I was talking with Elise a while ago and she suggested that I do more training and reviews on the THRIVE food line. She really liked the product review that we did during the last team training call. Here are my recommendations and usage suggestions for the fruits.
Things to know about Shelf Reliance Fruits:
- Fruits rehydrate well cold water or room temp water
- When re-hydrating delicate fruit there is no need to do not submerge, instead mist with water from a clean spray bottle and let sit.
- All Shelf Reliance Fruits are GMO free.
Fruit Description, recommendations, and re-hydration
Apple Chips – thin like potato chips, thinly slices no peel, great for tarts. Apple chips have a sweet apple taste and are best used for baking, but they do make a nice snack.
| Makes | Amount | Water | Instructions |
Apple Chips | 1 c. | 1 ½ c. | 1 ½ c. | Add boiling water and let set for 15 min. |
Apple Slices – organic, dehydrated slices with peel (which means more fiber), the slices are thicker than the apple chips. When re-hydrated they are brown. Best used for snacking but can be used for baking. Apple slices are made from Granny Smith Apples and are a little bit tart.
| Makes | Amount | Water | Instructions |
Apple Slices | 1 c. | 1 ½ c. | 1 ½ c. | Add boiling water and let set for 15 min. |
Freeze Dried Apricots -- small pieces, tangy and sweet, with a strong apricot taste.
| Makes | Amount | Water | Instructions |
Freeze Dried Apricots | 1 c. | 1 c. | 1 c. | Add apricots to cool water and allow to sit 7-10 minutes until soft. Drain. |
Banana Chips -- are dehydrated and fried in coconut oil. They are much like the banana chips found in trail mix.
Bananna Chip Re-hydration Instructions: Banana Chips do not re-hydrated and do not work for many recipes. The only one I have found that works if from Lindsey Mote, the author of the blog: http://whyjusteat.blogspot.com Smash them with a meat mallet or a rolling pin and make banana bread oatmeal packets. In a small baggie, put: 1/2c oats, 1/4c smashed banana chips, 1/2t ground cinnamon, 1T instant milk powder and 1T brown sugar. To cook, add 1c water and microwave for 3 minutes.
Freeze Dried Banana Slices are light, airy, with a clean banana taste. I always think that bananas have a weird aftertaste these banana slices do not. There is nothing added, no sugar, no preservatives. They are great in smoothies, perfect for babies and baby food.
| Makes | Amount | Water | Instructions |
Freeze Dried Bananas | 1 c. | 1 c. | 1 c. | Add FD bananas to cool water and allow to sit 7-10 minutes until soft. Drain. |
Freeze Dried Blackberries – gigantic! These blackberries, much like fresh, have a lot of seeds.
| Makes | Amount | Water | Instructions |
Freeze Dried Blackberries | 1 c. | 1 c. | 1 c. | Place FD blackberries on a plate. Spray with cool water until thoroughly damp. Let sit for 7-10 minutes until soft. Drain of any excess water. |
Freeze Dried Blueberries – rehydrate quickly, sweet, tangy.
| Makes | Amount | Water | Instructions |
Freeze Dried Blueberries | 1 c. | 1 c. | 1 c. | Add FD blueberries to hot water and allow to sit 7-10 minutes until soft. Drain. Alternatively, blueberries may be simmered on the stove to rehydrate. |
Freeze Dried Mandarin Oranges -- Look like Cheetos, very delicate, very tangy
- Only sold in #10 cans because they are so fragile
- My Favorite Recipe: Orange Creamsickle Smoothie:
Shared by Katy Whelan in the Consultant Discussion Forum
¾ cup Orange or vanilla yogurt bites
1 1/2 cups of mandarin orange slices
2 tbls of orange drink
ice
water
Add all ingredients to your blender and blend well. Serve immediately.
| Makes | Amount | Water | Instructions |
Freeze Dried Mandarin Oranges | 1 c. | 1 c. | 1 c. | Place FD Mandarin Oranges on a plate. Mist with cool water until thoroughly damp. Let sit for 7-10 minutes until soft. Drain of any excess water. |
Freeze Dried Mangos – My personal favorite! Medium sized pieces, tangy, sweet
| Makes | Amount | Water | Instructions |
Freeze Dried Mangos | 1 c. | 1 c. | 1 c. | Combine FD mangoes and water in a sauce pan, simmer uncovered for 5 minutes or until soft. Drain and rinse in cool water. Drain and pat dry.
Alternatively place Mangoes in hot water and allow to sit 10-12 minutes until soft. Drain. |
- Freeze Dried Peach Slices – white peaches, tart and sweet. The peaches are in big pieces maybe a quarter or an eighth of a peach. Very nice.
| Makes | Amount | Water | Instructions |
Freeze Dried Peaches | 1 c. | 1 c. | 1 c. | Combine FD peaches and water in a sauce pan, simmer uncovered for 5 minutes or until soft. Drain and rinse in cool water. Drain and pat dry.
Alternatively place peaches in hot water and allow to sit 10-12 minutes until soft. Drain. |
Freeze Dried Pears
- Tend to clump quickly but make great baby food!
- Delicious
| Makes | Amount | Water | Instructions |
Freeze Dried Pears | 1 c. | 1 c. | 1 c. | Add FD pears to cool water and allow to sit 7-10 minutes until soft. Drain. |
Pineapple
- dehydrated, like candied Christmas cakes, sugar added
- Heat extracted citric acid and sugar, needed to be added
- Texture changed dramatically
- Dehydrated Pineapple does not rehydrate well
Freeze Dried Pineapple Chunks
- light, airy, tangy, no sugar, salt, citric acid, or preservatives
- Best seller
- Use these 2 products as a contrasting example of dehydrated vs. freeze dried in a show
- My favorite Recipe: these are so good I seldom cook with them. I do really like to use the powder at the bottom of the can to make to make Pineapple Butter Cream Frosting, I also like Pineapple Ice Cream
| Makes | Amount | Water | Instructions |
Freeze Dried Pineapple | 1 c. | 1 c. | 1 c. | Add FD pineapple to cool water and allow to sit 7-10 minutes until soft. Drain. |
Freeze Dried Raspberries
- amazing color and flavor , a burst of raspberry flavor
| Makes | Amount | Water | Instructions |
Freeze Dried Raspberries | 1 c. | 1 c. | 1 c. | Place FD raspberries on a plate. Spray with cool water until thoroughly damp. Let sit for 7-10 minutes until soft. Drain of any excess water. |
Freeze Dried Strawberries
| Makes | Amount | Water | Instructions |
Freeze Dried Strawberries | 1 c. | 1 c. | 1 c. | Add FD strawberries to cool water and allow to sit 7-10 minutes until soft. Drain. do not allow FD strawberries to soak for an extended period of time. I find that if you let them sit they absorb too much water and turn to mush. |