Dehydrating apples

Yield: 1 servings

Measure Ingredient
\N \N You can slice them, dice them, chunk them, leather them and combine them with other fruits, with seeds, nuts and grains. The make a binder for
\N \N Dried wafers and confections.

Dry them sliced, diced, chunke, even shredded. ¼ inch slices are about right. Try to keep pieces the same size for even drying. Dry everything... even peels and trimmings. TO USE DRIED APPLES: For a mild good tasting juice, just soak apple parts in water. (this is a good way to use up peels and trimmings) A thin slice of dried apple makes a delicious snack. To soften, pour a little water over druit, drain, andlet set a few hours in a covered jar. Or, simple leave the package open a day or two and let the moisture in the air soften the apples. BASIC APPLE LEATHER: Prepare about 1 quart ofchopped apples, removing cores, but not skins. Place just enough water in the blender, with a few apple chunks to get started. Keep adding apples until consistency of good applesauce. Spread out onto fruit leather tray, or tray covered with plastic wrap. Dry until solid and slightly 'sticky'. Remove from tray, roll in plastic wrap. APPLE BUTTER LEATHER: To the apples in the blender, add 2 tbsp cider vinegar or lemon juice, 2 tsp mixed spices (pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, allspice, etc) and ¼ cup honey, or to taste. Continue to dry as in basic recipe. APPLE RAISIN (or DATE) LEATHER: Soak one cup raisins (or chopped dates) until soft, in water to cover. Blend with the soaking liquid, add apple chunks until consistency islikethick applesauce. Proceed as in basic recipe. APPLE FRUIT COMBINATION LEATHERS: Start with a 1 to 1 ratio, and adjust to your own taste.

Try blending apples with pitte prunes, dates, plums, peaches, apricots, bananas, and berries... try them all!. If it tastes good in the blender, it will taste good as a leather. Blend juicier fruits first and no water may be needed to start the blending process.

Banana's require no water to blend. You may wish to blend 'seedy' berries alone, then strain and return to blender before adding the apples, but remember that seeds are an excellent concentrated food.

While making these leathers, don't forget that the unfinished product (blended fruit) can be an excellent food source in itself. Try sprinkling a few nuts on top of a bowlful of 'sauce' for a wonderful breakfast. Origin: Dry it - You'll Like It, circa 1973. Shared by: Sharon Stevens, Jan/95.

Submitted By SHARON STEVENS On 01-22-95

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