Dehyrdrator Fun Vol 1 - Apple Sugar

[Captain Smollett]

I read a post on here a while back that mentioned a dehydrator and someone else mentioned rehydrating would use lots of fresh water.  Well, not everything that's dehydrated has to be rehydrated.  I use mine to make jerky and dried bananas and other fruits were good, too.

But here's an idea I got from one dehydrator recipe book that I must confess works, and tastes, really good.  We all realize that processed cane sugar is not as good for you as the sugars naturally occuring in fruits (and other foods).  So, with the dehydrator, it is a snap to make 'natural' sugar, and it is flavored as well.  Use it in hot beverages, on cereal, etc.  I've done it with apples.

Skin, core and dice some apples fairly small.  Dehydrate them* thoroughly and after they are good and dry, pulverize them in a food processor or blender.  This will make a sort of dried apple powder, which makes a very good-for-you and tasty sugar substitute.  I don't know about baking with it, though; I've never tried that.

* You don't have to have a dehydrator to do this (or any food dehydration).  For years, before my wife and I finally broke down and got a Walmart Special dehydrator, I used the "oven on low with the door propped open" method.  It takes a little longer than most recipes call for, and you can help it by clipping a fan to the opening of the oven door to circulate the air.