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My kids love fruit leather.  Unfortunately, it's all too easy to find the stuff full of extra sugar and food coloring and inconveniently difficult to find the stuff that contains whole fruits and minimal added sugar.  That's why I like making our own fruit leather, well, that and it makes my house smell yummy and my kids think I'm awesome because mine is tastier than Fruit by the Foot.

My recipe:

Ingredients:

• 5 C fruit, fresh or frozen (thawed)
• My kids love trying different fruit combinations.  Their most unusual but delicious was apple lemon.  
• 2 TBS honey or to taste
• 1 TBS water as needed

Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 150 or the lowest temp. available on your oven.
• Place fruit and honey in blender or food processor and puree.  Add water as needed to achieve consistency of thin baby food.
• Line baking sheet with parchment paper.  
• Pour puree over parchment paper and spread to an even, thin sheet.  Don't spread it too thinly though or you'll end up with fruit chips!
• Bake  for two to four hours (depending on oven temp and puree thickness), checking after two. Again, don't cook too long or you'll have fruit chips.
• You'll know they're done when the surface is not sticky but the leather is still flexible.
• Using very clean kitchen sheers, cut cooled fruit leather into strips (DO NOT remove from parchment paper first!).  
• Roll up and store in an air tight container.  
• Pro-tip:  My kids like to cut the leather into fun shapes like hearts, stars and even kitties. They love taking these shapes to school to share with friends.  

Zucchini Brownies

The first time I made these I didn't tell my kids their main ingredients were fruits and vegetables. I didn't want them to prejudge. I just served them up with a smile on my face. The kids dug in and we all smiled. The next time I made them my oldest daughter helped. She was surprised to see me pull the bags of shredded zucchini and applesauce from the fall harvest from the freezer and even more surprised to see bananas go in the mix. But hey, if they're good they're good and she gobbled them up same as before.  I truly wish I knew where I got this recipe because as good as it is I know whoever created it would have more yummy stuff I'd like to make. These are as delicious and as guilt free as brownies can get.  

Brownies made with zucchini, bananas and applesauce, yielding a brownie with only 120 calories, 2 grams of fat, and a whole bunch of vitamins and minerals, and egg free. YESSSS!!!!

These are even a very moist low fat chocolate brownie alternative, for weight watchers, only 2 ww points per serving ( 24 servings). Its not going to be the same box brownie, but especially someone that only eats sweets occasionally like me, this healthier option is delish and guilt free!!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 2 small or medium bananas mashed
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups finely shredded zucchini (I used frozen. It worked well, just allow for time for it to thaw and drain well before adding.)
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces  

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 9x13 inch baking pan. In a large bowl, mix together the applesauce, mashed bananas and sugar. Add vanilla and cocoa and mix together. Then add baking soda, salt, and zucchini and mix together. Add flour and walnuts and mix together. Spread evenly into a prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes until brownies spring back when gently touched.