Last year, we entered Kettle Brand Chips’ the People’s Choice Create-a-Chip Challenge. Our inspiration was a fully loaded baked potato: sour cream, chives, shredded Cheddar cheese and bacon.

Fifty-four other people had the same idea, and Fully Loaded Baked Potato was the winner.

The final recipe—the 15th in the current main line of chips (see all the flavors)—used green onion instead of chives and a smoky flavor substituted for the bacon. A year ago we received our reward: a bag of the chips (we really could have used an iPad…).

KETTLE BRAND BAKES, BAKED POTATO CHIPS

Now a year later, Kettle Brand has relaunched its Kettle Brand Bakes line with updated packaging and two new flavors: Sour Cream & Onion and Cheddar & Roasted Tomato. We received a bag of each, along with a bag of Sea Salt, and they are delicious (the Bakes line also includes Sea Salt & Vinegar and Hickory Honey Barbeque).

Kettle Brand’s Baked line is a favorite. Photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE NIBBLE.

The flavors are excellent and the texture seems to be a tiny bit thicker than we remember: a much crunchier chip. Here’s the secret: Kettle Brand Bakes are the only baked chip made from whole slices of potatoes. Other baked chips and “crisps” (the British term for potato chips) on the market use dehydrated potato pulp and flakes. Really!

Oven toasting, rather than frying, also adds to the hearty crunch.

These crunchy, golden baked chips are one of our very lines. Kettle Brand uses all-natural ingredients and non-GMO potatoes. Kettle Brand is certified kosher by KOF-K.

NO ADDED SUGAR

We also like the seasonings in the Bakes line. The three flavors we tasted had no added sugar. While we respect the complex flavor mixes that Kettle Brand uses, we don’t enjoy even a hint of added sweetness on our potato chips (except in flavors where it naturally belongs, such as Barbeque and Honey Dijon and the Bakes line Hickory Honey Barbeque). So much sugar is, alas, added to “savory” foods in the U.S. that the line between savory and sweet has become blurred.

If you like the sweetness, why is this a problem? We don’t need extra sugar in our diets—neither the empty carbs nor the calories. In addition, the unnecessary sweetness trains the palate to want everything sweeter and sweeter. Here’s an article from WebMD.com on sugar’s effects on health.

Here’s more information about Kettle Brand. The Bakes line is available in 4 ounce bags for a suggested retail price of $3.39 at select retailers nationwide, and online at BuyKettleChips.com.

Find more of our favorite snack foods.

One of eight delicious flavors of Krave
gourmet jerky. Photo courtesy Krave.

Jerky was created in prehistoric times, as people endeavored to preserve their fresh-killed meat without benefit of coolers. They dried the meat in the sun.

Today’s jerky makers use ovens; and if you’re Krave Jerky, you double-marinate the meat and slow bake it into melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.

Then there’s the flavor, or rather, eight of them, divided among beef, pork and turkey jerky: Basil Citrus, Chili Lime, Curry, Garlic Chili, Honey Chipotle, Lemon Garlic, Pineapple Orange and Smoked Teriyaki.

In other brands these flavors might not be so appealing; in Krave Jerky, they’re masterful. They’re the very definition of gourmet jerky.

Check out the full review and try a sampler. You’ll likely return for stocking stuffers and other holiday gifts.

Discover how wonderful fine jerky is with a beer, glass of wine, Bloody Mary or Martini. And take a look at recipes on the company website that use jerky as an ingredient: from blue cheese dip and bruschetta to chicken and artichokes.

If you’re inspired, watch this video to see how easy it is to make jerky at home. Although without the secret recipe, we can’t vouch for it tasting as good as Krave Jerky.

Find more of our favorite jerky products and other savory snacks.

Sales of jerky and beef sticks more than quadrupled between 1995 and 2006. We don’t have statistics on homemade jerky, but given how easy it is to make, we’re surprised that more people don’t make their own—especially when there‘s a good sale on beef.

Making jerky is a great way to preserve meat when you have more than you can immediately eat. That’s why our ancestors learned to make jerky thousands of years ago! Today we’re blessed with freezers; but instead of freezing that extra meat, make jerky.

All you need are the meat, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, black pepper, red pepper flakes, onion powder, liquid smoke and honey. The equipment: just two resealable plastic bags, a cooking rack, tin foil and an oven or food dehydrator.

After you’ve made the basic recipe in this video, you can get creative with flavoring. And remember: The more tender the cut of meat you use, the more tender the jerky will be.

If you love your jerky, your friends and family will love it too. It might become your signature gift.

Find more of our favorite beef recipes.

Bake big, soft pretzels and invite friends to
bring the beer.

Whether or not it’s actually National Champagne Day (see previous post), we know that it’s National Soft Pretzel Day.

Hard pretzels are ubiquitous, but soft pretzels have become so popular that they’re no longer a ballpark or theme park snack. You can now find them in your grocer’s freezer case (look for SuperPretzel and other brands).

Or, bake this soft pretzel recipe from scratch.

Here are some garnishing tips from SuperPretzel. Be sure the pretzels are cool enough to eat; then garnish:

 
Do you have a favorite way to eat soft pretzels? Let us know.
 
Check out the history of pretzels.

Take our pretzel trivia quiz.

Where would we be without Peru, birthplace of corn (maize) [also, the birthplace of peanuts, potatoes and tomatoes]?

While summer corn has faded from markets, you can get plenty of Inka Corn: a roasted Peruvian corn snack.

According to the manufacturer, this is the same “imperial snack” that Inka rulers used to reward their warrior heroes.

If you’ve had CornNuts, the Inka Corn kernels are much larger and less hard on the teeth. And much better tasting.

