I have literally been living at the office hospital. And yet, somehow I have managed to churn out heaps of produce in the few hours I have been home. Seriously, our apartment is where produce comes to die (death by baking anyone?).
Wanna see a few of my success stories (if you said no…well…tough sh!t). 😉
FINALLY!! (I think kale chips have been on my to-make list for a year now). It’s about damn time, Elise.
Massaged with cooking spray, nooch, and salt (like, a LOT of salt), then baked at 350 for 10-15 minutes. Awesome.
I sampled a few…and the verdict…salty crispy PER-FEC-TION!! Naturally, the salt factor required a bit of sweetness (for contrast purposes of course), hence the presence of the apple on the snack plate. Amor.
Next oven-i-zation (that’s my new word for oven experimentation) was eggplant chips. First of all, how gorgy is this specimen (it’s an Indian eggplant FYI)? I bought it solely because of how pretty it was. Same premise as kale chips.
Nooch + salt + heat = eggplant frites. Yummy! I need to figure out how to make them crispier without causing an apartment-wide fire drill. Any ideas? I’m thinking thinner slices next time, but our knives are as dull as Ben Affleck’s career.
Prepare yourself for this next one because I saved the BEST for last. I adapted Terry’s recipe for root veggie fries to meet my personal preferences, and here’s how it all went down.
1. Chop horse carrots into fry-like shapes.
2. Steam for 7-10 minutes.
3. Add cornmeal/nooch/salt mix and Shake ‘n Bake (and I helped).
4. Spread on pan.
5. Add to oven (400) for 30-45 minutes. You may have to flip a b!tch part way through depending on your fry shapes.
6. Remove from oven.
7. Try to save some for your fiancé next meal.
And now I present to you…baked cornmeal crusted carrot fries. DE-LISH! Everyone try these now. Right now.
Anyways, moving on. More work eats below.
Z bar central. Honey Graham is the best flavor. Period. Spooky S’mores is fine for a change up every once in a while, and the Mocha-walla Odwalla bar is good for a more substantial kick in the pants kcal boost, but I really really love the Honey Graham Z bar. Clif can do no wrong.
This salad had fancy lettuce, chickpeas, ‘shrooms, steamed sweet potato rounds, and dried cranberries.
On the side I had some of my cornmeal crusted carrot fries. Ummm, how fabulous is my sandwich-shaped tuperware! I got it from my mama.
Love the container the fries are in! Yum I love veggie chips, but I always go back to sweet tator fries.
hahah.. where produce comes to die. love that. i am certain my kitchen is where cereal comes to die 😉 sorry you are such a busy bee. you are so baller at lunch packing.. i wish you were my mom and would pack me a lunch on the regular!
You are my hero. Carrot fries? Chickpeas? Would it be narcissistic to say that I love you?
MUST try those fries ASAP. My nooch has been neglected for far too long.
Love the kale chips. I go for heat vs. salt, meaning a red pepper, tons of nooch, tiny bit of salt. I cant hang w/ salt, I retain too much water. I am glitchey that way 🙂
E’Plant, yours is the most beautiful I have ever seen. For real. Make your slices thinner, as in half as thin from what i can tell in the pics and you’ll be set!
Carrot fries..how much of that was nooch and how much was cornmeal. I am thining 30/70 nooch/cornmeal otherwise you are a really noochy girl. I love it too!
those fries are genious! thanks for the idea. kale chips rock too
I love kale chips, eggplant fries, AND carrot fries! Love this post!
I didn’t know that you could make kale chips in a normal oven- here I am thinking that they have to be dehydrated! Duh… I’m totally making these TONIGHT!!! About the eggplant- did you “purge” the slices? To purge- slice to 1/8 in and put a good heavy sprinkle of kosher salt (larger granules make the process faster) on each side of each slice, and rub it in- Then set the slices in a colander (layering is good) in the sink and walk away for 30-45 mins. When you come back- they will be wilted and moist… Run them under cold water to rinse salt completely off, and set them on a towel to air dry.. Now you can do with them what you wish- Drawing out all the water in this way might help them crisp up during this baking process.. Good luck- let me know how it works out for ya!
You rock.. carrot fries AND an amazing salad.. I wanna eat lunch with you. lol 🙂
I could eat roast vegetables all day long. Seriously. My eggplant never gets crispy- maybe do a light breading? I kind of like it roasted for 40 mins, flipped half-way through and it’s so soft and awesome.
