![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1oG0l2eXXuiC7uarO22dAbGBGFUxk9pFmCh07xkVxinFzTYjv4k0xBqEnkHiTxRJ2weqCBgKVVvnFuRg7aFohdV3i8-0psyV486Lz8bIz5ssLJm_LfHS4KpxHxU8F-jLV_c1og/s512/IMG_1077.JPG)
I had some serious nostalgia of
the little farm I grew up on while my daughter and I cut and dried fruit the other day. My mom and I would spend hours making dried bananas, apples, and cherries for our winter oatmeal. I really loved doing it with Cyan.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3M2Std5JB7edXgMc_wuDLmQL9tsglY-EDyMjBQLv4qD0QfSzuPqxtjxs0DnUq-L4CC552ZX8D15AsYfoCrKNDw1S1dk-iX3A1fteHWfn01T960z46W9ljexbxH_xTr3iTzklJA/s720/IMG_1027.JPG)
The cherries were first. Thank goodness for the
Pampered Chef cherry pitter. Seriously, I am not a gadget person, but over the last two years, this little thing has really wormed it's way into my heart. (Pitting three pounds of cherries would have taken hours without it.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehatmrGDK6WjpJ69NZuTuOjLXh0PkYBOGEMTIpPyIX8Uvh4jbVZ_t16j2Mzz8g4kPUsunG1LuJtqohr8qYBT7WOSqwBoVrMhYt4MXWzbqak5gDEoEzDRW2yyIe4BwGrwAP3u0ew/s720/IMG_1041.JPG)
Here is Cyan cutting the strawberries.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevTV90tYjN0EnR24K8k-dEElnPdkalljWZ3HujZzii-c0rgdFDivpommlV4TRzC4wzRXuy9slIbJSqi5pnk_7a8tlY_LjZy7VJ0_tB7x4flEqS7wIW9fEd2fO_NTBFBVYkN3fDw/s720/IMG_1045.JPG)
They dried for 10 hours and then I pulled all the ones that were done off the racks and left the others for another 5 hours.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz82AuTNKYVZ6IGZeeUnR3-uy1FUcdJoAakBk-OZfpF1LMnbRvpbGL0dHGly78rLDpjQH6UEUnjfBpZVZ2J21WRaKGbfndpqDEqf-ag7B2hbrxuOayPaF4rCJeAKCy0Rb-WYWKwA/s720/IMG_1035.JPG)
I do need a bit of advice for drying though. How do you keep them sweet? I got them at the peek of season, I made them large pieces, and didn't over dry. And yet, every now and again, you get a REALLY bitter one. I know none of this fruit was bitter. Any ideas?
![signature](http://hotbliggityblog.com/backgrounds/valsignature.png)
6 comments
These look great. Wish I had more leftover after jam making. Sorry I have no tips for sweetness. I always thought you had to dry them with alittle sugar coating???
No idea for the sweetness, I will ask my mom tomorrow, she has a dehydrator, I think I need to use it!
Great idea as usual...and the farm you grew up on sounds so amazing!
I've wondered that with sweetness myself...and I have yet to make banana chips that taste like the ones I had as a kid!
The fruit got sweet just from sitting out for two days. The kids and I put it in trail mix on the counter, and I didn't ever get another bitter one. Maybe it just has to age and get the tartness from the dryer off of it? I have no idea, but I was really glad to find out. :)
Val
My dad has this coating he puts on fruit he dries. He mostly makes apple chips and he says it keeps them from getting really brown and adds sweetness. I think it is made for dehydrating fruit, I bet you can get it at a health food type of store
That is really interesting Heather! I will have to look into that. Thanks for the tip. :)
Post a Comment