PREP: 30 minutes COOK: 35 minutes BAKE: 10 hours MAKES: 16 pieces
2 lb. fresh ripe strawberries, hulled and coarsely chopped
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. lemon zest
Nonstick cooking spray
1. In a food processor or blender combine strawberries and sugar. Cover and process or blend until smooth. Press strawberry mixture through a fine-mesh sieve placed over a bowl; discard seeds remaining in sieve.
2. In a large heavy saucepan combine the strawberry mixture and lemon zest. Bring to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, until the mixture is thick enough to mound slightly on a spoon and reduced to about 1½ cups, stirring frequently (this should take 35 to 40 minutes).
3. Preheat oven to 170°F. Line a 15×10-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Coat parchment with cooking spray. Pour strawberry mixture into the prepared pan, spreading to an even ¼-inch thickness. (For a dehydrator, lightly oil two leather-dehydrator sheets. Divide strawberry mixture between the prepared sheets, spreading to an even ¼-inch thickness.)
4. Bake 10 to 11 hours or until fruit leather is dry (surface may be slightly sticky), rotating pan occasionally. (For the dehydrator, dehydrate at 135°F 12 to 13 hours.) If necessary, turn fruit leather over during the last 1 hour of dehydrating to allow bottom to dry. (Dehydrating tips, page 468.)
5. Using the edges of the parchment paper, lift fruit leather out of pan; let cool completely. Roll fruit leather into a spiral; wrap in plastic wrap. (For the dehydrator, peel fruit leather from leather sheet. Roll into a spiral; wrap in plastic wrap.) To serve, cut into 16 pieces. Store at room temperature up to 2 weeks.
Herbed Strawberry Fruit Leather: Prepare as directed, except substitute 2 Tbsp. snipped fresh tarragon, basil, mint, and/or thyme for the lemon zest.
Strawberry-Ginger Fruit Leather: Prepare as directed, except substitute 1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger for the lemon zest.
Strawberry-Kumquat Fruit Leather: Prepare as directed, except puree ½ cup quartered, seeded kumquats with the strawberries and sugar in Step 1. Omit lemon zest.
PER PIECE, PLAIN OR VARIATIONS: 66 cal., 0 g fat, 0 mg chol., 1 mg sodium, 17 g carb., 1 g fiber, 0 g pro.