Homemade dried apple slices....

I have four children and a couple of times a week they may have hot dinners at school, but the rest of the time I make them each packed lunch boxes. I probably do tend to much to their individual needs in the sense of each lunch box is different, but to be honest preparing them in the morning does not take me that long.

I don't like to make the sandwiches or wraps the day before. I like it all to be fresh on the morning. So in each lunch box they may have a sandwich or wrap, water or juice, portion of fruit and veg, like cucumber, grapes, carrots and strawberries, a cereal bar or yogurt raisins, yogurt and once a week they will have a savoury crisp snack. Rule breaker I know!!

It costs me a fortune in making delicious healthy boxes for my children. The deal is if they eat all of there fruit, veg etc they can have a treat after dinner. So I now prepare and make snacks at home, my favourite is dried apple slices. Easy, quick to do, even with the help of children.

Soaking fruit in lemon juice and water for 30 Min's

Day 1

Day 2

Time to nibble

3 crunchy apples, no marks or blemishes
2 pints of water
Half a lemon juiced
A garden cane, oiled with sunflower oil

You can slice as many apples as you desire, simply add more water and lemon juice.

1. Core the apples and slice into slices, not too thin, size of a pound coin.
2. Place the apple slices into a bowl and pour in the water and squeeze in the lemon juice.
3. Let the apples sit in the lemon water for 30 minutes or so. Place them onto kitchen towel to take off excess water.

Then feed onto a clean cane stick and air dry. Make sure the apple slices are well spaced, to let the air pass. This process will take about 3 days. Then pop into a sealed container, they keep for 3 months. Pop into your children's lunch boxes and see what they think! A great fruity alternative.

Carmela x