Dried Mixed Fruits And Nuts, Granola Bars And Food Dryers
By hereandthere
@hereandthere (45628)
Philippines
January 11, 2016 11:08pm CST
We were given a pack of dried mixed fruits and nuts. It contains dried sultanas, apricots, raisins, pineapples, cranberries, cashews, Brazil nuts, walnuts and almonds.
To be honest, I would rather receive nutritious goodies like these, over the usually salty, fatty and sweet imported snacks and desserts that people from abroad usually give.
Granola bars are snack foods we love receiving, too. The combination of grains, fruits, nuts, chocolate chips, honey and yogurt makes them tastier, chewier, and more filling than a bar of plain milk chocolate. I think granola is also called trail mix.
Do you like food gifts like dried fruits and nuts and granola bars?
Do you buy or make your own?
I remember @LadyDuck last year saying that she dries her own fruits using a fruit dryer. So today I looked it up and found out that food dryers or food dehydrators can preserve fruits, vegetables, herbs, seeds, edible mushrooms and lean meats.
I am again amazed at the variety of kitchen gadgets people can use in other countries.
Do you use one, too, or wish there were home food dryers or dehydrators in your country?
28 people like this
29 responses
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
12 Jan 16
you know what, i can't remember anymore which discussion it was, but you also attached a picture back then.
this could be a great topic for you to write, like tell us how you use it, how long it takes, etc.
in the company website that i saw, they even have instructions on how to prepare and pretreat the food, recipes and how to prevent spoilage and molds.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502957)
• Italy
12 Jan 16
@hereandthere Not all the brands have the same instructions, so I would post something that is only good for the one I use (that is Swiss made). Anyway, it takes a lot of hours to dry the fruits, for some fruits you need from 14 to 18 hours.
4 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
12 Jan 16
i wouldn't have known food dryers and dehydrators existed if ladyduck didn't mention it in discussion we were participating in last year.
2 people like this
@owstalaga (4825)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
Me too! I prefer that kind of food. If only it weren't too expensive I'd eat it everyday! Healthy food are always expensive imho unless you can make them yourself right? 
I don't think I'd go the drying route though. I'm actually into kimchi now. Haha~ made my own kimchi by the way and I'm still waiting on the 1 week to be over so I can start eating some! So exciting. 
I don't think I'd go the drying route though. I'm actually into kimchi now. Haha~ made my own kimchi by the way and I'm still waiting on the 1 week to be over so I can start eating some! So exciting. 1 person likes this
@owstalaga (4825)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
@hereandthere Oh I love cauliflowers too! Too bad they are a bit pricey indeed so I seldom buy them.
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
@owstalaga sad but true. we still buy bell pepper, cauliflower and broccoli even if they're expensive because we believe they're nutritious.
my niece has been making kimchi, too.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
13 Jan 16
I prefer to buy them as it is so easy where we live.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
14 Jan 16
we don't have them in the philippines so i wish people who come home or visit from abroad would give them as homecoming gifts instead of the usual/expected chocolates.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
12 Jan 16
i mix dried fruits and nuts in oatmeal to make it chewy and crunchy. i sprinkle raisins on peanut butter sandwiches. dried cranberries in pancake batter gives it a tart flavor.
3 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Jan 16
I love my dehydrator, I also make my own jerky
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
12 Jan 16
you have one too? what meat do you use to make jerky? i guess you season it first. how many hours does it take?
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Jan 16
@hereandthere thin sliced lean beef, I marinate it using Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, black pepper, onion powder, liquid smoke and red pepper flakes. Then it dries in the dehydrator 4 hours give or take
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
2 Apr 16
maybe it was "invented" in places where they don't enjoy year-round sunlight so that fruits in season can be preserved for later use because they have 4 seasons?
i think in sunny places like ours, it's more industrial size for mass production by suppliers, retailers, exporters?
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
15 Jan 16
@simone10 because those are the nuts i really like - cashews, Brazil nuts, walnuts and almonds. of those four nuts, we only have cashews here and they're expensive.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
12 Jan 16
the first time i saw granola bars, i knew i would like them. it's easy to pack in your bag as a quick and non-messy snack.
@ria1606roy (2797)
• Kolkata, India
12 Jan 16
The dried fruit gifts are among the best food gifts there are. Are you going to buy one? I think fruit driers are available here too, but very few people use that.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
13 Jan 16
i promise i will not get tried receiving a pack of mixed dried fruits and nuts and granola as homecoming gifts every time, all the time! 
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
15 Jan 16
i haven't tasted deer yet. i guess it's called venison?
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
12 Jan 16
I recall when I was in Q8. there was an energy bar with granola and other nuts. I think there is also Quaker breakfast bar like this.
1 person likes this
@Namelesss (3364)
• United States
12 Jan 16
I don't have a dehydrator but there are lots of ways to dehydrate fruits, nuts and meat without one. Look up DIY ways to dehydrate food. Your oven and even a box fan can be used if you want to give it a try.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
12 Jan 16
i've seen and saved some recipes for homemade granola from the internet
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11337)
• Australia
26 Mar 16
I try to avoid some dried fruits because of the sulphite content.. I love eating raw nuts though ..
