For the more dangerous journeys, where packing as small as possible is essential to our survival, these fruit leathers are vital. They’re portable, good for all diets, and the inclusion of the magical goodberry fruit means that a single small portion will fill a stomach for a day, if not longer. You could just eat a goodberry, sure, but the inclusion of other flavors helps bolster the spirit too.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups of assorted berries, such as strawberries, gooseberries, cranberries (very bitter in this recipe, be cautious), raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries
- 1 cup of goodberries, spellcrafted as fresh as possible
- 1/3 cup of water
- 3 tsp of lemon juice, squeezed fresh
- 1 sprig of basil (optional, I prefer the depth of flavor)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 175F. Combine the berries and finely-chopped goodberries with water, and place in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook until all have softened, then mash the berries well. Add sugar, juice, and basil, then bring back to a simmer, stirring occasionally for 12 minutes. Keep a close eye on it as you do this, as the mixture needs to thicken. Remove and discard the basil sprig.
Use a mortar and pestle to smooth the mixture as fine as possible, then strain it well. Discard any seeds left in the strainer.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and pour the fruit onto it, spreading thinly (1/8 inch thick). Bake this in the preheated oven until the top of the mixture isn’t soft or sticky when you touch it. This process can take you up to six hours.
Once done, allow to cool for 15 minutes, then cut off any too-thin or crackly edges. Leaving the baked fruit leathers on the paper, cut in half lengthwise, then cut each half crosswise into thirds, making half a dozen pieces. Roll each one up.
These are meant to be eaten within the first day or two. A method of cooling will be needed to store them longer.
[OOC: For a modern attempt at this recipe, goodberries can be replaced with literally any berry, and use a food processor or blender instead of the mortar. For an even easier time, use plastic wrap instead of parchment paper.]
