The World de Wally had a rollback last week on strawberries {$1.50/lb} so I went a little hog wild and bought a lot… maybe 8 pounds! And this is what we did with them…
::First::
Homemade fruit roll-ups.
If you were around last summer, you may remember we made blueberry and peach fruit roll-ups and the kids {and adults} devoured them. This is kinda like the same song, second verse. I’ve been waiting for fruit to come back in season and prices to drop so I could try other variations. Last week happened to be the week of the strawberry fruit roll-up… and needless to say, they’ve already been gobbled up.
The much abbreviated version goes something like: blend strawberries & applesauce in blender, add lemon juice and sugar, reduce in saucepan while stirring, spread on parchment-lined cookie sheet, bake for a LONG time on a low heat. If you’d like the unabridged version I made a PDF HERE with all the details for all three varieties {blueberry peach, peach, and strawberry}.
I think the most important step is to let it properly reduce to a thick applesauce consistency. You’ll know you’re there when you part the red sea and the red sea stays parted when you reach the other side.
I personally think the best time to make this is right before you go to bed, as long as you’re not afraid to leave your oven on while you sleep. Once it’s reduced, spread it evenly on a parchment-lined {or heat/microwave safe plastic wrap} cookie sheet and bake at a low 145°F for 8 to 10 hours {mine has always taken closer to 10 hours than 8}. When it’s all done you can roll it up, slice it and serve it with the peace of mind that it’s preservative & dye free!
*** Edited to add: If you oven only goes down to 170, that is ok! It will still take just as long. It can take up to 12 hours, if you touch it and it’s still squishy, it’s not done. If the top is sticky but the leather is firm you can blot the stickiness off with a paper towel!****
And if you have little rovers… they’ll gobble it up and there’s no doubt you’ll sneak it while they’re napping.
::Second::
Strawberry Jam and lots of it.
This year I tried Marisa’s {from Food in Jars} Strawberry Jam recipe and it is wonderful in so many ways, especially spread on a piece of butter coated, Honey Oatmeal toast! If you have access to strawberries you should give it a try… it will not disappoint!
::Third::
5 minute Mousse
1.5 cups of cold milk
1 {3.4 oz} package of Jello instant pudding {I like chocolate!}
1.5 to 2 cups of heavy whipping cream WHIPPED {or you can cheat and buy the tub of high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils 🙂 but the real deal whipped heavy cream is better! }
This is one of those things that is so incredibly simple I slightly hesitated to even post it. But, regardless of how brainless it is, it is really good and really simple and if you are looking for simple and tasty {and have strawberries near by} I think you’ll love it. My sister first shared the recipe with me a few weeks ago when I made an angel food cake and didn’t know what to serve with it when she suggested, “Make some white chocolate mousse and add a dollop to each slice of cake and garnish with strawberries!” She went on to tell me that you just mix Jello instant pudding with whipped cream for a really quick {and good} mousse.
Variety is the spice of life… so your mousse can be a wide variety of flavors. These happen to the be the 3 that most appeal to me.
And good ole chocolate stood above the rest for this round.
Start by throwing about a cup and a half of heavy whipping cream into a freezing cold mixing bowl and set the mixer on high. While it’s whipping in the stand mixer… I added 1 and 1/2 cups {just under the 2 cups the package calls for} of COLD whole milk to my blender and 1 package {regular 3.9 oz package} of chocolate {or your flavor preference} instant pudding! I blend until it’s well incorporated… by then the whipping cream should be nice and whipped {about 4 or 5 minutes}. If you have a little helper solicit them to scoop the whipped cream {leave a little in the bowl for garnish} into the pudding. It works best if you use throw-away tupperware and leave Cheez-It crumbs on the counter too! 🙂
If you have patience you can teach your 5 year-old how to “fold” the whipped cream into the pudding. If you don’t have patience, stop and pray for some, because you’ll no doubt need it if you have a 5 year-old helping you “fold”!
