Fruit Leather

Shared by Aly L.

YUMMY PLUMMY FRUIT LEATHER (or any fruit)

6-8 cups pureed fruit ( I pitted and put it in a fruit processor)

2 Tbsp Honey

2 Tbsp Lemon Juice

2 Parchment or plastic lined baking sheets

Start by pureeing fruit until smoothie consistency. Add honey and lemon juice and stir in.

Line baking sheets with parchement or plastic wrap and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

Pour fruit until 1/8 in thickness onto lined baking sheets.

INDOOR METHOD:

heat oven to 200 degrees and bake for 2-5 hours until dried out and dry to the touch.

OUTDOOR METHOD:

Place baking sheets on a flat surface outside where they will get lots of sunlight. Cover with a screen, cheesecloth or tulle to keep bugs or anything out without taking the sun away. Place a few cookie sheets covered with foil (shiny side out) to reflect sun onto leather. Let the sun bake it for 4-8 hours or until dry to the touch.

use a knife or pizza roller to cut leather into strips and wrap in wax paper or plastic. Make pieces as big or small as you like.

I stared out in the oven, but my house started to get really hot so I moved it outside. It was ready by the time naptime was over and my kids just ate it up!

I think I will try peaches next week!

Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe Aly!  

Do you have some recipes to use up the abundance of late summer fruits and vegetables that you would like to share with the Relief Society?  Please email them to Lisa C. or any member of the RS presidency and we will get them posted.

Are Your Boots Muddy?

   Mary Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

~ Is your garden HAPPY?
~ Are your plants growing BIG?
~ Do you have 1 or 2 things you could SHARE?

If you have a little extra produce in your garden that you can spare, please bring it to Relief Society to our Grandview Farmer's Market. Just a little from everyone goes a long way.  This is a wonderful way to share with members of our ward who may not have a garden, or the type of produce you have. 

Thanks for all you do! 

A Shout Out to All You Spring Gardeners!

Just a reminder when you are planning your gardens this year, we are planning on having the Grandview 1st Relief Society Farmers Market again this summer and fall. So, plant a few extra of everything to share! It's an easy way to help care for our neighbors, be a little more healthy, and cut down on everyone's grocery bills.

Happy gardening!

Pick Your Own

Now that Spring is here and we are thinking about fresh produce, do you know of a local farm where fresh produce can be purchased or picked?  Please leave a comment and we will compile them for everyone to enjoy.

In the meanwhile here are a couple of possibilities I have found and love that you might want to check out this year:

Day Farms, 2500 W. Gentile St., Layton, UT, 801-546-4316
U-Pick Asparagus in April thru May (when I called earlier this week they said to check back the first week in April to see if it has come up yet.)
U-Pick Strawberries for two weeks in June and two weeks in August (my younger girls and I went up at the end of June, the end of the crop for that season, and picked the most flavorful berries to eat and make jam)
From Mid-August through September they have U Pick Tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes, Chili & Sweet Peppers, Green Beans, Eggplant, and Tomatillos.  They also have other fruits and vegetables available for purchase through out the summer.

Click Here to go to the Utah's Own website which will show you all the Farmers Markets throughout the state.  I personally love the Murray Farmers Market once it starts in August because it has easy parking and fabulous fruit without the art market.

Seasonal Foods

Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
D&C 89: 11
 
"In practical terms, this means that you’ll get the most nutrition—not to mention the most affordable enjoyment—by eating seasonally. Although the exact season for specific items varies from region to region (you’ll almost certainly get that big beefsteak tomato much earlier in Georgia than in Ohio), follow these basic guidelines for optimal nutrition and taste:
 
In spring, pick the new growth of the season: tender leafy vegetables such as spinach, Romaine or leaf lettuces, Swiss chard, and early peas, as well as fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, and dill. (also asparagus)


For summer, try lighter produce, with fruits such as strawberries, pears, apples, and plums, and vegetables such as summer squash, broccoli, corn, and cauliflower. You can also incorporate other summer-type herbs, such as mint or cilantro.

During fall, choose hearty harvest foods, including sweet potatoes, carrots, onions, and garlic. When cooking, emphasize “warmer” spices and seasonings such as peppercorns, ginger, and mustard seeds.

In winter, also pick hearty foods. Keep in mind the principle that foods which take longer to grow are generally more sustaining than foods that grow quickly. In this category are most root vegetables, including carrots, potatoes, onions and garlic, as well as eggs, corn, and nuts."
 
From SparkPeople