Baked Potato Chips

So today, after all that baking we did, we tossed some of it out.  I put some in the freezer because sometimes you truly JUST NEED a treat. But why wait until the New Year to start that diet?  I mean really--things are always just put on hold.  Each day is a new day!

Today we tried our hand at making our own Potato Chips for supper.

Potato Chips?  Yes!  Didn't you just say you were starting a diet? Uhm, yes!

Baby steps! ;)   Actually, the potato chips we made were pretty yummy, no preservatives, and less calories than a bag of store bought chips.

The recipe is so simple too.

I like to find things that the kids can help with in the kitchen, and this recipe is just that.

First of all, we used Red Skinned Potatoes and we left the skin on. 

*Note, I'm not allowed to use the Mandolin Slicer anymore.   Hubby says I cut myself with sharp utensils too often!  Fact!* 

 They potatoes were sliced on about a 2 on the mandolin (about 1/8').  

You want them thin, but not see through thin.

Then, we lightly oiled the baking sheet. 

 I suggest using olive oil, it's a healthier choice.  

You could also use whatever oils you have on hand.  

You MAY be able to use parchment paper, but I didn't try that yet.

*Connor just used a brush to brush the oil around on our very loved baking pans that are just perfect for this (not cookies by the way), and yes, he's in jammies! Don't judge!* :)

Place the potatoes in a bowl/dish and lightly coat them with olive oil

 (or whatever oils you are using).

Lay your potatoes in a single layer on your cookie sheet.

And here's the fun part.  The possibilities are ENDLESS.

I like dill, so I sprinkled some dill on my potatoes.

My husband likes hot and spicy, so we sprinkled some ghost pepper salt on his.

The kids just like spices in general.  

 BUT, if you like just Salt...

Let me give you a close up of one of the great things from the pic above:

I was lucky enough to get this at a Kitchen Collection Sample Sale for a fraction of the cost.  It is AWESOME.  I must have it all the time now! 

Put them in your oven (Preheated to 400) and let them back for about 20 minutes or so--just til they are crispy enough.  Place in a basket or dish lined with paper towels to let the excess oil drip off the chips and then serve with your favorite main course.

Mine? A grilled pizza burger. 

**If you are wanting a mandolin, I do like the folding ones as they are easier to store.

Here's a link to one.

                                                                 

Happy *HEALTHIER* Eating!

Christmas---and the After Mess

Tell me, why is it we clean our homes the day before family comes for Christmas and then clean it up the day after the mess?  In my case they were two days apart.  We cleaned really well Christmas Eve before the in-laws came that evening.  We tidied up our Christmas morning mess before my dad came for Christmas lunch.  Then we cleaned up the day after Christmas where we also spent time rearranging and reorganizing.  I've come to realize that housework is just never really complete.

I mean think about it....just when you think you're all "caught up" someone decides it's time to eat.  There go the dishes and the kitchen!  Or maybe it's that they need to shower and/or change clothes.  Well, there goes the laundry.  It's just an endless task.  So this year, I'm going to try to tackle my work in increments and assign a chore a night so I can enjoy my weekends.  I've tried this before, but yet I still end up cleaning the whole house over the weekend.  There's something about freshly vacuumed carpet and the 

smell of polished furniture.  

Okay, back to my original thoughts---Christmas.  I baked--correction WE baked.  Everyone took part in our baking this year.  The goody trays (though I do sell some) have been a git to my aunt/uncle and Grandma for years---WAY before I was married with my own kids.  It's something I remember my mom doing.  I took over when I was in high school and have enjoyed it ever since.  This is what our tray looked like this year. 

See those little chocolate and butterscotch covered things?  OHH MY they are AWESOME and so SUPER easy to make.  My kids were both able to help make these.

Here's the recipe (And I really don't remember where it came from, so I apologize)

Pretzel Bites

40 Square Pretzels

1 bag of Butterscotch chips

20 marshmallows cut in half (making 40)

Ghiradelli melting chips

Place a large baking rack over wax paper.

Arrange pretzels over baking rack.

