2 Fails & A Win

 Fail #1: I skipped speed work...again. 

Since the next couple of races I have signed up for are shorter distances (a 3.5 mile obstacle run and a 10K), my focus is going to be on speed.  I am much more apt to stay on track with a regimented plan, so I officially adopted an intermmediate 10K training schedule.  Yesterday was the first day of the new schedule with 6x400 m interval work, aka speed work. 

I didn't do it. I put on my running clothes, gathered up my running supplies (ie. water bottle, garmin, ipod), ran a few errands (including loving on 2 of my friends' brand new babies!), and went home.  Home is also known as that place where fail #2 happened.

Fail #2: I cheated on the Paleo Challenge...again. 

I felt like a bottomless pit yesterday.  Nothing satisfied me.  After dinner, I tried to curb my sweet tooth with an apple.  No go. 

A pint of Blue Bell homemade vanilla was lurking in the back of my freezer.  I don't know where my will power went and I don't care, because it.was.delicous.  Ice cream really is the perfect food.  I ate the entire 4 serving pint. -20. 

Sweets are such a slippery slope for me, and I swore I wasn't going to cheat with sugar.  Luckily, the entire pint is gone and can't taunt me from its icy lair any longer.

Win: Homemade sweet potato chips.

Have you ever seen this contraption? 

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My sister bought it for me at the clearance price of around $9.  It looks like random kitchen junk that you will stick in the cabinet and never use, but everyone should add it to their kitchen repetoire. 

Basically, it's a mandoline and these raised silicone "baking" mats with holes.  You slice whatever you want to make a chip out of on the mandoline, put the slices atop the mats, and nuke them in the microwave.  (The box claims it only takes 3 minutes, but it took more like 7 minutes.) 

My first attempt was sweet potatoes. 

The results was delicious, light, very crispy and fat free chips!  I was so thrilled with how they turned out!

We ate them with guacamole.  My sister is very big on texture and was excited to have something crunchy added to her Paleo life. 

Next I am making carrot chips.  Other things I want to turn into chips: bananas, pears, zucchinni, kiwi, apples, beets.

Added notes for those of you who are actually going to seek out this contraption and attempt to use it:

1. The directions say to salt (or add seasoning of your choice) after they are cooked.  I recommend seasoning before you cook.  I tried the first batch as recommended, and the salt didn't stick to the chip.

2.  The instructions also recommend you move as much moisture as possible from the slices before cooking.  This helps cut down the cooking time, and since 2 potatoes makes quite a few batches, you want each batch to cook as quickly as possible so you aren't standing by the microwave for hours. Salting before cooking also helps draw out moisture.  I salted, then pressed with paper towels.

3. If you stack the "baking mats" in the microwave, the chips on the bottom cook faster than the ones on the top.  Take the bottom tier out, then continue to microwave the top tier for an additional 30 seconds to a minute.

4. Mandolines are very sharp.  Use the guard if you want to keep all parts of your thumb. Trust me on this one!

If you want to purchase one of these bad boys, the cheapest place I found them was on Amazon.  (Still not as cheap as mine! It came from Dillards when there was an extra 40% off all clearance items.)

Also, Sweet Savory Life posted a recipe for microwave chips using just parchment paper.  If anyone gives it a go, let me know how they turn out.


*I was in no way compensated by anyone related to this product.  I just thought it was really cool and wanted to share it with you!

What kind of chips would you make? 

Speedwork: Love it or hate it?