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Our kids loved Fruit Leathers. Fruit leather is easy to make if you have a blender of food processor. The fruit leather is like a "fruit roll-up" and is made out of pureed fruit. Applesauce works great for fruit leather since it is already in puree form. Overripe fruits can also be used since these are easily pureed. For an added flare, you can add coconut, raisins, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or sunflower seeds to the fruit leather. If you add any type of garnish to your fruit leather however, you will have to store them in the freezer or refrigerator. Otherwise, you can store fruit leather in an airtight container. Just roll up the fruit leather into a roll after it has dried, wrap in plastic, and store them altogether in an appropriate container.
To make fruit leather, puree your fruit. Apples, pears, peaches, and nectarines should be cooked before pureeing. Pour the fruit puree about 1/4-inch deep on special fruit leather drying sheets, or drying trays that have been lined with plastic wrap. Since the center does not dry as quickly as the edges, Only pour the puree 1/8-inch deep towards the center. Dry at 135 degrees Fahrenheit until pliable and leathery. The center should also be dry and have no wet or sticky spots.
One can make trail mix and dried food is great for hikers and campers because of the weight loss.
"Butterfinger" Bites
2 cups coconut
2 cups dried apples, peeled, cored and chopped
2/3 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 tbsp. vanilla
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients; mix well. Shape into 1/2-1" balls. Dry in your dehydrator at 135º for 4 to 5 hours, or until firm and crisp on the outside.
Makes about 3 dozen.
Texas Chili Peanuts
1(16 oz.) jar dry-roasted unsalted peanuts
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup hot pepper sauce(like Tabasco)
1 1/2 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. red pepper
1/8 tsp. ground oregano
Place nuts in a 9-inch square pan. In a glass measuring cup combine remaining ingredients. Pour over nuts. Let nuts sit at room temperature overnight. Drain liquid from nuts; place nuts on regular drying tray. Dry in your dehydrator at 145º for 3-5 hours or until nuts are crunchy. Store in an air-tight container.
Taco Chips
1 cup whole kernel or creamed corn
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated (the ready grated cheese is not as satisfactory)
1/2 cup red or green peppers, diced
1 TB onion, chopped
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp chili powder
Salt to taste
In a blender or food processor, blend together all ingredients at high speed. Spread mixture thinly onto Fruit Roll Sheets. Dry in your dehydrator at 130° for approximately 10 hours or until dry on one side. Lift entire corn ring off of Fruit Roll Sheet, turn over and dry in your dehydrator for two hours longer or until crisp. Break into pieces.
Harvest Granola
5 cups rolled oats
1 cup raisins
1 cup pecans or almonds, chopped
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup dried apple, chopped
1/2 cup dried dates, chopped
1/2 cup sesame seeds
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup margarine or butter, melted
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, mixing well. Spread onto solid dehydrator sheets and dry at 145 degrees for 3 to 5 hours or until crunchy. Store in an air-tight container.
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Author Bio Box: Arlene Wright Correll
 Resources: Excerpted from “Food For Thought Series” by Arlene Wright-Correll
For more gardening or cooking information click http://www.learn-america.com/ and click on Arlene’s Books you can download or buy my gardening & cook books. All my royalties from the sale of my books go to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and we thank you for your attention to this site.
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