Yield: 16 servings | Prep: 20 minutes | Ready in: 5 hours, 20 minutes
Why we love it:
While the trail offers many marvels, there are some things it's not big on - for instance, fruit.
With its short shelf life, bulkiness and leftover cores, pits and more, fresh fruit probably isn't at the top of many pack lists. (Remember, biodegradable waste is still waste and not natural to wooded environments.) But there's not much that's more refreshing, and fruit's restorative nutritional value is a match for any journey.
For a trail-approved option with all of the benefits and none of the drawbacks, try fruit leather. A nutritious version of Fruit Roll-Ups, it's easy to make - and take.
What you need:
» 1 cup sugar
» 1/4 cup lemon juice
» 4 cups peeled, cored and hopped apples
» 4 cups peeled, cored and hopped pears
What you do:
1. Preheat oven to 150 Fahrenheit. Cover a baking sheet with a layer of plastic wrap or parchment paper.
2. In the container of a blender, combine sugar, lemon juice, apples and pears. Cover and puree until smooth.
3. Spread evenly on the prepared pan. Place pan on top rack of the oven and bake for 5-6 hours, leaving the door to the oven partway open. Fruit is dry when the surface is no longer tacky and you can tear it like leather.
4. Roll up on the plastic wrap and store in an airtight jar.
BONUS: All-Purpose No-Salt Seasoning Mix
Since one cannot tackle a trail on fruit alone, here's a seasoning mix to sprinkle on everything else, giving you a multitude of flavor in a single container.
What you need:
» 1 tablespoon garlic powder
» 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
» 1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley
» 1 1/4 teaspoons dried savory
» 1 1/4 teaspoons ground hyme
» 1 teaspoon ground mace
» 1 teaspoon onion powder
» 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
» 1 teaspoon dried sage
» 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper