HOMEMADE POTATO CHIPS

Potato Chips, who can resist these scrumptious crunchy salty savory treats! And what could be better?

Homemade potato chips!

Making homemade potato chips is culinary therapy! With just three ingredients and a couple of kitchen tools, homemade chips become thin crips of potatoes filled with love. No wonder they are so delicious!

StoneGable Homemade Potato Chips

oil~ I use half corn and half canola

potatoes, not baking

regular table salt

Slice potatoes one 16th inch thick with a Mandolin. Put slices in ice water.

Using a large dutch oven add 2-3 inches of oil. Using a candy thermometer heat oil over medium high heat to 350 degrees.

Dry a handful of potato slices with paper towels. When the oil is 350 degrees GENTLY drop one slice of potato at a time into the oil. Don't crowd the pan.

Using a metal slotted spoon gently flip the chips when they have slightly browned on one side. This should take only a minute or so.

Be careful to watch the thermometer, adjust the flame so the oil remains at or near 350 degrees.

When potato chips are done, remove them with a slotted spoon to a baking sheet lined with paper towels.

Salt to taste.



Enjoy!

Don't forget to join my Sunday evening for ON THE MENU MONDAY!

Link up and share your menus, events, parties, recipes, pictures and any of your culinary plannings!

I am participating in:

Foodie Friday at Designs By Gollum

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TABLE AND MIKASA GIVEAWAY WINNER

The weather was in the triple digits, the humidity was just as high and our air conditioner broke. The flies were awful and everything was melting, sweating, falling over and overall not cooperating, including my camera. I came so very close to giving up and never blogging again... I was so frustrated.

As you can see, I eventually thought a little more clearly... so here it is, the 4th Of July post that almost did me in. I figure that for all that trouble it is worth another look!

A picnic to celebrate the 4th of July is a great family tradition! Packing up easy to make goodies and festive decorations- off we go to a nearby park or quiet spot by a stream and enjoy food and homemade fun.

I am not going too far with this picnic~ StoneGable's backyard~ so I was not concerned with packing perishables on ice. I do love to pack picnic yummies in mason jars. So easy to seal and transport, they are also attractive to serve from!

Pull out a tablecloth (HomeGoods) and use it as a picnic blanket. Pick a shady spot with a scenic view and set an inviting table!

Each place is set with a patriotic mix of dishes.

The Americana bowls and matching dishes are perfect for a 4th of July table (AC Moore)! They are a little too "cute" for me, so I toned down the cutsie appeal by stacking them with a blue and white floral transferware plate (HomeGoods), a solid red dish (K-Mart) and a large white dinner plate with a detailed rim (HomeGoods).

I prefer NOT to use paper products if I can help it.

To give the place setting a little extra pizzazz I tucked a pick of stars between the plates! Sorta looks like fireworks!

These beautiful and well made star napkins (Wm-Sonoma) are paired with napkins that match the tablecloth (HomeGoods). The napkin rings (Wm-Sonoma, on sale!) were a plain white wicker. I cut apart one of the star picks and hot glued 3 stars to each napkin ring. TaDa! New napkin rings!

Big ball jar mugs of homemade lemonade are garnished with lemons and mint! Lids can be screwed on to make them easy to transport and to keep spills off of the picnic area too!

A tray on a picnic blanket is a very good idea! Using it to keep the centerpiece and salsa from spilling and becoming a disaster,  this white wicker tray (Pier I) is draped with a stars and stripes tea towel (Wm-Sonoma).

Flowers from my garden are gathered up and put into a large ball jar tied with a navy blue grosgrain ribbon.

The menu features... Flank Steak Sandwiches on baguettes. They are filled with delicious grilled flank steak, gruyere cheese, roasted red peppers, fresh garden butter crunch lettuce and a pesto mayonnise.

Homemade pasta salad ...

A jar of garden fresh salsa and homemade baked tortilla crisps in a fun paper cone...

A big bowl of fresh cherries...

And dessert!

What a fun dessert~ pie in a jar. These little individual desserts are something special! So very easy to make and delicious, the  mixed fruit pies travels well too.  For a recipe and ho-to's  for these WOW factor summer desserts, click HERE.

Keep flatware together in a napkin lined ball jar. So pretty, and the utensils don't roll around or out of the jar!

When you are finished eating, back in the jar they go!

Don't forget to show your patriotic colors with Old Glory!

When everyone is full of food and good old-time fun pack up your picnic and head for the fireworks!

Have a happy, safe 4th of July! Don't forget to honor our brave military with a prayer!

God Bless America!

BREAKFAST ROOM BENCH

Here at StoneGable I am still trying to put the finishing touches on my Kitchen Face Lift. Thankfully, my to-do list is getting smaller and smaller!

With the arrival of my rush seat double bench I was able to check one more thing off the list!

The bench is from Ballard Design. I had looked and looked for an antique bench but my search came up empty. I am still looking! If I ever find one I LOVE this bench will go into a bedroom. But, I am very pleased with the color, style and quality of this handsome Ballard bench.

Because it will be called into seating service when we have a crowd in the kitchen, I didn't want to clutter it with decor. A simple stack of much loved books and a french inspired hen lamp find a home at one side of the bench.

I added a faux frilly plant to give the area life and a little texture. I have a rascally cat Hobbes, so a real plant in that easy to reach spot is OUT of the question!

A tall basket sits next to the bench. When it is not Hobbes' hiding place, I use it to store cookbooks.

(I just happened to see Hobbes in the basket and got this picture! Doesn't it look like he is saying, OOOps, busted!)

The red oriental breakfast room carpet was replaced with a black edged sisal area rug. The look is much lighter and brighter. It plays well with the new colors and decor of the whole kitchen space.

The new style of our kitchen and breakfast room suites our farmhouse inspired home. The overall look I hope to achieve is an updated farmhouse that is welcoming, warm and clean!

The next thing on my to-do list... hemming the linen curtains. Hopefully, this weekend.

So many of you, dear readers, have been asking about the Kitchen Reveal. Soon! I am just very methodical about the decorating process! Thanks for being patient.

I am participating in:

Tabletop Tuesday at A STROLL THUR LIFE