I have had the 5 shelf Excalibur for over 20 years. I tried one of those round types when I picked up a brand new one, still in box at the SalVal for 5.00. To compare the 2 is like comparing apples to oranges. It depends on what you will be using the dehydrator for. I use the Excalibur for drying crafts as well as foods, so I need one that has the features the Excalibur offers. Such as yesterday, I made soap and dried the bars in the dehydrator. With the Excalibur you can use all the trays , some trays or remove them all for taller applications like raising bread or making yogurt and you cannot do that in round models, or at least the one I picked up cheap. If a part gets broken I can order replacements and the cheaper ones don't have a 10 year warranty. I saw on the Excalibur site the Economy 4 tray is one sale and lower priced than the Nesco Pro right now. I found that in the round types ones the food trays lower dried faster and you were constantly moving tray for even drying, you don't need to do that in the Excalibur. Dehydrated green beans with ham and potatoes is awesome. Dried strawberries are intense, and I always make a big batch of dried soup veggies , as those mixes are so pricy to buy. Both manufacturers have recipes/ideas on their websites, maybe those can help you decide.

You know I haden't actually eaten the shrimp yet last night ...I had only peeled and chopped them (I was making a tex-mex fajita recipe), anyhow I recall I felt a little odd....kinda like an overall weak feeling like my bloodsugar may have dropped. Again all of this was very mild but noticable. I didn't eat much of the shrimp and I drank a lot of water with dinner so about a half and hour later I felt better. Well I guess I am just going to have to go see Dr Lou...poor me LOL-did I mention he is hot?? I do have a small bag of frozen scallops in the freezer that I was planning on making this week...I better not. Thanks guys! No shrimp till I get some answers!! Cheers! Susie

Here's another vote for the simpler layering technique. Not only is it easier to make, it's also easier to serve, and the taste is just the same. I know you said you changed your mind about doing Mexican, but here's a couple of recipes for next time. BTW, I know it's not traditional, but we like our enchiladas (rolled or layered) made with flour instead of corn tortillas. And they're soft enough you don't have to dip them in anything before you roll, if you decide to go that route. * Exported from MasterCook * Spanish Rice Recipe By :Annabelle Welliver Serving Size : 6 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Tested and Approved Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1 cup white rice 8 ounces tomato sauce 8 ounces water 1 small onion -- chopped 1 small can chopped green chiles 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2 tablespoons oil Saute rice and onion in oil until rice is opaque and onion is tender. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 25-30 mintues, or until tender. Stir before serving. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * Exported from MasterCook * Enchilada Sauce Recipe By : Serving Size : 1 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 8 ounces tomato sauce 1 1/2 cups water 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder 1/4 teaspoon onion powder 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt Combine all ingredients in saucepan, mixing well. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened. Makes 2 ½ cups - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The biggest issue is that it is dry. Cats don't drink much; in the wild they get their water requirements from tasty rodents and such which are about 75% water. Cats who eat only dry food rarely make up that lost water by drinking, and their kidneys suffer in the long run. Also as lfnyc mentioned, it is easier for pet food manufacturers to throw in a whole bunch of corn, soy, and other vegetable based items into dry food than into wet food. Cats can ONLY digest animal protein, they are True Carnivores. So the higher the meat content (note I said MEAT content, not PROTEIN content; soy based protein is useless to a cat) the more evolutionarily correct the diet. Most canned foods have more meat than dry foods, once you account for the water in the canned food. You want your cat to eat the closest thing to ground up critter as you can give to him. This is how cats were made to eat, and feeding them grains and veggies does them absolutely no good and may even harm them, causing metabolic problems.