by Melanie Aves

Created on: August 30, 2010

Many of us remember the mixture of sadness and anticipation we felt as children when the days gradually grew shorter, the nights chillier and the first day of school loomed ahead.  The endings of fall, winter and spring usually pass unnoticed, but the end of summer is a time rich with the memorable colors, tastes and scents of the growing season.  Here are two ways to preserve the magic of summertime and enjoy its bounties throughout the other seasons.

Drying is an effective technique for preserving the late summer harvest.  Many fruits and vegetables lend themselves to drying techniques. Creating dried fruit leathers is an appealing project to produce yummy, healthy snacks for lunch boxes or even holiday gifting.

Leathers are made by pouring puréed fruit onto a flat surface for drying. For each 13” X 15” leather, wash, peel and remove the seeds from approximately 2 cups of very ripe fruit.  Cut into chunks and purée the fruit. For lighter fruits add 2 teaspoons lemon juice or 1/8 teaspoon ascorbic acid to prevent darkening. Honey or corn syrup is optional for added sweetness, and spices may be added if desired.  Line cookie sheets or jelly roll pans with parchment paper, and pour fruit mixture onto it, spreading evenly to a depth of about ¼”.  Place in a 140-150°oven for 6-8 hours.  Check oven temperature carefully, because fruit will cook rather than dry if the oven is hotter than 150°. Sometimes leaving the oven door ajar will help maintain the desired temperature.  A recipe for blueberry fruit leather may be found at http://www.cooksrecipes.com/appetizer/blueberry-frui t-leather-recipe.html.

Drying fresh herbs for enjoyment throughout the year is easy and inexpensive.  A wreath fashioned from dried herbs cultivated in your personal garden makes a thoughtful and attractive gift.  Air drying works best on plants with a low moisture content, like oregano, bay, thyme, rosemary, dill, and marjoram. The air drying process not only conserves energy, but because the leaves lose their moisture slowly, doesn’t deplete the precious oils that give herbs their fragrance and flavor.  Plants with a higher moisture content such as basil, mint, chives and tarragon are better preserved by freezing, or in a dehydrator.

The optimum time for harvesting herbs is before they flower.  Harvest in the morning after the morning dew has dried from the leaves. Select healthy

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