Dried Herbs

With winter fast approaching, my dried herb supplies required a much-needed restock. This morning, as my dehydrator was busy with a small batch of tomato powder, I took the opportunity to make the most of the empty space and added some herbs.

I started with two layers of bay leaves from my tree, which is about to flower, and topped the final layer with parsley.

The bay leaves will be more than enough for the year, though I'll be preparing another batch to share with friends. As for parsley, I'll need to dry a few more loads to replenish my annual supply and prepare some jars for gifting.

The parsley dried quickly, taking just four hours before it was ready to pack, while the bay leaves needed an extra two hours before being packed away.

I love the way the herbs maintain their colour and do not turn brown like most of the store-bought ones.

Over the coming week, I plan to dry my basil, thyme, oregano and rosemary. Once I’ve stocked up on all my herbs, I’ll use some of them to create herb blends and herb salts. These ready to use products are perfect for enhancing all your winter dishes.