It was one of those pleasantly lazy indoor days yesterday. Chilly, damp, and with a steady drizzle beating down from gray skies, even our cats stayed inside.
Sky Wolfe can't help but yawn as I snap his picture. Ducky could care less what I do!
I started a fire in the wood stove, not really because it was that cold, but more to get the damp out of the air (and because I have been looking forward to evenings around a blazing fire for quite some time now!).
I brewed a couple of cups of Tazo chamomile tea, and spent the majority of the day working indoors...
Look at that yummy cup of tea!
Rainy days are also good for dehydrating veggies. We made a ton of "sun-dried tomatoes" by slicing our cherry tomatoes in half, and dehydrating them at about 135 degrees F over night. They are then perfect for making sun-dried tomatoes in oil: rehydrate by soaking in boiling water for a few minutes, put in a jar and cover with olive oil, and add some fresh chopped garlic and dried basil... and presto! One of the most delicious snacks you will ever enjoy! (Great as a topper on crusty Italian bread!)
Making sun-dried tomatoes- yum!
We are also drying our cayenne and habanero peppers in the dehydrator. After cutting the tops and tips off, and slicing open for quicker drying, they, too, stay all night in the dehydrator. Of course there is a more energy-efficient method- real sun-drying- but these days in Michigan, we don't have consistently hot and dry days to get the job done right. Maybe next year I'll try...
Our peppers before drying.
Here's to a cup of steaming tea, a toasty fire, a lazy nap, and other small pleasures that help us forget the world's turmoil for a few peaceful moments....
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