Submitted Photo Apples, cherries and grapes are all excellent fruits for drying. (Pixabay photo)

I crunched through the dried leaves on our sidewalk as I looked up to admire the glorious orange, red and yellow leaves on trees in our colorful autumn season.

When I walked into our house, I picked up dried leaves from a rug. Our dogs had scampered in with leaves clinging to their fur. Sometimes, they nibble on the leaves, but they do not find dried leaves to be appealing snacks.

According to food historians, early people observed animal feeding behavior to determine what was edible. Berries, for example, may have fallen from a tree, and the animals ate the dried fruit — and lived.

Beyond learning from animals, people soon discovered that food could last longer if it was dried.

Drying, or

See Full Page