Product Training: Shelf Reliance’s Fruits

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.   

• My favorite recipe:  Carmel  Apple Cookies   

	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.    

• My favorite recipe:  Blackberry Cinnamon Rolls with Pineapple Butter-cream frosting

	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.   

• My favorite recipe:  Blueberries and Cream Cookies

	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   

• My favorite recipe:  Mango  Shaved Ice

	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

• Sliced strawberries that are flavorful and slightly tart. 
• My favorite Recipe: Elise’s Birthday Cake:  Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Frosting.  

	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.