Sometimes I find things online that are just short of genius and this is one of those. With my plethora of sweet potatoes in hand from last years harvest I was looking for creative ways to preserve and use them. Lo and behold I found THIS post over at back packing chef for dehydrated sweet potato bark as a convenient backpacking food.
Sweet Potato Bark
- 1 large or 2 small Sweet Potatoes (approx. 13 ounces before peeling)
- ½ cup Apple Juice
- 1 Tbsp Real Maple Syrup
- 1 tsp Cinnamon (may include nutmeg)
This is her original recipe........
It's really rather simple. Wash, peel and chunk potatoes.
Boil until tender......drain WELL
Gather supplies. Parchment paper, cinnamon and nutmeg, maple syrup or honey, apple juice and stick blender.
Mash potatoes. Add cinnamon, nutmeg (optional), maple syrup or honey, and apple juice. Now although the original recipe called for 1/2 cup apple juice for every 13 ounces of potato be very careful as you do not want your potato mixture runny, I used much less. Remember every drop of liquid you add is that much more you are going to have to dehydrate out! I added more syrup than the original recipe also. Season your potato mixture to your own family's taste. You want this the consistency of thick mashed potatoes.
The original site put her potato mixture in a blender I simply pulled out my handy wand mixer and pulsed a few times to puree well.
I then cut pieces of parchment paper to fit my dehydrator trays. Spread potato puree on parchment paper about 1/8 inch thick. DO NOT USE WAXED PAPER!!
I then dehydrated at 135 degrees.
Once the jerky was dry enough on the top side to separate from paper (watch the middle). I simply flipped the parchment paper over and peeled the paper off leaving the leather right on the tray. I continued to dehydrate until crisp. If you wanted you could dehydrate less and use as fruit rollups. I have to tell you this stuff is delicious!!
Although it is addictive I put this in pint jars and sealed with oxygen absorbers. You could run it through a food processor and make a powder if you so desire but I just broke mine up in small pieces. This has a wonderful taste of maple syrup or honey, apples, nutmeg and cinnamon. I plan to add this to my morning oatmeal while cooking and the boiling water should melt it nicely. I am always in need of potassium. After radiation therapy my body has trouble absorbing nutrients due to radiation damage of the lower digestive system. Especially B12 and potassium. So much so that I have to wear B12 patches. Sweet potatoes are a High source of potassium. Throw in a hand full of my homegrown walnuts high in Omega 3 and who needs vitamins. Not to mention that oatmeal helps lower cholesterol. This should taste great in my oatmeal too. Considering making some rollups for the grandkids also!
I have to tell you though that I am going to make lots of this. Everyone in the house is eating my bark before I can even get it in the jars. This stuff is so good and only natural sweeteners : )
Blessings from The Holler
The Canned Quilter
Wow, another great idea. I'm going to do this one as well.... thank you!
ReplyDeleteClever idea! This could be one of those snack foods that is great for a sweet tooth craving but yet is still healthy. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love this! thank you for the recipe
ReplyDeleteThat's so neat!!
ReplyDeleteOh yummy yumm... I'll definitely try this next fall.. I dehydrated loads of sugar pie pumpkins & winter squash in this manner minus the sweeteners and spices.. I haddent thought to put it in my morning oatmeal.. but I will. :) Thanks for the great idea!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds great. I don't have any sweet potatoes right now except canned from the store but I may try draining them really well and using them. I have 5 children and healthy snacks can be hard to come up with. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteCQ,
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of sweet potato bark. It looks good and sounds amazing reading the recipe, this is one I must try. I may even run some down to my Dad, he's gone through his radiation treatments and is not starting his chemo. He loves sweet potato's. He's lost 50+ pounds going through this process and needs to put weight back on to get through chemo. Thank you for this recipe and post.
Will keep your Dad in my prayers : )
DeleteCQ,
DeleteThank you so very much.
I've never heard of this either, but it sounds delicious. You are so clever.
ReplyDeleteI know that you are a follower of my husband's blog. He is having a great give-a-way, $25 Amazon gift card . . . I have a fast link to his blog, come put your name in the hat :) and check out his latest project.
Your blogging sister, Connie