Homemade Apricot Honey Fruit Leather

The Basecamp has been swimming in ripe fruit lately due to our CSA's from Smallwood Harvest Farm. We decided to make a couple of different types of fruit leather the other night but the recipe we will feature is for apricot fruit leather. Homemade fruit leather is an excellent way to use up overly ripe fruit and tastes absolutely amazing any time of the year.

Homemade Apricot Honey Fruit Leather 
For our fruit leather we used a dehydrator but you can easily adjust this recipe to be baked in an oven. Yield: 2 plates fruit leather-about 10 fruit roll ups

Ingredients:
8 cups organic ripe apricots
1/2 cup homemade grape juice (you can substitute 1 cup water if necessary)
1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
1/2 cup organic white sugar 1/2 cup fresh organic honey

 Directions:
1.) Cut apricots in half and remove the pits
2.) Combine apricots, sugar, honey, grape juice, and lime juice in a large sauce pan and place over medium-low heat.
3.) Continuously stir and mash the apricot mixture for 20-30 minutes while it remains on medium-low heat.
4.) Blend mixture in a stand blender until smooth.
5.) Line dehydrator plates with parchment paper
6.) Pour mixture onto lined dehydrator plates, ensure that the mixture spreads evenly over the plates or else dehydrating time will vary between sections.
7.) Dehydrate at 150 degrees F for around around12 hours.

The finished product waiting to be cut up! 

Yum! Fresh apricots and finished fruit leather! 

The New Ecology Center Classroom!

When the Roberts family owned the Basecamp, Dick built a workshop as a place to finish projects of his own and focus on his varied interests. Several years ago, Kim and Steve happily realized the many opportunities the space provides, and thus, a new project was born at Basecamp. 

Even Mica the dog
tried to get in on the action

Owners, employees, interns, friends, a contractor, and Mica the dog to boot were vital in changing the space to one as versatile to host yoga retreats, weekly Thursday lecture series, art retreats, and hopefully some movie nights throughout the winter!Our beloved contractor, Andy, helped everyone find their inner carpenter and painter. 

Andy demonstrating the 

proper grouting technique

As the new marketing intern freshly back West from New York City, I was excited to get right to work; there was certainly many new skills to learn. After clearing out the workshop, the walls, ceiling, insulation, floors, wiring, and heating needed attention. 

New skill: mixing colors for plaster

During the process, friends from near and far stopped in to see and help with this meaningful project assisting employees with all aspects of the work. Catherine, the biology intern, had a visit from her boyfriend, Dan. He excitedly jumped right to work helping her cement beautiful ceramic tiles! Thanks Dan!

Dan helped us lay tiles and Methow River Rocks

 

Swirls of tile started the mosaic

 With the lighting installed and the walls finished, the final touch was leveling the cement floor and laying bamboo wood.   

Kim and Steve led the group in problem solving throughout the entire experience, and the flooring was no different. With some help from friends and neighbors, and the drive for completion, the classroom was finished just in time for Susan Prichard's presentation on native insects of the Methow Valley on last Thursday! 

Thursday's group gathered for Susan's presentation

With the lighting dimmed for her slideshow, it felt so satisfying to see lecturing and learning happening in the refinished Classroom.  

Here's to much more learning, and laughter all year long.   

Happy New Years!

Mindful Movement Retreat

What an amazing way to spend a long weekend in the Methow Valley!  Together with Mary Marmorstone and Quin Brett (through Vera Wellness), the North Cascades Basecamp hosted an amazing weekend of challenge, restoration, and wellness for a group of ladies throughout Washington.  Yoga on the grass or in the lodge filled everyone's stretching and strengthening needs, while time on the rock pushed everyone to new heights.  We hope to do it again next year!