Homemade Fruit Strip Recipe

Prep Time: 20 mins  Cooking Time: 8 to 10 hours (largely unattended)

Ingredients:
2 cups ripe fruit
1/2 cup water
juice of 1/2 large lemon
1/4 cup sugar

Wash, peel and core fruit. Chop them into small chunks. Place the fruit in a saucepan and add water. Bring to a simmer and continue to cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add sugar and lemon and continue to cook for a few more minutes until the sugar is dissolved and liquid begins to thicken in the pot. Pour into a blender and let cool for 15 minutes. When cool enough, blend on high for a few minutes until it becomes a smooth puree.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with microwave safe plastic wrap. Pour out the purée into the lined baking sheet. Be sure to keep plastic wrap from touching the top of the puree. Place the baking sheet in the oven being careful not to let the plastic wrap it touch the oven racks.  Heat the oven to a low 175 degrees.  Let dry in the oven like this for as long as it takes for the purée to dry out and form fruit leather. Leaving it in overnight for 8 to 10 hours generally works well.  The fruit strip is ready when it is no longer sticky, but has a smooth surface.  It peels off ithe plastic n one giant sheet and then we use kitchen scissors to make strips.