Peach Leather

Ok, it’s best to start with the plain and simple facts. I LOVE peaches. I’ve picked them from my own tree when my kids were little and turned them into a million jars, canned for winter. I’ve made jam, and sauces and everything else you can think of.

Everything that is…except leather. 

No idea why I’ve never tried it, but as it turns out–it was pretty easy–and SO much better for you than the rubbery, store bought kind.

You simply wash and cut up 4 cups of raw peaches.  You can peel them if you like, but I didn’t because I love the extra flavor, nutrients and fiber.

In a medium saucepan, add 1/2 cup water, 1/3 cup honey or sugar and peaches. Let the fruit mixture simmer about 10 minutes, or until the fruit is soft.

I even used my snooty raw Utah honey, instead of sugar.

Extra points for me. Haha.

Whirl it in 2 cup batches, in the blender.

Next, spread evenly on a silicone mat on a 18 x 13 sheet pan.

Bake in the over for 6-10 hours–or until dry-ish to the touch.

When completely cooled, peel the leather off the mat and roll from long end to long end. If you want a bigger roll up, just roll it from short end to short end.

I love the smaller pieces that you get this way. They are perfect for little ones and if you want more–just take two!

We wrapped them in that sticky cling film–and seriously, they keep beautifully this way! We are still eating some from last year.

They taste so good and make the house smell like Autumn heaven.

Just what we need this time of year.

Autumn heaven.

 

 

 

Peach Leather
 
wash and cut up 4 cups of raw peaches. You can peel them if you like, but I didn't because I love the extra flavor, nutrients and fiber. In a medium saucepan, add ½ cup water, ⅓ cup honey or sugar and peaches. Let the fruit mixture simmer about 10 minutes, or until the fruit is soft.
:
Ingredients
  • 4 cups peaches cut up
  • ½ cup water
  • ⅓ cup honey
Instructions
  1. Wash and cut up 4 cups of raw peaches. You can peel them if you like, but I didn't because I love the extra flavor, nutrients and fiber.
  2. In a medium saucepan, add ½ cup water, ⅓ cup honey or sugar and peaches.
  3. Let the fruit mixture simmer about 10 minutes, or until the fruit is soft.
  4. Whirl it in 2 cup batches, in the blender.
  5. Next, spread evenly on a silicone mat on a 18 x 13 sheet pan.
  6. Bake in the over for 6-10 hours--or until dry-ish to the touch.
  7. When completely cooled, peel the leather off the mat and roll from long end to long end. If you want a bigger roll up, just roll it from short end to short end.
  8. We wrapped them in that sticky cling film--and seriously, they keep beautifully this way!

The Farmer’s Market…Puzzle Version

We’ve certainly gone to our share of Farmer’s Markets. When you’ve been around, you learn a few things.

If you’ve ever gone to a farmer’s market and smelled the flowers and homemade soap…

and tasted the apples and peaches and thumbed through the old books…

and sampled the 47 different treats that can be made with a pumpkin…

then you also probably also know that the best time to go to a farmer’s market…

is when the trees look exactly….like….this.

Everybody knows that.

Ask around.

 

 

More      Farmer’s    Market Posts

Turkey Nugget

Soooo–many times when I’m making a little crochet character, I’m nearly overwhelmed with supreme selfishness…

to the point that I want to finish the pretty thing and throw it in my purse…

and leave the country….

to keep it for myself, instead of giving it to the person it is meant for.

So far, I’ve always pulled myself together, mustered up a little maturity and sent–whatever it is–on it’s merry way.

That is…until now.

This little turkey nugget was just so CUTE that I was over come.

I couldn’t help myself.

After much deliberation, I’m afraid I kidnapped him and hid him away in a secure location and…you know…

made another one.

No one will ever know of my treachery and dreadful deception.

Except that I just told you.

Dang it.

 

 

Summery Autumn “Paper” Chain

You know that funny place where Summer is pretty much done, kids are back to school, everybody is ready for Autumn…

but the weather isn’t quite playing along yet?

Yeah, that’s where we are now. Too breezy and cool to actually swim, but then, the next day it’s 230 degrees on the porch.

Mother Nature make up your MIND already!!

So, as to not feel thwarted in my desire to decorate accordingly, the colors that felt to me like this middle space between the hot days and Halloween– I came up with these.

Maroon and lavender and deep green and a variegated mixture of them all. Clever–yes? It kinda looks like a bright, yet ready-for-Fall-ish sort of concoction, don’t you think?

At any rate, it makes me smile.

So go ahead Mother Nature–do your thing. I’ve found my color “happy place” in spite of you.

And we can stay here comfortably till the leaves come down.

Back To School Tarmac

Awwww…little Tarmac is off to school!

Don’t you just love his sweet back pack?!!

My favorite parts of this squirrely “get-up” are the teensy books hanging from his arms. Heehee.

Perhaps I have too much time on my hands.  Perhaps my priorities are a bit mixed up.  Perhaps it’s just freaking fun to imagine how people smile when they see this little guy each month. Pretty sure that’s why I do it.

All I know is I sure giggled a lot with this one.

That’s always time well spent.