Sweet Potato & Parsnip Chips

I thought you might be needing something to make you smile ...............
............... I do, as I'm feeling a little bittersweet today;  I'm headed back home after a wonderful visit with my daughter and her family in London. I'm feeling a bit sad, knowing my time with this delightful family is over, for now.  I'll be missing them along with the everyday life I get to experience (hectic as it can be with three little girls under six years old!). At the same time, I'm VERY excited to get back to my husband and our life together.

my girlies

I thought I'd share something sweet and funny that occurred last week while my daughter, her husband and the big girls were out of town and I was in charge of little Lilly. Mommy and daddy had done a bit of rearranging before I came and Lilly had a new bedroom, a bright and sunny room with two large windows. Her changing table is right in front of one of the windows and each time I changed her diaper, I'd tell her how nice it was to look up at the beautiful sky while getting a diaper-change. Each time we looked up, I would repeat Psalm 19:1 which says; "the heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of His hands". I had to laugh because at the end of the week, when we'd start changing her diaper, she would be the one telling me, "how nice it was to be able to look at the sky ........."

........... and she also had become quite proficient at quoting Psalm 19:1 ...........

Translation: :) "The heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of His hands"

Oh, and as I'm winging my way through "the heavens", headed home, I thought I'd share a fun recipe that I made this past week for sweet potato and parsnip chips ................. in the microwave! You know the ridiculously expensive, "gourmet" chips that you find in the fancy markets? Well you can make them yourself, in minutes! I had seen a recipe online, but it sounded too good, too easy to be true ................. but it's not!
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I actually tried these in the oven and in the microwave and ended up liking the results better in the microwave and it certainly was a lot quicker. The only benefit to making them in the oven is that you can make a lot more in one batch. I think they come out crispier in the microwave and in the time it would take for oven chips, you could do several batches in the microwave. You'll want to give these a try, they're fun, delicious and definitely much healthier than store-bought chips that are fried in lots of oil.

P.S. .............. and if your diaper changing table is near a window, or if you just happen to be outdoors  today, look up and remember Psalm 19:1 and the One who made the beautiful skies above. I will be thinking of it for sure, as I glance out the plane window and smiling as I recall little Lilly and my wonderful visit with her, her sisters, mum and dad - in London! Cheerio!

Sweet Potato & Parsnip Chips - Microwave Style

Ingredients:
1 medium sweet potato, very thinly sliced
1 medium parsnip, very thinly sliced
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 teaspoon Herbes de Provence
½ teaspoon sea salt

Directions:
1. Slice sweet potatoes and turnips into thin (1/8-inch) rounds. (I used a mandolin but you could use a sharp knife or even a vegetable peeler.) 

2. Toss the slices in a medium bowl with oil, seasonings and salt - to coat evenly. 

3. Coat a large microwavable plate with cooking spray or place a piece of parchment paper on microwave plate. Arrange veggie slices in a single layer on the plate or parchment paper. 

4. Microwave, uncovered, on high until some slices start to brown, 2 to 3 minutes (depending on potato thickness and microwave power). Turn the slices over and continue microwaving until they start to crisp and brown around the edges, 2 to 4 minutes more. Check frequently and rearrange slices as needed to prevent scorching. 

5. Transfer the chips to another plate and allow to cool completely. (Chips will crisp more as they cool.) Repeat with the remaining veggie slices.

Adapted from Eating Well

PRINTABLE RECIPE