Okay, I have found a new love.

SUN DRIED TOMATOES. No oil by the way. They were just in the package and I took them home, opened the package and put them in my salad and had a good time.

Then today I went back to the store and while I was holding the package, I remembered to ask the guy behind the counter, 'I don't have to put these in any kind of oil, do I?" "I can just eat this out of the package, right, because that is what I've been doing".

He looked at me like I lost my mind and he said "Aren't you dehydrating them first"? And I said 'why, these are good right out of the package".

He said "No, they are too tough, you have to put them in a bowl of water, covering them for up to 3 hours, then drain them well, THEN YOU CAN EAT THEM.

I can do this, that's not in question.

What I want to know is AFTER I DEHYDRATE THEM, and I drain them, and I dry them and they are then soft and plump, THEN WHAT DO I DO WITH THEM.

I have a lot and I want to refrigerate them (afer rehydrating them), and I went on the internet but all I could find is how to make them, how to dry them, but not what to do with them, AFTER YOU REHYDRATE THEM, and you don't want to store them in any oil.

I don't want oil to be a process in the storage of them.

So if any of you sun dried tomato people out there can give me some tips, I'd appreciate it.

Melody