Nesco Food Dehydrator Garnishes, Drying, Storage, Fruit Roll Recipes, Preparation, Yogurt Leather

Preparation

Wash fruits and cut away any bruised or spoiled portions. Purée fruit in a blender until it is very smooth. In some blenders with some fruits, you may want to add a little juice or water to start the blending process.

Fruits generally need no added sweetening, but if fruits are under ripe or particularly tart, you may add light corn syrup or honey. Add 1 or more tablespoons sweetening for each quart of purée, depending on your preference (sugar added to fruit leather tends to become brittle during storage).

Garnishes

For added variety, sprinkle different garnishes on fruit rolls before they are dried. Try coconut, chopped dates, nuts, raisins, granola, poppy seeds, sesame seeds or sunflower seeds. When these garnishes are used, fruit rolls should always be stored in the refrigerator

or freezer.

Drying

Place a Fruit Roll sheet on dehydrator tray and spray lightly with a vegetable spray to prevent sticking. Purée should be about 1⁄4 to 3⁄8" thick and evenly spread and dry at 130° - 140°F ( 55°- 60 °C) until fruit feels leather-like and is pliable, approximately 4 to 8 hours. There should be no sticky spots on top or underneath the fruit. Remove the leather while it is still warm, roll, cut into smaller sized pieces (if desired) and wrap in plastic wrap.

Storage

Individually wrapped pieces of fruit leather should be stored in larger air- tight and moisture proof containers. See Packaging, page 11.

Fruit Roll Recipes

Strawberry Rhubarb Leather

1 cup rhubarb

1⁄4 cup water

2 cups strawberries

1⁄2 cup honey

Combine 1⁄4 cup water and 1 cup rhubarb. Simmer on stove over medium high heat for 5 minutes. Add 2 cups strawberries and 1⁄2 cup honey. Purée to smooth consistency in blender. Pour on a Fruit Roll sheet and dry.

Boysenberry Leather

1 quart of boysenberries.

Purée boysenberries in a blender. Strain through cheesecloth to remove seeds. Place on Fruit Roll sheet and dry.

Yogurt Leather

Spread home made or store bought yogurt on a lightly sprayed Fruit Roll sheet (approximately 1⁄4" thick.) Dry at 130° F (55° C) for approximately 12 to 14 hours. Experiment until you find the brand which dries most evenly.

Applesauce Leather

2 lbs. apples, peeled, cored and quartered

1⁄4 cup lemon juice

1⁄2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Simmer apples in a saucepan with 1⁄2 cup water until softened (about 15-20 minutes). Place lemon juice in blender and gradually add the apples. Purée.

Add sugar and cinnamon. Mix well, pour on a Fruit Roll sheet and dry. If you are going to rehydrate into apple- sauce, measure purée when putting it on tray.

To rehydrate, add 1 cup of water to each cup of leather.

16