After lots of folding {which she did wonderfully} you should have a creamy, delicious, heavenly, not-too-sweet 5 minute chocolate mousse.
Put a lid on it and pop it in the fridge for a few minutes and then it’s ready! It’s great with strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream on top! My kids didn’t even notice that the whipped cream wasn’t sweetened.
And last but not least…
We have been highly entertained with t-ball! If you’ve never watched a 5 and 6 year-old t-ball game you are MISSING OUT! It is quite possibly the most precious thing I’ve ever watched. My heart swells watching them and I can’t wipe the smile off my face the entire time I’m there. I think the coach and the ump are both reminding the kids to back up because this girl can really slam it! 🙂
melissa stover
April 12, 2010 at 11:39 pmthe roll ups look so neat. i should really try that.
Ashley Waldrop
April 12, 2010 at 11:46 pmI love the random recipes and crafts you come up with! I am always amazed by what you “muster up!” I looked back at your archives looking for Mother’s Day projects/crafts and couldn’t find any.. Any suggestions.. I wanted to do something for the grandmothers.
Amber
April 12, 2010 at 11:48 pmI just discovered how yummy whipped cream (or cool whip) is mixed with a container of fruity yogurt. Delicious for fruit dipping. I will be making “mousse” tomorrow, yummy.
Aura
April 12, 2010 at 11:51 pmDo you ever get tired of being Supermom? 🙂 You’re giving those babies a wonderful childhood, Darby.
shannon
April 13, 2010 at 12:17 amHi Darby,
Did you do the vanilla bean also? Sounds yummy! I’m getting ready to make some jam and I just might have to try that!
Thanks!
natalie @ our old southern house
April 13, 2010 at 5:49 amoh my, she is precious in that uniform! they have a one- to two-year old soccer league here and even though i know mary margaret would have no clue what is going on i’m tempted to sign her up just because she would be so dang cute running around! 😉
duchess
April 13, 2010 at 6:11 amYum! All of that strawberry goodness looks delish.
I totally agree on the t-ball thing – there’s nothing cuter. Now I get to watch my 12 yr. old son play & it gets really exciting. Ah, the lazy days of spring & summer – I love every minute of it.
Jennifer
April 13, 2010 at 6:27 amYou’ve gotten me all excited about strawberry picking this year! And that mousse…thinking that will have to be made in the next day or two. YUM. Have a great week!!
Donna
April 13, 2010 at 6:29 amThanks for the recipe ideas, can’t wait to try the fruit rollups…I just watched FOOD INC. and I am trying to reduce the amount of prepackaged and preservative laden foods!!! Love the Tball…I have a seven year old playing for the 3rd year…fun to watch!
Tara
April 13, 2010 at 7:17 amWe picked strawberries at our local strawberry patch last week…7.5lbs….did so many of the same things…strawberries galore!
Alli
April 13, 2010 at 7:38 amyou always have the best ideas, my kids thank you, haha. cute pictures, as always. T-ball looks so fun too!!
Sarah M.
April 13, 2010 at 7:47 amI do enjoy the strawberry season! I’m headed a bit futher south (Tampa) this weekend, and I may just stop by a produce stand or two.
Also, I have an excellent recipe for a ooey gooey sauce (though my brother and I…and my college friends prefer to call cake gravy) for Angel Food Cake that is to-die-for. It’s a family recipe, but I’ll share it with you if you want it! Let me know!
Mary Michael
April 13, 2010 at 8:05 amLove your mousse recipe. This is how my mother taught me to make mousse and I had no idea (until very recently) that there was any other way to make it! Yum, I believe we will be having mousse for desert tonite!
simplyblythe
April 13, 2010 at 8:30 amthat t-ball picture is to die for.
her cute little legs and feet…standing so tall and focused, ready for her grand slam.
Jennifer
April 13, 2010 at 8:33 amLOVE these ideas, thank you so much for sharing! I can’t wait to make them for my little one.
Lindsey
April 13, 2010 at 8:35 amyou’ve convinced me. i’ll try to make the roll-ups this week:)! when are you coming over for dinner at our house?
Becky
April 13, 2010 at 8:37 amLove reading your posts, your heart really shines through the words on the screen.
I am sending a little blog award your way today, so feel free to stop by my blog to pick it up anytime! Thanks for your sincere approach to blogging! Blessings ~ B
kristen
April 13, 2010 at 8:51 amum..YUM! and how precious of your little t-ball player! i am mom to the prissiest 4 year old on the face of this planet and can’t help but admit..i’m a tad bit jealous. 🙂 SO fun!
andrea
April 13, 2010 at 8:55 amToo cute! I love the t-ball! Can’t wait for my little guy to start… but even cuter to see a little girl playing. I absolutely love it! I also can’t wait to make the fruit roll ups. You are such an inspiration to me! You help me to see that all I do for my son is really special because reading about you, I can see that everyday mom stuff is really a lot of work (and fun!) and provides a lovely foundation on which your / our kids can feel secure to go out into the world and be the people God wants them to be! Thank you!!
Shannon
April 13, 2010 at 8:57 amOkay, I pretty sure you and I are roughly the same age – but seriously, will you be my mom too? You MADE fruit roll-ups???
Denise
April 13, 2010 at 9:13 amI can remember those days of t-ball just like it was yesterday…my Natalie was so cute running the bases. On her first game, she hit the ball and ran to third instead of first. She was precious! Enjoy every minute of these days because they will fly by. You have a beautiful family!
Cat Moore
April 13, 2010 at 9:22 amLove it! Love all of it! And, I can’t tell you how much I can’t wait for my little stinker to start playing t-ball! 🙂
Jen
April 13, 2010 at 9:22 amLove to see your little girl in the baseball pants. I played softball in college and so appreciate this! Its so cute…
I hope she is knocking some homeruns. It is just precious!
Marisa
April 13, 2010 at 9:25 amOh yay! I’m so delighted to hear that you made the strawberry jam and liked it! I just love it when other people use the recipes I’ve posted.
And oh my, do those fruit roll-ups look good. Despite the fact that I don’t have any kids yet, I will definitely be trying those sooner rather than later. Yum!
beki
April 13, 2010 at 9:41 amHa! Alex has his first t-ball practice of the season tonight. Last year was highly entertaining – I’m looking forward to this season, especially now that his cousin is on the same team.
Erin Deegan
April 13, 2010 at 10:11 ammy daughter in in t-ball… it’s amazingly fun! aren’t they adorable in the little uniform and cleats?
christi
April 13, 2010 at 10:11 amHA!! I made strawberry fruit roll-ups AND jam last weekend!! Too funny! and delicious! =)
Lauren
April 13, 2010 at 10:13 amLove the things you did with your strawberries….I will have to try that chocolate mousse and the strawberry jam! Yum! And the T-Ball pictures are precious!
Bonnie
April 13, 2010 at 10:54 amthe lowest my oven will go is 170, is that too hot???
rebecca
April 13, 2010 at 11:01 ami’m really super excited to try all of the recipes…thanks for sharing…you’re so inspiring!
Elena
April 13, 2010 at 11:15 amI was planning on making strawberry jam but the roll ups? Genious! I am giving that one a go…My kids will be in heaven. Thanks for the recipes.
Elena
Laura
April 13, 2010 at 12:15 pmOh Morgan is the cutest thing in her t-ball uniform!
Sarah
April 13, 2010 at 12:25 pmI will have to try these rollups and jam recipe. my little guys would love them.
thanks for sharing.
fun tball pics too.
Kathy
April 13, 2010 at 1:55 pmThanks for the roll-up recipe. Gonna try it! The T-ball photo’s are the best. The only sports I truly enjoy watching are the ones where I have given birth to one of the players! Morgan is absolutely adorable. I hope she did really slam it!!!
Karen
April 13, 2010 at 2:02 pmWow, you have been busy in the kitchen! I think I will try to low-skill-required mousse and strawberries dessert. It sounds refreshing!
Rebecca
April 13, 2010 at 2:12 pmI made strawberry fruit roll-ups for our trip to Italy over Thanksgiving and they were a hit with my 16 month old (and her mommy and daddy). I wanted to make sure we had a healthy snack on hand since I didn’t know how easy fruit would be to find there in November. I cheated and used frozen berries b/c I didn’t have time to go to the store along with packing but they were soo good! I’ll just have to make them again soon! I can’t wait to make that mousse! Wish I had all the ingredients right now…
Ashley
April 13, 2010 at 2:21 pmAbsolutely DELISH!!! Can’t wait to try all three recipes! I’ll have to make a trip to our wally-world to see if our strawberries are on sale.
Thanks for sharing!!!
Sara Jane
April 13, 2010 at 2:29 pmYum!! I’m so glad berries are back! That mousse sounds so easy and simple. Thanks!
Carly Winborne
April 13, 2010 at 4:21 pmso i just couldn’t resist. i made the mousse just a few minutes ago and it’s heavenly. i used a small box of the sugar free vanilla so it wasn’t your 3.9 oz you mentioned in the directions. it still turned out perfectly. and then i had an idea. you should make this and serve it in your chocolate-coated cupcake liners (on a post back around V-day) and it would be so fancy. makes me wish i had company coming for dinner, although at this point, they would be eating your fancy mousse with a pack of microwave macaroni and cheese…
Lisa Beaulieu
April 13, 2010 at 4:55 pmHi Darby.
Our favorite way to serve fresh strawberries is with sour cream and brown sugar. Keep the tops on the strawberries to use as a handle and then just dip berries in a bowl of sour cream and then a bowl of brown sugar. No one in my family likes sour cream, but we all love strawberries served this way!
Page
April 13, 2010 at 5:14 pmI have always wanted to know how to make homemade fruit roll ups!!! My husband and I occasionally stay overnight with some kids from church when their parents are out of town – they will love this! Thank you for sharing!! 🙂
Ruth Ann
April 13, 2010 at 5:38 pmMy four kiddos love fruit rolls and gummies. I like the fact that these are healthier for them and I can control portion size with clever cutting. I can hardly wait for berry season to make some new jam. We just used the last bag from our freezer over ice cream. I made your iced banana bars over the weekend and we have a new yummy sweet for our house. All the teachers at work that I shared one with loved them as well. Keep those recipes coming!!
haydee
April 13, 2010 at 6:12 pmCan u post the recipe for your angel cake??
Whitney Adams Mastin
April 13, 2010 at 7:33 pmYummy snacks! I can’t wait to try the fruit roll ups {and not feel too bad about eating them!} Morgan is absolutely the most precious t-ball player ever! I hope she’s having fun!
Christie
April 13, 2010 at 9:49 pmAll three of your recipes look great, and Morgan is the cutest thing ever in her little t-ball uniform!
Melanie Gore
April 14, 2010 at 8:53 amYou are so talented. You have three kids and you are always doing something, making something…..I just don’t know how you do it. The jam looks delish too.
Katie
April 14, 2010 at 2:38 pmYUMMY! I love strawberries! CUTE t-ball girl 🙂
noodleandboof.blogspot.com
D
April 14, 2010 at 3:03 pmYUM!
Katie
April 15, 2010 at 10:56 amHomemade fruit roll-ups – genuis! I cannot wait to try it! Now my mind is wondering what all would work like that…hmmm….
