.