Summer is here and my strawberry bed is full of delicious fruit. One of my most favorite ways to use them up is with this fruit leather recipe. It is so simple and delicious that you won’t mind skipping the store bought stuff! While the recipe is simplicity itself, I will include a couple of things I’ve learned along the way to make storing it a breeze.

• 3 cups strawberries*
• 3 tablespoons sweetener of your choice (I usually use sugar, but it works equally well with honey or maple syrup)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Preheat your oven to the lowest possible setting, in my case that is 170 degrees**. In a blender, puree the strawberries, sugar and lemon juice until completely combined. Line rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and pour your mixture on in a thin layer; I use an offset spatula to get an even layer. You will probably need two or three baking sheets depending on their size. Place in the oven and bake for at least 2 1/2 to 3 hours depending on how thick a layer you are dehydrating. You will know the leather is dry when it is no longer sticky to the touch. When you take it out of the oven, roll the parchment paper long ways so you can cut servings straight from the roll. This will give you parchment paper-lined strips that unroll just like the store bought ones. If you don’t want to store them rolled you can cut strips on a cutting board and store in an airtight container. I like to store mine in the fridge, but you don’t have to.

*If you have other fruit languishing in your fridge you can absolutely mix and match for different flavor combinations.

**I have also used my dehydrator to make these, if that is a option for you cook at 140 for about 5-6 hours, making sure to line your trays with parchment.