Baked Crispy Apple Chips

Did you know that the biggest problem while trying to lose weight is attributed to unhealthy and emotional snacking? On a weight loss regime people focus most to avoid unhealthy meals but forget to do the same with snacks. The problem worsens with those salty and sugary cravings. I have observed that a lot depends on availability and reach-ability. So I have now become all about keeping the healthy snacks within easiest reach all the time. But yes they gotta taste good to satisfy the cravings.

Crispy apple chips are my new addiction. They are sweet, tangy and spiced up to satisfy any palette without leaving the heart breaking guilt. One apple makes around 15 chips which is a perfect service size. I like to bake them with cinnamon that takes the flavor to a totally new level. Honestly, I find them more satisfying than a bag of chips. And even if I eat more than a serving size, hey its okay. Am just eating crispy apples.

Recipe
4 apples of you choice, i like granny smith or red delicious
1-2 tsp of cinnamon
1 tsp of sugar
1/2 tsp of salt

• Preheat oven to 250 deg F
• Cut the apples in thin round slices. I use my mandolin slicer for this step on second lowest setting. It takes less than 5 mins to do the entire batch.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Lay the apple slices in a single layer on each.
• Sprinkle with the mixture of spices.
• Bake for 1 hr. Flip to turn sides and bake for another 1-1.5 hr

I love to bake these during a movie night after dinner. As they take long to bake. But when baking, apple and cinnamon fills the house with a sweet aroma. Makes the movie night more fun and relaxing :)

My First Award - Liebster Award

Not one but two nominations in the same month for my very first award :)

Dear Readers! Thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving your precious comments and thoughts. And a very special Thank You to Gemma of And Gee Said and Sona of Quick Picks who nominated me for the Liebster Award. 

As a law abiding citizen, I would follow all the rules associated and would love to nominate 11 new and awesome bloggers I read or follow.

Rule 1: Post 11 random facts about yourself

1. I love cooking and dancing and they are my only two stress busters.
2. I am a Twilight fan, but then I guess who is not :)
3. My blog is about Food, Fitness and Fashion. Though I love Fashion, it looses the fight from Food and Fitness so I still have only one Fashion post ;-) Need to work on it.
4. I started this particular blog to keep reminding myself about healthy lifestyle.
5. I love to travel and try new food
6. I plan thing way too much, not a very good practice all the time
7. I almost eat a small really small chocolate, dark chocolate kisses for portion control
8. I hardly workout. 
9. Dance is not workout for me
10. I am a cleanliness freak
11. I do not believe in afternoon naps. I would rather do something creative

Rule 2: Answer 11 questions asked by Gemma

1. If you could only eat one cuisine or dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?  Italian
2. Three staples you need every day. Bread, Yogurt, Tea
3. All time favorite blog? Each one is special and its hard to pick one and am not being diplomatic here
4. If you could relive a day, what would it be? My wedding Day :)
5. Why did you start blogging? As a diary for my healthy lifestyle expedition and to share the same with others who are interested
6. Your dream job? Guess:) A Chef
7. Favorite food? Indian Kadhi, Pasta
8. Where would you live, if you could be anywhere in the world? Italy
9. Something about you that you don't share very often? Hard to think one ;-)
10. Favorite book/movie? Dont read books am an online person. Movies - Devil Wears Prada, Titanic
11. Taken from Grace: Goal in life? Be Happy Be Healthy

Rule 3: 11 questions for the nominees

1. Taken from Gemma: Why did you start blogging?
2. Your favorite color and why?
3. The most precious moment of you life you would like to share
4. Best place you ever visited
5. One bad habit you would wanna quit
6. Your favorite holiday
7. Your favorite go-to look
8. What made you happy this week
9. Five things that will always be in your handbag
10. Five foods that will always be in your kitchen
11. Your favorite weekend activity

Rule 4: 11 Nominees

1. Saju's Taste
2. Kitchen Delicacies
3. Welcome to My Kitchen
4. Physalis Peruviana
5. Gujrati Zayeka
6. Recipes From A Pantry
7. Crave Cook Live
8. Vegetarian Detective
9. Food Lover
10. After The Sunset
11. Mahas Lovely Home

Congratulation to all nominees. Leave me a comment when you share your award so I can enjoy the answers:)

Cheers:)))))

No Cream Creamed Spinach Corn Souffle

I love cooking Italian food and my secret wish is always to cook French :) Italian food didn't interest Julia Child, due to lack of sort of technique that French food has.  Well true! But that much technique can sometimes be overwhelming. So I stick to my love of cooking Italian  and lay my hands on a French recipe once in a while.

It was a perfect weather to enjoy some savory souffle and with so much spinach in my fridge; courtesy Costco; I immediately thought creamed spinach corn souffle. TaDa! I made many variations to give it the perfect healthy twist and despite all techniques and twists it turned out great. I can say you have to be Julia Child to tell the difference...hahahaha...am that confident.

The recipe does involve several steps but then its French - what can we expect? So I will put down the sequence just like I did.

Recipe for Be'chamel Sauce (My Version)
Regular Be'chamel Sauce is made with equal proportions of butter and all-purpose flour, cooked in milk. I used whole wheat flour with half the butter and my 1% milk. You seriously cant tell the difference in taste other than the not so white color of the sauce. I tweaked it as below
2 Tbsp butter
4 Tbsp whole wheat flour
2 cup 1% milk
1/2 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

• Melt butter on medium heat in a saucepan and add flour. Mix until smooth and it gives the cooked flour aroma
• Meanwhile, heat the milk just enough before it boils. Can do in microwave too if you know timing
• Add hot milk to saucepan. Whisk continuously until sauce thickens and has a silky smooth texture.
• Remove from heat add nutmeg and pepper. Set aside

Recipe for Creamed Spinach Corn 

2 cups spinach blanched and chopped

1 cup frozen corn

1 onion

4 cloves of garlic chopped

• In  a pan , saute garlic, onion and corn in oilve oil
• Add chopped spinach and cook for 2-3 min
• Remove from heat. Add the above prepared sauce to the pan. Add salt to taste

Recipe for Souffle

4 egg whites

Creamed Spinach Corn, prepared above

1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese

• Preheat oven at 350 deg 
• Whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks
• Gently FOLD them in the creamed spinach corn mixture
• Transfer the mixture in individual ramekins or one big souffle container 
• Top it with shredded cheese
• Bake for 30-40 min. The eggs will rise giving  it a great crust and making it fluffy at the same time.

This recipe might take sometime but its worth every second spent. Hope you enjoy it. 

And now I wanna thank Sona and Gemma Chew for giving me the Liebster Award! 

I feel honored and excited to receive my first award here. I will soon be writing a post to follow all the rules. Meanwhile, do check out these lovely ladies at

Sona - Quick Picks

Gemma Chew: And Gee Said

Thanks again for nominating me!