Gleaned Grape Goodies.

I love fruit leather.

However, even in bulk these yummy little snacks are a bit steep ($0.45/each).
One of my most successful experiments of late has been homemade fruit leather!

Kate and I did this project together. First, we stopped by the grocery store after hours to pick up some extra produce that would otherwise be headed for the landfill. We found more perfectly good bananas, grapes, peaches, apples, and nectarines than we could carry home on our heavy-laden bikes.

We cut up the fruit, added a half cup of water for every 4 cups of fruit, and simmered this for 10 minutes.

Next, we pureed the fruit, strained out any extra juice, and poured it into jellyroll pans (a.k.a cookie sheets). The grapes were juiciest, and produced enough liquid for several jars of juice. Yum! Once poured into pans, the fruit puree needs to bake for about 8 hours at 175 degrees.

Many recipes online suggested adding sugar or lemon juice for flavor enhancement, but we didn't find that necessary. We tried different fruit combinations, and they were all tasty. It is also unnecessary to grease or line the pans--it just peels right up!

Fruit leather requires about 4 cups of fresh fruit for a jellyroll pan-size sheet.  We probably used 24-30 cups total, so this is a really good project for seasonal surplus fruit. It's also a great way to spend time with a friend!

The finished product: a thicker piece of grape, and a roll of nectarine/banana. These can be cut into slices and stored in an airtight container. They are dried, so do not need refrigeration. A very portable snack!