Back to Basics: Roasted Potato Chips

Most of the cooking that goes on in my own kitchen is so simple it's embarrassing. Sure, there's always cooking involved and hardly ever any takeout, but simplicity is the name of the game. So with that notion in mind, Espresso and Cream is going back to basics for the next few weeks. I'll be sharing with you my favorite ways to prepare veggies, simple soups, and other recipes that will make life in the kitchen easier.

If you're someone who needs to multitask at night to get everything done and dinner on the table, then embracing good roasting strategies is the best gift you can give yourself. Frequently I return home from the gym after work, fire up my oven to 400°F, roughly chop some veggies and potatoes and throw them on a baking sheet and let them roast while I shower, fold laundry, clean, etc. Before I know it, dinner is ready and my hands-on time was minimal. 

These Roasted Potato Chips make an appearance at my table at least once a week, made either with russet potatoes (as shown) or sweet potatoes, and satisfy my craving for something undeniably unhealthy in a healthy way -- without leaving me sluggish and weighed down afterward. Does it get any better than that?

Roasted Potato Chips

(Printable Recipe)

Make sure to give the pan a good coating before laying the potatoes down on the baking sheet to prevent sticking, then another quick spray on top of the potatoes before popping them in the oven. For best results, your potatoes should be thinly sliced into discs of even thickness. As you can see in the photo, mine weren't exactly evenly sliced, giving me some extra crispy potatoes and some slightly softer. Either way, they were delicious. 

Ingredients
*2 medium russet potatoes, washed with skin on
*Nonstick cooking spray
*1/2 tsp. kosher salt
*1/4 tsp. black pepper
Ketchup (optional)

Instructions
*Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. 
*With a knife of mandolin, thinly slice potatoes into discs. Place discs in an even layer on baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then coat the potatoes with an even layer of cooking spray.
*Roast potatoes in the oven for 12 to 16 minutes (depending on the thickness of your slices), turning once halfway through baking. Cook until potatoes are golden brown and slightly crispy around the edges. Serve with ketchup, if desired.

Happy Cooking!

Madison

Fingerling Potato Salad

Summer is just around the corner, or at least that's what my calendar keeps telling me. But if you took a trip to my neck of the woods, I'm convinced you would agree with me when I say it feels much more like October than the middle of May. As far as states go, Iowa is the biggest tease of all. Hot, cold, rainy, sunny. Heck, it wouldn't surprise me if it starting snowing tonight. 

In response to this cold and rainy weather, I'm staging a protest against all things cold weather related (except black tights, which I begrudgingly wore to work today). Instead, I'm filling my kitchen with warm weather foods, like this potato salad, made with all sorts of yummy ingredients like basil, honey mustard, Parmesan, and olive oil.

I love the color contribution the purple fingerling potatoes make to this dish - even if the color has no impact on taste. Though I don't normally have fingerling potatoes in my kitchen, these little beauties fell into my lap (one of the many perks of my job) and I have been itching for a reason to use them ever since. If you don't have fingerling potatoes on hand, can't find them, or don't want to drop the extra cash to buy them, any small potato would work as a substitute. And since I am not big on drowning summer salads in mayonnaise, I've made this potato salad olive oil-based. Perfect for summer barbecues, or rainy May days in Iowa. 

Fingerling Potato Salad

(Printable Recipe)

Ingredients:
*1 1/2 lbs. fingerling potatoes, or other small potato variety
*1 Tbsp. cider vinegar
*1 tsp. kosher salt
*1 cup fresh basil leaves
*1 Tbsp. lime juice
*1/3 cup olive oil
*2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
*2 Tbsp. honey mustard
*2 Tbsp. Greek yogurt or mayonnaise
Additional kosher salt and black pepper

Instructions:
*Place potatoes in a large pot with enough salted water to fully cover the potatoes. Bring water to boiling and continue to cook potatoes for 10 to 15 minutes, until fork tender. Transfer potatoes to a strainer and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
*Transfer strained potatoes to a large zip top bag with the cider vinegar and kosher salt. Shake to evenly coat and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to one day.
*Meanwhile, prepare the dressing. In a food processor or blender, combine the basil leaves, lime juice, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, honey mustard, and Greek yogurt or mayonnaise. Process or blend until creamy.
*Place the refrigerated potatoes in the food processor, with the dressing, and pulse until potatoes are coarsely chopped but not blended. Transfer to serving bowl and sprinkle with salt and black pepper.

Happy Cooking!

Madison