1/19/11

Cooking With Love–Apple Chips

I previously wrote about taking a cooking workshop with Chef Carla Hall. One of the items on the menu that went with the Brule was Apple Chips. I couldn’t help but think that they would be an awesome – healthy - chip like snack instead of regular ole potato chips. You get all the joy & satisfaction of a crunchy snack without all the fat & calories. YES!

 

I decided to try both apple & pears for my first go round.

applechips pearchips

They are very easy to make.

 

First, prepare some simple syrup – I made the syrup from Carla’s recipe – Ginger Syrup. Mix 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar & 1/2 cup chopped fresh ginger in pan, bring to boil till everything dissolves, set aside. I used crystalized ginger because that is what I had in the fridge (which didn’t all dissolve – no matter – I worked around it, and, in fact, the syrup tastes even better today). Set oven to 350.

 

Next, slice up your apple thinly as in the photo above. Lay out your slices on parchment paper and brush both sides of slices with syrup. I sprinkled them with my “compliments” – kosher salt – and put them in the oven.

brushingchips

 

Place your trays in oven and back for approx. 40 min.

 

oven_chips

 

and…WHA LA! You have chips -

 

chips_final

They are delicious. The FireMarshall liked them too. He said they have a slight sweet & sour taste to them.

 

Here are a couple of things that I will try with my next batch:

- either put the oven up to 400 or leave in longer. A few didn’t get quite crispy enough. You don’t want to burn them (remember – not ready, not ready, BURNT) but while the ones that are not crispy are still good, I want crispy.

- don’t forget the salt. I went light because I wasn’t sure how it would come out, but they are tasty indeed with the sweet and salty combo.

- make note to buy some silpats to use instead of parchment paper.

 

Now that I have some syrup already made I can do this any ole time. Gonna make me up a batch tomorrow for my snack.

 

Now, for all you Weight Watchers people wondering OMG! how many points is that…well, and apple has 0 (ZERO) points. I’m going to add 1 (maybe 2) points for the syrup. If you use a sugar substitute then you are back to ZERO points per serving. You get about 15-20 slices from a nice size apple.

 

Satisfying, Filling. I don’t know about anybody else, but the texture & ‘crunch’ or chew factor plays heavily in my choice of foods. That’s why liquid diets don’t work well for me. Unsatisfying, NOT fulfilling.

 

Add this snack to your fitness & healthy eating lifestyle. You will be pleasantly surprised.

 

Get Crunchin!