Apple Chips

What do you do when you have around 18 lbs of apples laying around the house? You cook…duh! After the great apple picking adventure of 2012, I had more apples laying around than I knew what to do with. Lately I’ve been trying to eat healthier, so I didn’t want to make ten thousand different desserts that would fling me into depression every time I stepped on the scale. But I definitely couldn’t waste the opportunity to play with all this fresh organic produce. So I thought to myself – “Self…other than just eating an apple, what’s a fun snack food that I could make with these tasty nuggets?”. A voice inside me sprung up and shouted “bake some apple chips, yo fool!” (yes, the voice inside me has street cred). I could totally binge on homemade apple chips without feeling any guilt. Score!

So I rinsed off a few apples, took out a sharp knife, and began slicing. And slicing. And slicing. Andddd slicing. Yup, it’s a little time consuming without a mandolin, but I knew it would be worth it in the end. And the “recipe” couldn’t be simpler. All you do is lay the slices on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper, stick them in the oven, and bake. That’s it. Fool proof! I know some people like sprinkling the slices with apple pie seasoning, cinnamon, or a light dusting of sugar…but I find that completely unnecessary. Why tamper with the fresh taste of a juicy apple? I mean it. If you start with a delicious apple, you’ll end up with a delicious chip. Like I always say, quality ingredients can yield some amazing results.

Anyway, after baking in the oven for a few hours, the chips come out so sweetly crisp. You won’t be able to stop eating them. When my mom got home and saw a pile of apple chips on the counter, she told me I should wrap them in cute bags and sell them haha. I’m debating sending a few to Meagan (my friend who just moved to Paraguay), but they most likely wouldn’t be fresh by the time they made it through customs. Oh well….more for me. :)

**As for the recipe, if you want more chips, just slice more apples. Simple as that!**

5 apples

Preheat oven to 225 or 235 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cover 2 or 3 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Using a mandolin (or a steady hand), slice the apples about 1/8 – 1/4 inch in thickness. Remove seeds.

Lay the slices on the baking sheet, making sure that none overlap.

Bake for 2.5-3 hours, or until crisp.

Cool slightly. Enjoy!