Vanilla Nectarine Fruit Leather

Fruit leather is a great way to preserve the season. Whether you have a case or a bowl of fruit, a few trays of the intense essence of ripe summer are at your fingertips. And by making your own, you don't need preservatives or loads of sugar. While kids love fruit leather, I send my husband off on business trips with a bag of it too, and it is shared and enjoyed immediately. 

Vanilla Nectarine Leather

Remove pit from 10 ripe nectarines. Combine nectarines and the seeds from one scraped vanilla bean In a blender or Vitamix, Blend on high for 30 seconds until fully liquidated and peel is gone. Taste. Ripe sweet fruit will not need sweetener, but some fruit may need a *little* drizzle of honey or maple syrup. Spread onto two lined dehydrator sheets, and dry on fruit leather setting until it is dry enough to peel without tearing, usually 2 hours or so. Peel gently and flip over on the dehydrator sheet, and continue to dry until no longer sticky but pliable. Cut into strips and roll into parchment paper while still warm. Store in airtight container!

---