In the case that you would genuinely like to know how to dehydrate strawberries, I’ll tell you. Although this is a bit more of a “life” post. It just so happens that strawberries are bringing a few thoughts to mind, and when food comes to a conclusion, I feel I should let it speak.
Jordan and I were taking a behind the scenes look at an all time favorite film of ours today, and we were both swept into the deep friendship, commitment, and joyful exhaustion that rang very evidently throughout the process of the film. I believe it to be human nature that we are drawn by a desire to be part of something beautiful, not necessarily in magnitude but in experience. The experience that each cast member, production worker, makeup artist, and countless others involved noted simultaneously as coming at a great cost, but ushered in moments and friendships not soon forgotten. They were changed by their experiences together, and there experience just so happened to contribute to one of the most highly acclaimed films of all time.
Though here I find myself, sitting in a basement – as that is where my husband and I live these days – feeling sparse in relationships, ill effective in purpose, and lonely in time spent. Having lived mostly on the road this past year, I still sit humbly in awe of our adventures and remain immensely grateful for the resulting strength of our marriage. Though I knew the road was fleeting, so also became every city we visited and every conversation we engaged. At the end of each series of weeks spent on the road we had a place which we could return, but a temporary place. All the more so now, as we tackle what life will look like post-tourcation. The future is in question. Motive is [at times] in desperation. Life is… on hold.
So strawberries. Right. Did you know it takes anywhere from 4-8 hours to dehydrate strawberries? (I can’t say for sure as they’re not done yet.) Time. It’s an essential part of the process to turn this already yummy lot of fruity goodness into, well, an equally as yummy lot of fruity goodness – just, changed. This bright red, extra plump, juicy delicacy will still be a strawberry in eight hours time, except the red will be a bit deeper, the plump will be perfectly thin, and the juicy will be marvelously chewy. In our attempts to be a part of life’s most winsome moments, we look at the now and find it needs changing. Although rather than committing to the time and sacrifice needed to breach the change, we grow discouraged in our not simply being there. Like a strawberry – if strawberries really did have something to say – who wants to be the sweet morsel in a batch of crunchy granola but refuses to spend several hours in a confined contraption that heats to 135 degrees so as to suck the juice out.
It’s easy to look towards the future and see the change we desire or the goals we hope to reach. More time spent in conversation. A stronger relationship with a mother or a child. Less time wasted and more Pinterest projects tackled. Debt dwindled down alongside a growing, albeit costly, hobby. The question cannot end with where you hope to be, but how you plan on getting there. Will you throw yourself in the dehydrator to make it happen? Initiate the phone call? Swallow some pride? Prioritize your time? Forfeit the daily coffee shop latte? Sure it’s a driving work ethic, a poignant set of goals, and a splash of creativity, but what is really required of change? Character; and how you find yourself living in the moments that are inevitably leading you into the next adventure.
So. This is how you dehydrate strawberries. (I promised I would share.) Slice them into 1/4″ thick pieces, lay them on your dehydrator tray without overlapping, and set your temperature gage to 135F. They should be ready in 8 hours… hopefully. Or, if you are without a dehydrator, you can oven dry them! I like to layer the cut strawberries on my perforated pizza pan for better airflow. Or you can line a baking sheet with parchment paper which will help keep your berries from sticking. Set your oven to 180F (or as low as your oven will go) and check back in about 4 hours although you might be looking at leaving them in there a couple more hours depending on how dry you want them. Although once you do take the berries out, be sure to let those wonderfully shriveled candies cool before storing them in an airtight jar or container. If condensation has formed inside the jar, they aren’t cool yet! Remember, it takes time.
