Monday, September 27, 2010

The Conclusion of Operation Sweetie Pots

Last week I finally finished Operation Sweetie Pots.  For those who don't remember, we had at least 25 lbs of sweet potatoes to get through at the beginning of the year so I made a ridiculous amount of puree.  I froze half of it and ended up making some awesome things.
clockwise from top left: sweet potato hamburger buns, sweet potato cinnamon rolls, sweet potato pretzels, and Hungarian sweet potato bread

I made hamburger buns, cinnamon rolls, pretzels, bread, and a huge 9x13 pan of spiced sweet potato blondies (from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar).  It took me two days to get everything done, but it was well worth it.

sweet potato cinnamon roll zoomage

For the hamburger buns, I went with the King Arthur's flour recipe I found online, but I tried to do the cool technique I saw here.  It didn't really work out that well.  If anybody can figure out how to veganize that recipe, please let me know because those buns look awesome!

For the pretzels and cinnamon rolls, I simply subbed sweet potato puree for the pumpkin in two very popular recipes.  You can find the recipes for Katie's pumpkin cinnamon rolls and Kittee's soft whole wheat pumpkin pretzels in the provided links.  This was actually my first time ever making pretzels from scratch.  I didn't have atta flour so I substituted more all purpose with a bit of vital wheat gluten mixed in.  I also used sunflower seeds instead of pumpkin because I need to go shopping like woah.  The results, though misshapen, were absolutely fantastic!  Much easier than I thought it would be.

By far, my favorite thing to make was this Hungarian potato bread.  I subbed a generous 3/4 cups sweet potato puree for the russet potato in the recipe.  It was the first time I made bread that came out with a crisp and crackly outside, soft and chewy inside.  It was fantastic.  Even tasted slightly sour.  I'd make this again soon because it was that delicious!

I love this time of year because I get to enjoy orange food.  I can't wait to buy and use my first can of pumpkin.  That's pretty much the way I celebrate the beginning of fall.  Now, if only the weather could catch up to the season...

12 comments:

radioactivegan said...

That's so awesome. I never thought of pureeing and freezing sweet potatoes, they just end up going to waste ... I'm glad to know there are better options out there.

Andrea said...

The Hungarian bread sounds amazing — got to check that out. Kudos to you for using 25 pounds of sweet potatoes. I probably couldn't have done it!

Just Us said...

Oh my...those cinnamon rolls are calling my name! Everything looks and sounds wonderful!

jessy said...

you kick ass, Monique! the 25lbs of sweet potatoes were used up in the most gloriously delicious ways. wow & yummers! the sweet potato cinnamon roll zoomage = droolworthy, pretzels = so cute - and i think the buns look cool. not too sure how to go about that recipe, but keep us posted if someone does! i've been out of gluten baking for a bit now and am trying to get awesome at the gluten-free stuff since i kinda suck at it (and i need not to 'cause i'm g-f now). ah ha ha! i still need to get Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar (maybe x-mas?!) and make some yummies from it. so freak'n brilliant to freeze the puree. w00t!

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

GOOD LORD! I can't even imagine.. everything looks good though!

Anonymous said...

Very impressive! I am a sucker for anything made of sweet potato, butternut squash, or pumpkin. I really need to try those pumpkin cinnamon rolls already. Everyone says they are amazing.

x said...

Looks like you baked a butt-load of sweet potatoey goodness!

I would love a pretzel, it's been too long since I've had one.

Monique a.k.a. Mo said...

Kiersten-Those rolls will change your life. My husband, a man who hates sweets with a passion, cannot get enough of them. They are so delicious.

Jen said...

you are the best ppker. wow. just wow.

River said...

Oooh, the sweet potato hamburger buns would go so well with black bean burgers! The sweet potato cinnamon roll zoomage is evil, and so is the crusty bread. *drooool* This post is a carboholic's dream! :D

Unknown said...

the bread looks amazing. good job! I am making that bread day and night :)

VeganKitchenDiaries said...

Sweet potato what now>! Oh no you didnnnnn! (VeganKitchenDiaries)