… it’s quite incredible how both life-sustaining and life-threatening fire can be… we return home to the cottage after two weeks in the big city and the house is so cold the very air itself hurts my head like an ice-cream headache on the outside. When we first moved to the cottage over ten years ago now we were never sure if it was going to be a weekend holiday cottage or a permanent residence, I guess it’s become something in-between over the years but way back then we decided not to install an oil-fired central heating system like the rest of the village preferring the romantic notion that the one fireplace would sustain us through the cold winter months… bollocks to that. To be fair we have installed a wood-burning stove with a back-boiler which sends hot water to radiators around the house to keep it nice and cosy but you have to light a fire for this to work and when your hands are blocks of ice and you’d rather stay in the car to keep warm it’s not so fun.
Plus our wood-burner seems to have given up the ghost. Time for a new heat-source at Belleau Cottage…
blueberry, star anise and beetroot leather
not being a mum i’ve never had an issue with little ones nagging me for sweets that I know are not particularly healthy for them, not that I particularly worry about candy and sugar when the evils of McDonalds still exists but I get it… i’m also not the ‘craftiest’ person in the blogoshphere but The Viking and I have been trying to eat more superfoods recently but then I read this interesting article about the nonsense that is ‘detox’ which kind of puts the kibosh on all that too… so what are you gonna do? Well we’re not going to do anything, we’re going to try to eat more green things more regularly, reduce our calorie intake if we can help it and get off our arses for perhaps more than it takes to walk from the computer to the kettle each day… oh and snack on these truly natural beauties…
i’ve used some lovely Clarks Carob Fruit Syrup in this fruit leather to add a little sweetness… you could use sugar but this stuff is made from fruit sugars and so I suppose it’s less toxic than regular sugar… the stuff is great for sweetening tea and coffee too.
i’m under the impression you can use any fruit and spices for this as long as you weights are roughly as laid out below (for one tray of fruit leather)… the added beetroot and star anise makes this more adult-friendly than most and they were the perfect balance of sharp, sweet and earthy… we loved them.
400g blueberries
150g raspberries
1 small raw beetroot (roughly 75g) – finely grated
2 small cox apples – peeled, cored and chopped
two tablespoons water
the juice of one lemon
1 tablespoon carob fruit syrup (not essential)
line a shallow baking tin with microwave-safe cling film… my tin is 23cm x 32cm and worked well as a good size
pre-heat the oven to 50C or its lowest setting with the fan on
place the berries, apples, star anise and grated beetroot into a pan, add the water and let it gently bubble away for about 10 minutes until soft – use the back of a fork to burst the blueberries
add the lemon juice, stir and carefully taste… if you feel it needs a little sugar or carob syrup then add it, then let it bubble away for another few minutes then take it off the heat and let it cool slightly before whizzing with a hand blender until thoroughly pulped
pass it through a sieve to remove those pesky bits of skin and pips and then pour into the lined baking tray
bake for 8 to 12 hours but check it regularly… if it’s still sticky to the touch then it’s not ready
once ready take it out of the oven and carefully peel off the cling film, it should come away really easily but if you’re struggling then cut the leather into a neater rectangle using scissors and then find the corner of the cling film and peel back
roll the whole sheet up in some greaseproof paper and cut into strips – should keep for at least a week in an air-tight container
eat and of course, enjoy!
Wow, what sensational colours! I kind of want to reach into the computer and drag a piece out. Don't worry though, I won't. That'd be messy.
I've made fruit leather before, but nothing like this Dom. It sounds amazing, great combo of flavours!
Well, this is a new departure for you, Dom! I'm surprised though that that stuff doesn't keep for longer. “Normal” sugar would have a preservative effect, but presumably the natural fruit sugars are less powerful.
I remember as a kid woolworths started selling this fruit winder thingy, was basically a long strip of faintly fruit tasting sugar, laced with colouring and e numbers that even the Americans would ban. But I loved them, almost as much as the chad valley toys and the £1 everlasting gopstopper, ah the good old days! Also completely agree with mcdonalds being evil. Can't remember the last time I even had a chip from them. I did have a burger king a few months ago, and instantly regreted it, bland, boring and nowhere near as good and healthy as what I would make (sorry but it's true). Looks awesome Dom, if I ever require some fruit leather I know where to come, the kids would love to make this. 🙂
Amazing! I feared this was going to be a post spruiking a new dehydrator or some such gadget that I'll never buy, but the fact that you've done it in a ye-olde oven is brilliant. I'll have to wait for a while before trying it here, 27 deg today, turning the oven on would be punishment!
I keep seeing fruit leather and it looks so fun to do. I don't know if I'd have the patience to wait that long for it to cook though!
Fabulous Dom and I love this type of sweet treat……….and as for the heating, time to get something out in so you can get rid if the ice cream headaches!!!
Sorry about the heat – it is so cold here I am weary of wet, dark winter. This recipe is so cool and yes I try to incorporate more superfoods, unknowingly, in our diet. We're trying to be good but also like to save room for a splurge like this! Yummy and healthy – yes please! Stay warm and have a great week.
This sounds delicious! I remember eating healthy-ish fruit leathers when I was little and the blueberry ones were my fav. Where do you add the star anise please? At the point where you stew down the fruit? Cheers – Corin
Simply gorgeous, I've been meaning to make fruit leather for yonkies, but never seem to get round to making it, hopefully this year I will. Love the addition of star anise in this.
I've often thought about making fruit leather but not quite got there. The flavour combination here and the colour is amazing! I'm impressed with the perfect strips too…… I might just have to persuade myself it's worth a go….. I always love nibbling the commercial stuff at my desk! I couldn't live without decent heating though……. I REALLY hate the cold. Bollocks to that indeed!!!
I reckon yours is the most perfect fruit leather I've ever seen Dom – sounds mighty fine too. Our house is always cold in the winter and it's not much fun – lots of layers including hat and scarf when it gets really cold. 🙁
I've always wanted to make fruit leather, but it seems sucha faff. Yours looks amazing and I love the combination of fruit, beetroot and spices.
I've always wanted to make fruit leather, but it seems sucha faff. Yours looks amazing and I love the combination of fruit, beetroot and spices.
Fruit leather is something that's been on my 'to bake list' for ages now. I've pinned dozens or recipes, but still haven't got around to making it because it takes so long. You're recipe has really inspired me. I love the blueberry & beetroot combo.