Bella Viva Wants Your Recipe!
Have a favorite recipe with dried fruits? We'd love to try it! Send us your favorite dried fruit recipe and we may post it to our Online Cook Book to share with all Bella Viva fruit lovers. Because all families have special recipes, all participants will receive a 20% discount code!

Prize:
We're going to test these recipes in our Bella Viva Kitchen and our 3 favorites will receive Prizes! 1st place: a $100 Bella Viva Gift Certificate, 2nd place: a $75 Bella Viva Gift Certificate, and 3rd place: a $50 Bella Viva Gift Certificate.

What to send us:
Include your name, state, and town for mention in our Online Cook Book. (If you do not wish to take credit for your recipe and you do not with to be mentioned in our Online Cook Book, do not send us the requested information). Send your recipes to Michael@BellaViva.com by 9-21-09. All participants will receive a 20% discount code! Results will post in our October Newsletter.

Drying Pears
Drying pears is a fairly simple process. After the pears are sliced, they are protected from oxidation. Sulphur dioxide works as a powerful antioxidant to prevent oxygen molecules from bonding to the fruit’s vitamins and other beneficial properties.

The natural compound sulphur is placed in a small pot and lit on fire which creates Sulphur Dioxide. Sulphur Dioxide is still hungry for one more oxygen molecule. This oxygen-hungry compound will allow these pears to dry in the sun for 4-5 days as it absorbs the oxygen molecules that try to oxidize the fruit.

For those of you who prefer dried fruit without any preservative, we have developed a way to dry pears naturally. Usually when drying fruit naturally, you will run into oxidation issues and the fruit will turn brown and loose flavor. A propriatarry process, developed here at Bella Viva Orchards, has alowed us to dry pears with our any preservative. and they taste fantastic!

Here is a little secret: If you keep your dried fruit in an airtight container and store in a refrigerator. It will likely last much longer than the 90 days shelf life it is given.

I would love to hear your thoughts or answer any questions you might have about drying pears. Leave a note on our BLOG or reply to this email. I can't wait to try the dried fruit recipe you have for the recipe contest! Michael Colombo