Chocolate brownie Clif-z! I didn’t love the honey graham 🙁
Haha I was going to say to try thinner slices!! Try sweating them to remove some of the water first… might help? Does that eggplant taste any different than “regular” eggplant?
<3 <3
HA! I seriously love that you put your frites into the wonder bread container. good looks dude.
I’m pretty sure you should be giving Wendy’s a call to sell them your carrot fries. They would kick the shiz out of the “apple fries”
I miss the spoookysss. MUST get to WF to replenish some spooks before they leave town
Carrot fries huh? I may have to try those out…very creative!
Dull knives kill me – I tried cutting a tomato once and it’s juice went everywhere! Now that you’ve mastered the kale chips maybe some inspiration will get me to try it.
I’ve come to the conclusion that nooch makes everything better. If hummus can’t solve world peace then nooch is our ace in the hole.
I just can’t get myself to try kale chips … but I might have to since yours look quite yummy.
But I’ll definitely give your carrot fries a try – such a great idea!
Oh, on another note: You recently wrote about trying oat bran. It’s super awesome, right?
My favourite add-ins are a caramelized banana (à la ChocolateCoveredKatie) + pumpkin puree stirred into one half of the bowl. That way I get “plain” Banana Brulee Oat Bran + Pumpkin Banana Brulee. Deeeeeeelish!
Glad you finally tried kale chips! Okay, now I must attempt your eggplant and carrot fries! I agree, Honey Graham Z-Bars are soo good.
Umm major props on your ovenization skills love! I am still yet to try kale chips either…fail. The crusted carrot fries are defo my favourite though – they look amazing! I plan on getting my bake-on this weekend although I’m thinking less healthy, more cookie…
you over has some special magic powers – I’m convinced. I’ve tried prepping eggplant but once and it was a hot mess.
amen to the honey graham <3'ing
haha!! i laughed so hard at the ben affleck part 😉
Okay, I’ve know how delicious kale chips are for a good month, but those carrot crispies?! GENIUS! I can’t even wait to make them tomorrow.
haha i still haven’t tried kale chips. lameeeeeeeeeeeeee
carrot fries wut wuttttttttttttt
you make them look amazing!
true. i havent had those recently enough. note to self: make SP fries today!
yes. but who am i to object 🙂 trust. the feeling is mutual!
that might be the best compliment ive gotten, like, ever. seriously. 😀
ok, so at FIRST, when i read your comment i thought you were calling ME “e’plant” haha…sadly, it would be one of my more normal nicknames…anyways, the ratio of cornmeal to nooch was actually more like 90/10 – it was pretty much all cornmeal. but i DO love my nooch 😉
CRYSTAL!!!! you are my hero. thanks so so so much for this tutorial. i will be implementing it the next go round for sure. i really appreciate it 🙂
kale chips are super easy in the oven. if you can master “sweating” those eggplant chips, you will have zero issues with the kale chips.
i havent tried the choc brownie, but i have had the choc chip. i am too in love with the honey graham though…and its a good thing since i have a freakin costco pack of em!!
how long do you think they will carry the spooky flaves? hmmm. carrot fries would def give apple fries a run for their moolah…hmmm.
do it! i was nervous at first. i mean it does seem weird to eat lettuce as a “chip” but its just so amazing how they crisp up! try it try it try it!
and yes, i did recently try oat bran for the first time and i LOVED it. carmelized nanners sound like a perfect addition, so thanks for the idea! i did the pumpkin oats and loved it, so why not go for two in a bowl just like you?? its on the to-make list (but will hopefully get made faster than the kale chips).
love the honey graham!
in the words of nike “just do it!”
🙂 im glad someone besides me did!
Ben Affleck’s career may be kinda dead right now…but boyy was he fiiiiiiine when I saw him in Armageddon the other night!
Delicious fries. So many delicious-looking fries! I need to try nooch!
im a huge kale chip fan too! But ive been thinking about it and Im a bit worried that the heat of the oven is murdering most of the vitamins and nutrients…. Isnt it like over 120 degrees F starts to denature many vitamins and things? Me thinks we should look into this. Not that it would really stop me from making any type of veggie fry any way.
really? hmmmm…im not sure if thats true or not, but definitely something to look into. i think they are tasty regardless and have way more nutritional value than another other chips, no matter what temp! right?
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