Not much going on in the looks department here.

These didn’t taste bad, they just don’t look like much. But that sometimes happens when you try new things. In fact, this post is less about introducing a new recipe as it is an encouragement to try experimenting in the kitchen. Not all recipes have to be clever, unique, or look astounding. Start with something you like and let your curiosity take over. Make a few small changes, try a different seasoning, switch some vegetables…

(If you do want this recipe, click this link for the roasted chickpea recipe, and reduce the baking time to 30 minutes, check after 20. I made the savory version.)

Don’t be afraid to take one idea and apply it to another. Look for contrasts or similarities. Let’s use these (or any) roasted beans as a launching point. Start by considering their texture: crunchy. What is their flavor like: fairly neutral, but easily modifiable (they originally taste like beans, obviously). What else is crunchy, but has a neutral, easily modifiable flavor… croutons! Consider using dry roasted beans as a garnish on a salad. Maybe roast the beans with a bit of garlic powder and some herbs to make them more like garlic croutons. See, that was an easy and original twist for your next salad.

Don’t be afraid to trying new things in the kitchen, you may be happily surprised. And if you aren’t, well, you don’t need to blog about it. You can leave that to me :)

Homemade apple chips.

Apples are in season now and you can get bags of them for cheap. You can use apples in all sorts of dishes. I’ll post later about a butternut squash soup with apples in it… it’s really good. I also plan to make an apple tart later in the year, so I’ll post about that when I get around to making it.

I wanted something to snack on though, and I didn’t want to put forth a lot of effort. Apple chips fit the bill. This recipe is quick and easy. It’s even easier if you have a mandolin, but a chef’s knife will get the job done. Also, if you have a convection oven, turn that setting on, it’s more effective at drying the chips out, but you get nearly the same thing with a regular over. (I have a regular oven and these came out fine.)

The chips will keep several days in an airtight container. (If you leave them out they will lose their crispiness and that’s basically the opposite of what we want.)

Chomp, crunch, crunch

Apple Chips

Ingredients

Any crisp sweet apple (as many as you want to eat)
powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Slice apples as thin as you can.
2. Sprinkle powdered sugar over a baking sheet. Place apples on baking sheet and sprinkle more powdered sugar over them.
3. Bake for about two hours (if using multiple sheets, be sure to switch them around half way through.)
4. Remove from oven and place on some cooling racks until cool. Then eat them!