In a microwave safe bowl combine butterscotch chips and shortening. Melt in 30-second intervals stirring constantly.

Dip each marshmallow half in melted butterscotch. Using two forks, gently place marshmallows onto pretzels.

In another microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate candy coating and remaining 3 tablespoons of shortening. Stir every 30 seconds until melted. Pour about a tablespoon of chocolate over each marshmallow allowing chocolate to drip down sides. Decorate with sprinkles if desired. Allow marshmallows to set for about 30 minutes.

Store in an airtight container.

Read more at http://www.lemonsforlulu.com/2013/11/20/butterscotch-marshmallow-bites/#06zJtBTyB3aRQGOV.99

Place a sheet of wax paper under a cooling rack.  Place pretzels on the baking rack. Melt butterscotch chips in microwave safe dish.  Coat marshmallows in butterscotch chips.  

(If the chips seem to thick to coat marshmallows, add a bit of oil or shortening to make it a little thinner.)  Place coated marshmallow onto pretzel. 

 (I found using a fork and knife to slide was easiest.)

After marshmallows have all been set on pretzels, melt the Ghiradelli chips.  Spoon the melted chocolate over the coated marshmallows.  Sprinkle just enough to make it look pretty.   (This could also be done for Valentine's Day using red and pink Sprinkles) Allow to set until dry (about 20 minutes) and store in an airtight container.

Place a large baking rack over wax paper.

Arrange pretzels over baking rack.

In a microwave safe bowl combine butterscotch chips and shortening. Melt in 30-second intervals stirring constantly.

Dip each marshmallow half in melted butterscotch. Using two forks, gently place marshmallows onto pretzels.

In another microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate candy coating and remaining 3 tablespoons of shortening. Stir every 30 seconds until melted. Pour about a tablespoon of chocolate over each marshmallow allowing chocolate to drip down sides. Decorate with sprinkles if desired. Allow marshmallows to set for about 30 minutes.

Store in an airtight container.

Read more at http://www.lemonsforlulu.com/2013/11/20/butterscotch-marshmallow-bites/#06zJtBTyB3aRQGOV.99

Place a large baking rack over wax paper.

Arrange pretzels over baking rack.

In a microwave safe bowl combine butterscotch chips and shortening. Melt in 30-second intervals stirring constantly.

Dip each marshmallow half in melted butterscotch. Using two forks, gently place marshmallows onto pretzels.

In another microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate candy coating and remaining 3 tablespoons of shortening. Stir every 30 seconds until melted. Pour about a tablespoon of chocolate over each marshmallow allowing chocolate to drip down sides. Decorate with sprinkles if desired. Allow marshmallows to set for about 30 minutes.

Store in an airtight container.

Read more at http://www.lemonsforlulu.com/2013/11/20/butterscotch-marshmallow-bites/#06zJtBTyB3aRQGOV.99

Place a large baking rack over wax paper.

Arrange pretzels over baking rack.

In a microwave safe bowl combine butterscotch chips and shortening. Melt in 30-second intervals stirring constantly.

Dip each marshmallow half in melted butterscotch. Using two forks, gently place marshmallows onto pretzels.

In another microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate candy coating and remaining 3 tablespoons of shortening. Stir every 30 seconds until melted. Pour about a tablespoon of chocolate over each marshmallow allowing chocolate to drip down sides. Decorate with sprinkles if desired. Allow marshmallows to set for about 30 minutes.

Store in an airtight container.

Read more at http://www.lemonsforlulu.com/2013/11/20/butterscotch-marshmallow-bites/#06zJtBTyB3aRQGOV.99

Then after the Christmas unwrappings, it was time to find a place for all of the new stuff, reorganize and rearrange.   I have a toy bin organizer in my son's room that I JUST cleaned during Thanksgiving break.  Mind you, my son rarely plays with toys, yet that thing needs cleaned out DAILY!  So--we snapped a picture of it with the Kindle and now he can look to see what it looks like and put things back in their correct spot.  This will save me time.  

