Aren’t commas great? They make a mundane, uptight phrase so much more interesting.
You see, “controlling fat and unnecessary additives” should really be today’s headline, but it’s a bit dry, isn’t it. I much prefer ‘controlling, fat and unnecessary’, which sounds much more salacious and intriguing. You read that and think, “Is she talking about herself, her mother-in-law, who else?”
But actually, I’m talking about how just a little effort can go a long way toward improving your family’s diets.
Now, I’m as big a fan of convenience foods as the next stressed-out-over-scheduled parent, but there’s one mass selling processed food that I just don’t understand – frozen chips. And here’s why…
You have to preheat the oven to 200C. Open the packet; pour them onto an oven tray. Bake 10 minutes then turn and bake for another 10. And then you have a half soggy chip that has been processed in a factory and shipped in plastic, then bought (at a premium) by you and prepared.
Here’s what I do for my chips.
My new fav kitchen toy - makes vegies instantly more fun
I buy potatoes. Not in plastic. I preheat the oven to 200C. I peel my potatoes and chop them with my new favourite wiggly chopper. It takes about 3-4 minutes to do 3-4 potatoes. I put them on the tray, and toss them with olive oil, salt & pepper. After 10 minutes, I sprinkle over parmesan cheese and bake for another 10-15 minutes until they are golden and crunchy and delicious.
REALLY yum, REALLY easy.
So my total extra effort isn’t much. And the result is SO much better. You can control the amount of olive oil and salt that you use (remember that every teaspoon of olive oil contains 4.5g of fat – .621g of which is saturated).
Like my muesli bars and beetroot tzatziki, sometimes we can easily produce a better tasting, healthier version of ‘convenience’ foods at home. Just sayin’.
Vegie Smugglers 
Melanie McNeill said,
June 13, 2011 @ 1:33 pm
where do I get the wiggly chopper from?
wendyblume said,
June 13, 2011 @ 1:37 pm
funny, i just had the same question on the facebook page. I got mine at an awesome odd little homewares store nearby. Was only about $5. I found this one on ebay http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/260721170077?hlp=false, but I’m snoop around and find a cheaper one.
they’re great. make everything fun and give you more surface area so the chips go browner.
Melanie McNeill said,
June 13, 2011 @ 1:43 pm
thanks 🙂
Cara said,
June 13, 2011 @ 2:36 pm
I love the effect of the wiggly chopper! Where can I get one?
wendyblume said,
June 13, 2011 @ 2:42 pm
Cara, search for ‘crinkle chip cutter’ and find one in your price bracket – there’s a whole bunch of different ones. Mine was just a cheapy, but is working no problem.
Cara said,
June 14, 2011 @ 7:49 am
Excellent! I got one from Peters of Kensington, $9.50 inc postage and I’ll receive it tomorrow! Bargain!
Elizabeth said,
June 13, 2011 @ 2:44 pm
Love it too, Just bought this one on ebay…
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Wavy-Knife-/200616828682?pt=AU_Cutlery&hash=item2eb5b1df0a
Cost $5.95, plus same again for postage.
Kids will love it though!
wendyblume said,
June 13, 2011 @ 3:04 pm
i should get in touch and get a commission! I reckon I’ve shifted a few of these today! 😉
Antonia said,
June 13, 2011 @ 4:06 pm
Our family always had a crinkly cutter. They’re the best! (And they seem to last pretty well, too.) I use it for cheese “sticks” and cubes to go in lunch boxes. It also jazzes up chopped carrots, and most sorts of roast vegies.
I love the idea of adding parmesan to the chips – can’t wait to try it. Sounds like it would make them (to rip off someone else’s slogan), a ‘little bit fancy’….
wendyblume said,
June 13, 2011 @ 4:51 pm
It makes them fancy, schmancy.
Shaz said,
June 13, 2011 @ 8:34 pm
I always love homemade chips much better than any you can buy frozen at the supermarket. We never bother buying them. Definitely going to be on the lookout for one of those cutters. Would be great for slicing my sons carrots for his school lunchbox.
Debbie said,
June 27, 2011 @ 12:44 pm
Just bought one of those cutters from House for $3.99…bargain and just what i needed too as my fussy twins wont eat roast potatoes,or any other vegie and once i used the cutter & called them chips they were all gobbled up!
Jo said,
September 18, 2012 @ 3:21 pm
I can’t figure what I’m doing wrong with my homemade chips. I don’t have a wiggly chopper (will be looking out for one now though!), so I just cut chip-shapes from my (peeled) spuds, pat dry on paper towel, toss in grapeseed oil with a tiny ‘twist’ of salt shaker, then bake on tray at 200deg. They take nearly an hour to cook (with turning about halfway). How do you get urs to cook so quickly, Wendy?? What’s the secret?
wendyblume said,
September 18, 2012 @ 4:19 pm
Try cutting them smaller and crank your oven up to 220. Make sure it’s come to temp before you put them in too. Hope this helps!
Jo said,
September 19, 2012 @ 11:35 am
Thanks, I’ll try both suggestions, looking forward to quicker chips!
Jo said,
September 19, 2012 @ 7:40 pm
Y.U.M 😀 Thanks for the great chip recipe (y) 🙂
Mel said,
August 16, 2013 @ 2:33 pm
I love homemade chips too… I chop ’em into chip shapes par boil for 10 mins, drain, swish with a bit of olive oil in the pan, add some dried rosemary and bit of salt then empty onto a tray and chuck under the grill for 5 mins on high and out come super crispy chips- potato, carrot, sweet potato or pumpkin ones! 🙂 Will try parmesan next time too, that sounds yummy