Fruit Leather: The Food You Can Eat, but Probably Shouldn’t Wear

Unless you are Lady Gaga

We’re dreaming of summer — and for some of our readers west and in the south, it has arrived. We’re running this piece to dream a little of how we can extend the season’s bounty, which, in this case, takes some planning and equipment. And we’re guessing Debby will inspire you. You’ve read her pieces on The Bittman Project on green onion cakes and the wildly popular chopped liver (seriously!). Read on for more.

I discovered fruit leather when my kids were little. It came in multiple flavors — strawberry, apple, peach, apricot — in individually wrapped pieces that made me think of tiny two-by-fours: one-inch wide, four inches long, and thinner than a matchbook. It was just right for child-sized hands. The packaging was brightly colored and enticing, a direct contrast to the actual product, which was mud-colored, slightly mottled, and often sticky.