Simply Live-A Snack, A Dip, and an Idea

The Snack-

Fruit Leather-
1. Prepare the fruit. For crisp fruits like pears and apples, simmer until mushy and blend, for softer fruits like strawberries, peaches, and apricots, just blend.

2. Mix fruits into fun concoctions like strawberry banana, cinnamon apple pear, peach and strawberry or just stick with one fruit

3. Spread into a thin layer, about 1/4in thick on a baking sheet (I put mine on parchment paper, but if you use just a pan you should grease it very well)

4. Put in a 170 degree oven for about 12 hours (or over-night)

5. Pull out, cool, and remove from pan

6. Store in baggies in the fridge (I don't know if you have to keep it in the fridge, I just wanted to make sure it didn't mold)


The Dip

Mix Greek style yogurt (or homemade yogurt that has been drained until thick) with shredded Mozzarella cheese, chopped fresh spinach, garlic salt and a little red pepper. Super-yummy and very healthy!


The Idea

Collect old cook books (preferably from the early 1900's) from family members or used book stores. These books hold a wealth of information. Recipes for items that we have forgotten ever came from scratch, like pudding, sauces, ketchup, mayo, and even soap made from bacon grease; help on what cuts of meat are good for what and how to cook them properly; tips for managing a "from scratch" kitchen; and so much more. It is amazing the knowledge that is being lost.

Even if you are not interested in doing any of these things now, these are wonderful resources to have on hand just in case.

If you don't want to store the entire book, look through it and cut out anything you feel you might need someday and keep them in a notebook. Don't forget to be open minded about what you might want to use someday, though. You never know when you might run out of barbecue sauce and need to make some at home!