The dehydrator is in full operation this week.
Earlier this month I got a great price on a seedless watermelon. I thin-sliced the red flesh and dried it in small portions. I have about 50 portions of dried watermelon waiting for our winter lunches and snacking.
This week I'm drying crabapple-applesauce fruit leather. I put the final batch in last evening. When this batch is completed, dried, and wrapped, I'll have 144 portions.
Next week I'll be dehydrating pumpkin-spice-applesauce fruit leather. I hope to make 108 portions of that variety.
In total, I should have just over 300 portions of fruit leather once the next flavor is finished. Each portion represents 1/2 serving of fruit for my family members. The 300 portions will be enough for the four of us to each have 75.
I'll use this fruit leather to spread out our purchased fruit in January, February, and March. Right now apples and pumpkins are a good price. In another few weeks tangerines, oranges and pears will be priced at their year-low, too. I have apples and crabapples from our yard I can use. But I also buy prepared applesauce this time of year to use in fruit leather.
In just another few months, fruit prices will go back up. The fruit leather plus the fruit we have frozen from summer will help stretch our budget in the pricey fresh produce months.
The bonus to using the dehydrator this time of year is our kitchen and dining area are just a little warmer!
How about you? Do you buy fruit (or vegetables for that matter) at summer or fall prices to put away for winter? Do you find that helps reduce your grocery spending in January, February, and/or March?
I have never made fruit leather before although I have dried apples for snacks. Maybe in another post, you could share how you make fruit leather. That might be a good thing to give to all of the little nieces and nephews for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteHi Live and Learn,
DeleteFruit leather is extremely easy to make with a dehydrator, a little trickier with an oven, but still doable (depending on the lowest temperature for your oven). The hardest part has been getting the leather off of the parchment paper. Even with oiling the paper, it still sticks a little and has to be peeled carefully. But it's easy enough that I can work this project into my schedule this time of year.
Dried apples make such a great snack! I love those. Did you dry those in a dehydrator or the oven?
In a dehydrator because the oven requires more attention.
DeleteHi Live and Learn,
DeleteI asked because I didn't know if you had access to a dehydrator. Yes, they make it so much easier. I've done fruit and vegetable drying in the oven, and it does take a lot of attention.