Nesco American Harvest FD-61 Care/Use Manual page 17

Sealing
It is extremely important to seal salt dough ornaments to prevent moisture from
reentering and causing mold and disintegration. There is a wide variety of final
coatings which can be used, but they should be transparent and non-penetrating so
surface of dough-art is strengthened with a hard protective coating. The best choice
is a polyurethane varnish. Be sure to remove ornaments from dehydrator and place
in a well ventilated area (preferably out-of-doors) before applying varnish. Carefully
place objects (on aluminum foil making sure that no foil covers the center hole or
outer ring vents) in dehydrator to dry.
CAUTION: Make sure your dehydrator is placed in a room with adequate ventilation
or an open window. Place ornaments in dehydrator. Most varnishes will dry in an
hour or so in dehydrator. Repeat varnishing process until a minimum of 4 complete
coats (both sides of object) have been applied, allowing ornament to dry thoroughly
between coats. Again, it is handy to use dehydrator for this process to speed drying
time.
Potpourri
Pick flowers when they are about three-quarters open – when they are fully open,
they lose fragrance. Gather about twice the amount you believe you'll need, since
they shrink as they dry. Remove petals from flower heads and pull herb leaves from
their stems. Spread in a single layer on a Clean-A-Screen
dehydrator.
Dry until brittle-dry, which may take from 2 to 12 hours, depending upon the plants,
the amount, and the model of dehydrator you are using.
Store different flowers and herbs separately in covered jars until you're ready to mix.
Keep in a cool place, out of direct sunlight. Experiment with different combinations,
mixing small quantities and recording the results until you come up with a blend that
you like.
To blend ingredients, measure and stir dried materials into a large bowl. When you
have the right blend of color and fragrance, add fixative, spices, and oil. Age in a
tightly sealed jar for 2 - 6 weeks, shaking occasionally to blend fragrances. Package
in smaller decorative containers or bags for gifts or personal use.
Sweet & Spice Potpourri
For a perfect holiday gift, place one cup of this recipe in a lace bag tied with a
colorful ribbon.
1 cup dried rose petals 1 Tbsp. whole cloves
1⁄4 cup dried lavender blossoms 1 stick cinnamon, crumbled
1⁄8 cup dried rosemary 1⁄3 tsp. ground cloves
1⁄8 cup dried chamomile 1⁄4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1⁄2 cup dried grated orange peel 2 drops rose oil
1 tsp. powdered orrisroot 1 drop orange oil
2 tsp. orange-spice tea 1 drop lavender oil
1 Tbsp. coriander seed 1⁄2 cup dried bachelor's button petals
In a large bowl, combine rose petals, lavender, rosemary, chamomile, and orange
peel. Add orrisroot, tea, and spices. Add oils, sprinkling lightly over mixture. Mix in
bachelor's button petals. Makes about 2 cups potpourri.
accessory and place in
®
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ACCESSORIES
To see our complete line of dehydrator accessories, please visit us at
www.nesco.com.
FRUIT ROLL SHEET
Great for making Fruit Rolls for the kids.
Exclusive "no spill" lip allows you to dry
liquids and semi liquids. Dry up to 3 cups of
pureed fruit on each sheet. Make fruit leather
with no added sugar or preservatives. It's as
easy as pouring applesauce on the Fruit Roll
Sheet. Also great to dry soups and sauces.
JERKY WORKS KIT AND
®
JERKY SPICE WORKS KIT
®
Make great tasting jerky at home. Easy and
Affordable. Many flavors available: Original,
Sweet Hardwood, Cajun, Cracked Pepper
& Garlic, Hot Stix, Pepperoni, Hot 'n' Spicy,
and Teriyaki.
CLEAN-A-SCREEN
®
Clean-a-Screen's are reusable, plastic mesh
inserts which are perfect for drying small
items, such as spices and herbs or craft
materials, that would normally fall through
the spokes of the trays. Just place on top of
trays. Flexible screens make drying sticky
foods like bananas and pineapple easier to
remove.
ADD-A-TRAY
®
The 2-pack Add-A-Tray Accessory Packs
®
enable you to expand your dehydrator to its
maximum capacity. With additional trays,
you can take advantage of food savings
during harvest time or dry your own garden
fruits and vegetables as they ripen
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