Between marathon training & a busy schedule, I haven’t had a lot of time lately for culinary adventures. That’s a shame, since I love to play in my still-new-to-me kitchen.

My friend Becca posted earlier this week about the salt & vinegar sweet potato chips she’d just made, and they sounded amazing. Today I whipped out my trusty mandoline (many thanks to my derby wife Sloane Gunman for this much-used present) & experimented with my own chips, using both sweet & russet.

The result: crunchy little explosions of flavor that disappeared in a matter of minutes. I’m glad I took a quick pic or two before we devoured them all.

Less rambling, more how-to…

Baked Potato Chips with Sea Salt and Vinegar

Ingredients:

Thinly sliced potatoes
Cold water
Sea salt
Vinegar (I used golden balsamic vinegar, but I plan to try malt vinegar next time)

That’s it. Super simple ingredients, right? The technique is really simple, too.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F & spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray (I used olive oil).

Place your thinly sliced potatoes (I use my mandoline on the 1/8″ setting) in a bowl of cold water and soak them for 20-30 minutes, stirring them about halfway through. Soaking will remove some of the starch so that the slices don’t stick to the pan – they’ll cook more evenly & get crispier.

Drain & rinse potatoes, then add vinegar to the bowl. (used about 1/4 cup of vinegar per bowl.) Let marinate for 10 minutes, stirring halfway through to evenly coat the slices.

Drain again, then arrange potatoes in a single layer on the cookie sheet & mist the tops lightly with the cooking spray.

Place in oven for 10 minutes, flip & cook for another 10-15 minutes or until crispy. You may need to flip them again to ensure even cooking.

Remove from oven & season with sea salt while they’re still hot. Let cool & serve.

That’s it! Try them & let me know what you think. I’m planning on making a sweet’n’spicy version with cinnamon & cayenne next time!

My 37th birthday was barely 2 days ago, but this is the day I really prefer to celebrate. See, this is the day I woke up 5 years ago & said, “I’m going to quit drinking today.”

I was 6 weeks out from my first half marathon, hungover from a Halloween party I barely remembered & too sick to do my long run. I’d spent the last couple of years in this cycle – partying too hard with my derby teammates, then dragging my whiskey-soaked ass around trying to function the next day. It started after I broke my leg & separated from V’s dad within the same week – the wheels kind of fell off my life when I was in the wheelchair. I was a social butterfly turned sad barfly, and it had become prohibitive to the life I wanted to live.

There was no program, no steps & no chips (although I have utmost respect for anyone who does go to AA). I simply decided to quit drinking ’til after I ran the 2009 Dallas Half. Then I ran the half & instead of rewarding myself with a beer like I’d originally planned, I immediately signed up for a 15K…then another half…then a handful of other races. Eventually I realized I didn’t ever want that celebratory beer and accepted that I was sober for good.

Derby afterparties lost their appeal & early morning runs became my new fix. My two “Life of the Party” trophies from derby season-end awards ceremonies came off the shelf & racks full of race medals took their place. I won’t even try to pretend that it was easy to go cold turkey & completely change my lifestyle while still surrounded by teammates who drank heavily – but my newfound ability to remember conversations, my role as permanent Designated Driver & looking/feeling younger, healthier & happier were huge incentives to stay on the wagon. Knowing that I could be a decent parent and better partner if I weren’t a drunk – that was the most compelling reason to quit. There was no slipping or faltering. I have been sober for 5 years and counting.

I don’t fault or begrudge anyone else their ability to enjoy alcohol in moderation (although I do take serious issue with drinking & driving. I consider myself incredibly lucky to be alive & un-incarcerated & to have never hurt anyone, considering the many stupid risks I used to take). I just know that, as an all-or-nothing kind of gal, it’s not a line I can ever step across again. I’m much happier with all the finish lines I get to cross now.

Thanks for reading. It feels good to share a big part of who I am underneath all the pink sass. 😉

My 37th birthday was 2 days ago, but this is the day I really prefer to celebrate. See, this is the day I woke up 5 years ago & said, “I’m going to quit drinking today.”

I was 6 weeks out from my first half marathon, hungover from a Halloween party I barely remembered & too sick to do my long run. I’d spent the last couple of years in this cycle – partying too hard with my derby teammates, then dragging my whiskey-soaked ass around trying to function the next day. It started after I broke my leg & separated from V’s dad within the same week – the wheels kind of fell off my life when I was in the wheelchair. I was a social butterfly turned sad barfly, and it had become prohibitive to the life I wanted to live.

There was no program, no steps & no chips (although I have utmost respect for anyone who does go to AA). I simply decided to quit drinking ’til after I ran the 2009 Dallas Half. Then I ran the half & instead of rewarding myself with a beer like I’d originally planned, I immediately signed up for a 15K…then another half…then a handful of other races. Eventually I realized I didn’t ever want that celebratory beer and accepted that I was sober for good.

Derby afterparties lost their appeal & early morning runs became my new fix. My two “Life of the Party” trophies from derby season-end awards ceremonies came off the shelf & racks full of race medals took their place. I won’t even try to pretend that it was easy to go cold turkey & completely change my lifestyle while still surrounded by teammates who drank – but my newfound ability to remember conversations, my role as permanent Designated Driver & looking/feeling younger, healthier & happier were huge incentives to stay on the wagon. Knowing that I could be a decent parent and better partner if I weren’t a drunk – that was the most compelling reason to quit. There was no slipping or faltering – I have been sober for 5 years and counting.

I don’t fault or begrudge anyone else their ability to enjoy alcohol in moderation (although I do take serious issue with drinking & driving. I lost my cousin Jack to a drunk driver & I consider myself incredibly lucky to be alive, un-incarcerated & to have never hurt anyone, considering the many stupid risks I used to take). I just know that, as an all-or-nothing kind of gal, it’s not a line I can ever step across again. I’m much happier with all the finish lines I get to cross now.

Thanks for reading.