Lee-Anne Fenwick
April 16, 2010 at 7:18 pmI only have a second…Naomi is in the tub and entertained..again, for only a sec if you know what I mean (no worries, I am right here with her). I made your chocolate mousse for dessert tonight -served it with an angel food cake – it was a HUGE hit!!! YEAH for your yummy recipe…THANK YOU!!!!!! Much love
Lauren
April 17, 2010 at 10:11 amIt all looks so yummy!! I think I will try out that jam recipe soon.
jodimichelle
April 17, 2010 at 7:43 pmMaking some fruit roll ups tonight!! https://twitter.com/jodimichelle/status/12368601599
I’m doing strawberry plain and also a strawberry/kiwi. So excited 🙂
Kate
April 19, 2010 at 8:24 amHi Darby! Although I am an avid reader of your blog, I rarely comment, but I just had to say THANK YOU!! for the chocolate mousse recipe! I made a feast over the weekend for my boyfriend and served your mousse for dessert in two heart-shaped ramekins. He finished it in no time flat and in the middle of inhaling it, he paused, turned to me, and said, “I’m so lucky I found you.”
WOW! Who knew 5-minute mousse would elicit such a response?? That recipe is a keeper!
Thanks again!
Kate
Emily L.
April 20, 2010 at 2:32 pmOh man I want to go buy strawberries and make all that stuff right now!!
JenD
April 20, 2010 at 3:55 pmDarby, read your blog all of the time but never comment. I had to come out of the woodwork to say THANK YOU for the fruit roll up tutorial. I literally just was looking up recipes several days ago trying to figure out which way to do them. Thanks for the amazing site!
My strawberry obsession and Aubrey-ism’s… « Queen Bee and her Honeys Blog
April 20, 2010 at 4:19 pm[…] sometimes before we can finish them. Connor just asked me recently if we could make our own fruit roll-up’s and I found a great recipe in one of the blogs I like that we are going to try this weekend. Check […]
Try 1,000 new things: Fruit leather « jodimichelle
April 23, 2010 at 12:35 pm[…] tried making my own fruit roll ups last week after reading about it here and here . There were some REALLY good deals on strawberries last week so I went out and bought 8 […]
Susan
April 25, 2010 at 7:17 pmThanks for this mousse recipe. It forced me to get out my stand mixer for the first time since I got it months ago. It was so easy and yummy. I just might have to keep my mixer on the counter, now!
Martha
April 26, 2010 at 9:11 amok i made the fruit roll ups but they never dried out. after 11hours they were still soft to touch. what did i do wrong. were they not reduced enough maybe? were mine too thick? they did seem a little thicker than your.
thanks
it is still a great idea.
Blueberry Fruit leather | Love in our Home
May 6, 2010 at 1:31 pm[…] by brookeveleber Fruit leather is a better-for-you version of fruit roll-ups. I read about it here on my friend Darby’s blog but decided it looked too complicated. Then, I heard a friend tried […]
Mary Beth
May 9, 2010 at 3:33 pmHi Darby- I’m wondering how many cups of chopped strawberries you end up getting out of 4 lbs. of whole strawberries? Thanks!
Jill T.
May 26, 2010 at 3:56 pmMade the Jam this morning.. Thank you so much for this recipe. We could not wait to taste it. We did let it cool down for a few hours. It set great and jars popped in seconds. Love that half the sugar is used compared to most recipes. The strawberry vanilla smell in my house is to die for.. Fruit rollups later tonight!!
Susan
June 1, 2010 at 7:47 amThanks so much for sharing all of these recipes or links. I made the mousse right after you posted this entry. Then, this weekend, after picking strawberries, I made the leather and got brave enough to try the jam. It was my first time canning and everything worked. I must admit that I was shocked but thrilled to have 9 jars of strawberry vanilla jam. Yum!
Rebekah
September 5, 2011 at 1:24 amMy sister makes this and frosts her cakes with it instead of reg. frosting… Everyone LOVES it and it’s not as sweet… Very Yummy!!!
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