Scandinavian Fruit Soup ("spicy and fragrant")

Scandinavian Fruit Soup ("spicy and fragrant")
1 cup dried prunes
1 cup dried apricots
1 cup golden raisins
2 apples, thinly sliced
1 (2-inch) cinnamon stick
½ cup sugar
Dash of salt
1/4 lemon, thinly sliced
1/2 orange, thinly sliced
1/3 cup tapioca (or sago, if available)
1 (10 ounce) package frozen strawberries, thawed

Place prunes, apricots and raisins in saucepan; add water to cover well. Bring to a boil; turn heat as low as possible. Cover and simmer 30 minutes. Add apples, cinnamon stick, sugar, salt, lemon, orange, tapioca and juice drained from strawberries. Simmer uncovered until apples and tapioca are cooked. Add strawberries and bring to a boil. Add more sugar if desired. Serve warm or cold, with plain or whipped cream, if desired.
10 to 12 servings