Thursday, November 13, 2008

Grape Fruit Leather ("Roll-ups")



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My first introduction to fruit leather was in the form of Fruit Roll-ups. Of course, I loved it! My favorite flavors were strawberry and grape. Actually, those were the only two flavors I ate. But, realizing that these things were probably more like candy than fruit, my consumption waned and eventually ceased.

Enter Fruit To-Go. 100% fruit, it says! It was not as sickly sweet as the Fruit Roll-Ups, so I felt less guilty eating them. But of course, nothing can alleviate guilt better than making these yourself.

I first became aware of this possibility from, yes, the Ronco Food Dehydrator. That informercial was so good, I was very tempted to buy one! (Of course, since I didn't have access to any credit cards then, buying one was quickly vetoed by Mama. Teehee.)

More recently, I saw the recipe for Fruit Leather by Elise of Simply Recipes.



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We bought this super-expensive box of grapes during one of our numerous visits to Richmond Country Farms Market. These are coronation grapes. They weren't very nice eating grapes, though, because their skins were so thick and very, very tannic/bitter.

The box sat for a while in the refrigerator, rejected. The skins were starting to wrinkle. Then I remembered: Fruit Roll-Ups!

I was so excited! I kept giggling and clapping my hands while making this.



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I de-stemmed the grapes and added them to a pot with a little water and sugar, then let the mixture boil away.

I actually forgot about them a little bit, so when I came back, the grape mixture was very thick. Hence, I didn't need to squeeze the excess juice from the grapes before continuing.



I simply had to strain the mixture onto a sheet pan.



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Next, I placed the sheet pan into the oven. I had it set to the lowest setting possible, then turned off the heat after a little bit. I was afraid the oven would be too hot otherwise. I merely turned on the light to act as the heat source.

Then it was a matter of waiting...

and waiting....

until finally, it was dry!



This was the point of the most giggling and clapping of hands.



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It was just a matter of rolling it up!



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Of course, it took me no time at all to finish this whole sheet by myself, even though I already rationed it and paced myself. My grape fruit leather was a little tart, but that's fine. I could handle it.

This has fulfilled all my fruit roll-up dreams. I am happy.

(Look at it! It's so cool!)

25 comments:

  1. Great way to get rid of weird fruit! ;) Wish I had a silpat, though :(

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  2. This is kick-a$$ and not just for kids. Props for the having silpats!

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  3. wow.. well done !! looks so cool ;-)hmmm.. i should get myself a silpat

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  4. This is too cool and I am making this for my grandson! He will think I am the best. Thanks for sharing such an intereting food how to.

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  5. omg - ronco food dehydrator! Didn't you want to dry slices of watermelon too?!

    Your post has just convinced me that I need Silpat!

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  6. How cool that you made your own!

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  7. My grandmother used to make apple fruit roll-ups all the time when I was little. I haven't thought about that in years. :)

    At first when I read the title, I thought you made grapefruit leather and I was so surprised b/c I don't think I've ever seen that flavor before.

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  8. Ooh, I am so excited that you tried this. Gotta put a silpat on my list and then I will try it too!

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  9. Made this awhile back with blueberries and just used parchment paper. But any excuse to a use/buy silpat is cool with me! ;)

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  10. Oh wow...I love these things. When I eat them I ALWAYS feel like a kid again. Good job here...I wonder what types of flavors one could come up with. I'd try to add some alcohol - lol.

    -DTW
    www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com

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  11. Making your own fruit roll ups sounds like great fun.

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  12. i totally thought it was bought from ron propiel, but it's ronco (which may be the same thing) - but ron propiel is like a man who has been preserved! these roll-ups look fun. i used to unroll mine and stick them in the snow so they would freeze immediately and i could break off pieces.

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  13. I love that you rolled them up with the parchement so they can be peeled off.

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  14. Oooh, I grew up with fruit leathers in South Africa - mostly apricot, peach and guava, so I *love* this. The colour is just outstanding and I wish I could taste it...

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  15. Looks so much fun to make.

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  16. I have been contemplating doing something like this for a while now. I am so excited to see this recipe! Thanks!!

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  17. This is fun. I made some last summer with plums. And all you need is your silpat and a oven.

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  18. my mom used to make us huge supplies of fruit leather out of roadside stand peaches and apricots. I never thought to do it myself, though! good job!

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  19. Wow, this is a must-try! Think mangoes would work?

    Gay

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  20. I have never seen anything like these before. Do you eat it on its own or with something else?

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  21. I didn't realize the Silpat was going to get this much attention. ;D

    Manggy:
    I don't know why they were so weird. I seemed to remeber having the same type of grapes before and eating them just fine.

    Get one, get one... I think the Silpat would especially useful for you, with all that baking and all!

    Peter M:
    The silpat came with our toolbox at culinary school. =)

    Kim:
    Ben:
    Kevin:
    It's the best! It's just like candy!

    Su-Lin:
    My next goal is making apple chips. Apple chips!!!

    Wandering Chopsticks:
    Maybe you can try making a grapefruit flavor!

    Well, maybe do an apple one first. =)

    Caroline:
    Blueberries would be so good. I figure I'd use it since I have one already.

    Darius T. Williams:
    Haha... I wouldn't have thought to add alcohol.

    We Are Never Full:
    Ron Propiel is the guy behind Ronco Foods (or whatever his company is called)... and it's very sad that I know this information. =D And if the most recent informercial I've seen is actually "recent", then Ron Propiel indeed looks very dehydrated himself!

    Jeanne:
    Ooh, guava!! I wonder if it will work with guava juice... It may be too liquid-y... Probably need to add some other fruit like apple.

    Jude:
    And even better to eat. I hoarded the whole thing.

    eileen:
    Ooh, peach fruit leather!! And are there many more like you, lucky people who had these made for them in childhood?!

    Gay @ A scientist in the kitchen:
    Oh, mangoes... yes, I would think so. It'll be different than dried mangoes... or if lazy, I would buy dried mangoes. ;D

    Salt N Turmeric:
    Hmm, I guess you can put it on some things, but usually this is eaten like candy.

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  22. This is better ( actually the best!) than those store-bought I saw kids chewing on with artificial and additives added.. I think those excess fruits (and cheap fruits) will great for this. Thank you for sharing the idea.

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  23. I haven't had fruit roll ups since I was a kid! I've forgotten how much I love them. And this is much healthier than the store-bought kind, and tastier I'm sure! =)

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