Raised on Okanagan fruits and vegetables, Dave and Lillian Brummet love to share their passion for gardening, fresh produce and cooking. Today they will help us reduce food waste in our kitchen, expand our budget and make a difference for the planet.

Having a small dehydrator can prevent a great deal of food waste in the kitchen, and you’ll never have to leave out the folks offering your garden extras again. Plus, leftovers from meals can be easily dehydrated and used later for travel situations like backpacking or snowshoeing.

After dehydrating any vegetables, use a blender or grinder to create a fine powder and store in separate jars. Every year we dehydrate at least one jar of chopped sweet peppers, hot peppers, and ripe tomatoes. If any recipe calls for minced chilies or bell peppers, fresh or ‘sun dried’ tomatoes, we can easily substitute a dried version for them. We also have a jar of mixed vegetable powder; using a few teaspoons of this mixture in homemade broths for added flavor or to help thicken and enrich stews and soups. Simply reconstitute the powders by covering them with a little boiled water for a few minutes. (Reserving excess water to use as stock).

Adding tomato powder to hamburgers or meatballs makes for a completely different and delicious experience. It also works as a great thickener for sauces or tomato sauces that are a little too watery. Also, if necessary, 1/4 cup of reconstituted tomato powder can be used in place of a small can of tomato paste.

Try rehydrating a few tablespoons of the dry product with a small amount of water, making a paste to rub on chicken breasts or roasts before cooking. Alternatively, add a little to store-bought chicken coating mixes. In our latest release, a recipe collection of over 300 delicious and nutritious meals (From One Small Garden), we have a great recipe to make your own mix.

By cooking with fresh, locally sourced produce packed in nutrients, you can live a better life. The way we eat has an impact on our world – it affects the health of the earth, the purity of the water and air, and of course your own personal well-being. Burmmets From One Small Garden Cookbook encourages gardening and composting from over 300 amazing food recipes. This book shows the value of getting every bit of flavor and nutrition from your well-deserved edibles. So the next time you see a great deal during peak harvest season, or a neighbor threatens to give you another box of veggies, bring up the dehydrator and get it going!