I have a tree full of prunes almost ready to harvest, so I thought I would share with you my recipe.
Drying prunes is a little different to most fruits and it starts with harvesting. You will notice I did not say 'picking' because to get the best squishy, chewable, fruit it needs to drop from the tree.
When the first few drop, place a tarpaulin, old blanket or other covering underneath the tree to catch the fruit. Check a couple of times a day and collect what has dropped before the garden critters can find the feast. If you don't grow your own, make sure the fruit you use is fully ripe.
Make a sugar syrup 2 litres of water to 500grams sugar (or 1 pint to 1lb. of sugar in imperial measurement). When sugar is dissolved bring to the boil in a large pan and place the whole, washed fruit into the syrup. When it comes back to the boil turn off the heat and leave to cool overnight.
Now comes the messy part! The next day drain and stone the fruit by sqeezing gently with your hands and placing straight onto the drying trays. Dry as for other fruit, but they still need to be slightly elastic.
Store when cold in glass jars but monitor for a week or so to make sure they are not growing mould. You need to have dried them sufficiently, but if left too long the fruit will be dry. It is a fine line, and if you feel there is too much moisture, place them back in the dryer for a while.
Will last for years if stored in a cool, dark place and you know that no preservatives have been used in the process.
The juice may be used as a cordial, made into jellies, or preserved in vacuum jars.
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