When it came time to clean up in my room, I was lucky enough to get a new jewelry chest.  It holds my bracelets and necklaces.  My earrings, though, I've stored in ice cube trays for a few years now.  It's affordable.  It's organized.  

It fits inside my drawer.  It makes it SUPER easy to find a matching pair. 

Now that the house is tidy (for the moment), I have some time to enjoy my kiddos.

New Blog and a Cheap, Fast, and Easy Gift

I have to laugh as I type that title.  My mom always said that she wanted to write her own cookbook called Cheap, Fast and Easy as that was her lifestyle as a working mom, a wife and a mother of 3.  One of those three, by the way, is WONDERFUL! The other two, well, they are okay too---I guess! :)

Welcome to my new blog---Chit Chat and Chocolate Bars.  This blog is basically a bunch of ramblings of little ole' me.  I may include gift ideas, recipes, best deals, reviews, and personal opinions of current topics.  Basically, it's going to be my therapy--a way to relax, meet a few "friends" and share my experiences and thoughts.  It's a mommy blog, a family blog, a baking blog---it's just a jumble of goodness, or at least I hope it to be. 

Excuse the look.  It's nothing fancy dancy at the moment.  It's something I may change down the road, but for now, it works for me.  I struggled finding a name, but I think this one suits me.  I think that talking (meeting new people) and chocolate are among my favorite things outside of my family.  

So most of you probably stumbled upon me from that little old teacher blog of mine. I have truly enjoyed my teacher blog and FB page, and now I'm ready to venture out into new interests.  As much as I love my job----my heart still lies with wanting a bakery.  SOMEDAY, maybe, that will happen.  Until then, I can blog about it---which brings me to my cheap, fast and easy gift.

Do you get gifts for your coworkers, neighbors, or friends?  That can all add up.  Mind you, I take after my mom....and I'm a teacher...I'm all about CHEAP, FAST, AND EASY.  

There's something about gift cards....I hate to just give them.  I feel like they are a great idea because they are practical.  The recipient can then go and get what they want and it's a win-win, right?  I don't like gift cards because I feel that they are too impersonal.  So, I like to give a little baked good with it, or a simple gift to unwrap.  I mean who doesn't like to unwrap presents?  Not this girl!

This is my little gift for my coworkers.  Both of my teammates are fresh, out of college MALES.  They are both living on their own for the first time (Away from home--same state, but different towns).  I made them a little Christmas Crunch Munch, wrapped it in a little bag, tucked the bag and gift card inside of a little glass jar and Ta-da!  We're done.  Easy! 

The jars were like $2.50 from Walmart. 

Mine are trimmed in a burgandy, but I saw these on Amazon--they are trimmed in blue.
They would be pretty for a "winter blues" gift/treat.

Then I filled them up with this delicious combo.

Today was the first day I've made this treat, though I've made similar for Halloween.

My niece wanted me to find ways to make it for all holidays, so I did.

Now mind you, there's no right or wrong way to make this mix, but below is my recipe. 

The recipe can be halved/doubled and more goodies can be added in.

DeAnne's Christmas Crunch

4 cups Vanilla Chex cereal

2 cups pretzel twists

1/2 bag of mini M&M baking bits (red and green)

1/2 bag of Reese minis

1 cup mini marshmallows

1/4 to 1/2 bag of Ghiradelli melting wafters

Combine the first 5 ingredients and carefully toss to mix.

 Melt chocolate according to package directions. 

(It usually takes mine about 2 2/12 minutes in the microwave to melt completely.)

Carefully pour over the dry mix and toss to coat.  

The reese's may melt just a tad, but ohh my goodness!!  

Tie it up in a little decorative baggy, add a bow, stick in a basket and you have a quick gift to leave by your door for those that "pop in" too.  Of course, you can always store it in a air tight container and eat it yourself....I won't tell anyone. :)

Here's a picture of the Ghiradelli wafers I referred to in my recipe. 

 

 

This price is for a 2 pack which is actually a decent deal---HOWEVER,  I have stocked up on mine from Sam's Club.  They only carry Ghiradelli for the holidays, and I prefer this chocolate over the Candy Quick. It has a much better taste.