This week celebrates National Potato Chip Day. One of the most popular snack foods in the United States, the potato chip began as a chef’s joke. They were invented by George Crum, a chef from Saratoga, New York. A cranky customer kept sending Crum’s fried potatoes back, saying they were too soggy. Tired of the complaints, Crum sliced the potatoes into paper-thin “chips,” fried them in oil, and sent them out. Instead of complaining, the diner was overjoyed! The chips became a huge hit, and quickly spread across the country (and the world!) In 2005 $16 billion(!) worth of chips were sold worldwide. My favorite flavor is sour cream and onion…what’s yours? Celebrate by trying this easy recipe for delicious homemade chips:
Take four russet potatoes, peel them and slice them into 1/8 inch thick “chips.” Pat the potatoes dry and arrange them on two greased cookie sheets. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees, brush the chips with 1/4 cup of melted butter, and bake them for fifteen to twenty minutes, or until they’re nice and crispy. Sprinkle some salt on top and serve. Delicious!
