HOME DRYING. 41 



It may then be placed in hot sterilized jars and sealed; or it may 

 be spread on plates or pans in thin sheets and dried thoroughly in 

 a very slow oven from 130 to 140 Fahr. until it can be cut in 

 squares or rounds. It should then be stored. carefully in moisture- 

 proof containers. 



Dried Cherries. 



Dried cherries makes a most desirable substitute for raisins. 

 They may be prepared in the following way: Wash and remove 

 the surface moisture. Spread them, seeded or unseeded, in thin 

 layers on trays. If the cherries are seeded the juice that they loose 

 may be canned. If the skins of the cherries are tough and hard to 

 dry they should be treated with a lye solution, which has been 

 described. Dry them from 3 to 4 hours at no to 150 Fahr. Raise 

 the temperature gradually. 



Dried Plums. 



Small thin-fleshed varieties of plums are not suitable for drying. 

 Select medium-ripe plums, cover them with boiling water, cover 

 the vessel, and let steam for 20 minutes. Drain them, remove the 

 surface moisture, and dry them from 4 to 6 hours, gradually raising 

 the temperature from no to 150 Fahr. 



Dried Prunes. 



The skin of prunes is usually thick and tough and so prevents 

 the fruit from drying quickly. For this reason they are usually 

 treated with a lye solution, as has been described, and then rinsed 

 several times in clear water. They are dried in the same way as 

 plums. If dried prunes are properly cooked they make one of the 

 most delicious and pleasing fruit dishes. They should be soaked 

 from i to 2 days. If they are soaked in freshly made tea their 

 flavour is much improved and intensified. There should be liquid 

 enough to cover them and they should be cooked slowly in the 

 liquid in which they are soaked. The cooking should not take loni; 

 when they are thoroughly soaked. When cooked add sugar enough 

 to sweeten and a small amount of ground cinnamon if desired, or 

 grated orange-rind. The pits may be cracked and the meats added 

 to the fruit if desired. 



Dried Peaches. 



Peaches are usually dried unpeeled. Cut them in halves and 

 remove the pits. Leave the fruit on trays with the pit side up, and 



