Squash and Beet chip recipe

May 8, 2006

I've gotten a lot of off-list requests for this, so thought i'd post

it. Can it be placed into the database? Also, if anyone has recipe

for zucchini chips I'd like it. Thanks!

Suzanne

Squash and Beet Chips

This " recipe " is a little bit of trial-and-error, so what I've

written down is just for guidance. Getting the chips crispy seems to

depend a little on the moisture and maturity of the vegetables

you're using.

First, scrub your beets really well, peel if you prefer (I don't).

Peel your squash - I use just the skinny neck of butternut squash,

which makes nice little round slices. I slice my chips on a

mandoline, I got a cheap one (under $10 at Linens N Things but am

awaiting a better-quality one for Mothers Day!) I don't think a

knife would work very well. At first I used the thick side of a

grater, but it didn't work very well. A food processor, if it can

produce uniform slices, could work. It's important to get the slices

pretty uniform in thickness. Slice them as thin as possible, but not

quite see-through. Mine are thicker just because my mandoline

doesn't have a very thin setting, but it still works, just takes

longer to cook. Cooking time depends on the thickness. Slice a lot -

these shrink up when cooking and go fast in my house!

Oil a baking sheet. Lay the slices on it in a single layer, they can

touch but not overlap. I usually do as many sheets as I can fit in

my oven. Preheat the oven to 350*. I usually cook for 60 minutes,

but it could be as little as 30 or as much as 2 hours, depending on

the thickness. Check them often. You can turn them over partway

through but not required. Some of the slices will start browning

around the edges when they're getting close to done. At this point

they will probably be a little rubbery. We're aiming to get them

crispy, so they break rather than bend. This usually takes an

additional step. Lower the oven temp to 200* and let them dehydrate

at this temp for anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 hours ... this step

is very variable in how long it takes. Sometimes my chips drive me

crazy, they take so long to crisp up! But they all eventually do.

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