The Inka Corn kernels are also much larger than Half Pops—a NIBBLE Top Pick Of The Week that is air-popped rather than roasted in oil.

When we first saw Inka Corn at a trade show, an ear of the giant white corn variety (called choclo, Cuzco corn or Peruvian corn) from which it is made was displayed. Peruvian corn looks like a musclebound body builder compared with the relatively slender, small-kerneled ears of the sweet corn grown for America’s tables.

Made in Peru, Inka Corn kernels are roasted in oil for a delicious light crunch. It is made simply from corn kernels, palm olein* and salt. The ingredients are all natural; there are no trans fats or hydrogenated oils or GMOs.

Inka Corn is available in Original, Salt & Vinegar and Chile Picante.

Inka Corn: very crunchy and good for you. Note the difference in size of the small ear of Indian corn at the top. Photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE NIBBLE.

NUTRITION BONUS

Corn is a whole grain food. Inka Corn is also dairy free, gluten free, wheat free and vegan.

Crunch away!

*Palm olein is the liquid component of palm kernel oil obtained from fractionation, a process used with coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil to produce oils of different viscosities for different purposes.

Almonds are one of our favorite healthy snacks. Photo courtesy Almond Board Of California.

Some people snack on candy, chips and cookies. Health and fitness types seek out energy bars, an apple or a banana.

Some snacks enhance energy levels, others don’t. High-calorie processed foods and sugar-rich foods can provide a quick energy boost, but they’re composed of bad calories. The burst is followed by a low period when blood sugar plummets and you feel depleted.

Instead, look for energy-efficient snacks that balance high-quality calories with the nutrients that convert calories into lasting energy. And that taste great, to boot.

Try these five energy-enhancing snacks for tasty boost. The original inspiration comes from an article by Nikki Jong, who focuses on the nutrition/energy benefits of these foods and how they create the energy (here’s the article).

Almonds & Walnuts. Nuts have a potent combination of energy-enriching nutrients. We buy raw almonds in bulk and portion out 24 a day. If you prefer walnuts, they’re even more heart-healthy. Carry them in a reusable snack sack; or buy pre-packed individual portions like these from Emerald and Blue Diamond. You can make or buy wasabi almonds (we get both raw and wasabi almonds at Trader Joe’s).

Edamame (Boiled Soybeans). Soybeans are full of nutrients that provide a direct boost of energy (they also have some mood enhancement qualities). You can buy them frozen in the shell and microwave them for a fun and delicious snack. But for grab-and-go, dried edamame are available in four-ounce packs, enough for two snacks, or in larger containers so you can pack your own (for further savings, look in the bulk foods section). More about edamame and its health benefits.

Popcorn. Popcorn is a whole grain; popped corn provides both volume and fiber. Look for low-fat microwave popcorn and single-serve bags. Most microwave popcorn companies make mini bags for individual portions. Take a look at Orville Redenbacher Naturals Gourmet Microwave Popcorn. It’s also available with lime flavor.

Yogurt. For something smooth and creamy, grab a yogurt. While sugar provides a quick energy boost, you get extra points if the yogurt is plain or sugar free. You can stir in some agave nectar or a packet of artificial sweetener for a sweet treat.

Whole Grain Pretzels. All you have to do is switch from conventional refined white flour pretzels to whole wheat flour, which delivers richer flavor as well as better nutrients. Snyder’s Of Hanover Organic Honey Whole Wheat Pretzel Sticks are also certified organic. There’s also a whole wheat and oat variety. The line is certified kosher by OU. What are whole grains, and why you need them.

Whole Grain Crackers.You can also nibble on 100% whole wheat crackers such as Nabisco Wheat Thins, crunchy little bites that are delicious by themselves, or with plain yogurt or a cup of soup.

Steamed edamame are a delicious snack. You can put them in a snack bag for grab-and-go, or buy roasted edamame. Photo courtesy Seapoint Farms.

Make sure your whole grain snack is 100% whole grain, and not “made with whole grain,” which means that some whole grain flour is added to the refined flour.

And tell us about your favorite energy snacks.

New York Style is known for its bagel chips, available in seven flavors.

The company has recently launched mini bagel chips, in BBQ, Cheddar, Garlic and Sea Salt.

For us, the standout is Garlic: a buttery, garlicky chip that’s delicious:

The line is certified kosher by OU.

Find the store nearest you with the company’s store locator.
 
Find more of our favorite crackers and snacks.

Mini bagel chips in four flavors: We like Garlic the best. Photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE NIBBLE.

As a nation, we love crunchy snacks and creamy dips. As calorie counters, we don’t.

In this video, chef Curtis Stone shows how easy it is to make your own lowfat baked chips (commercial chips can have 30% fat) and lowfat, low-calorie dips.

They taste good and keep you looking good (Chef Stone looks great!).

See our Snacks Section with healthful snacks and recipes.

Addictively good and good for you snacks. Photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE NIBBLE.

Crunchy, freeze-dried vegetable and fruit snacks have been growing in popularity. They taste good, provide the crunch factor, are full of fiber and moderate in calories. If you haven’t tried them, you’re missing out.

One of our favorite brands is Crunchies, A selection of all natural snacks that are gluten free and available in kosher-certified and organic-certified versions.

Fresh fruits and veggies are placed in a refrigerated vacuum chamber that removes up to 97% of the moisture. The process retains a high percentage of the nutritious enzymes that are lost through conventional heat-drying dehydration and provides an extra-crunchy texture.

While snacking on the crunchy delights by the handful is the original intent, they make most excellent additions to everyday foods and recipes, from yogurts and salads to tea and hot chocolate.

Read the full review to see all the different ways we’ve used Crunchies in recipes.

See all of our favorite snacks in our Gourmet Snacks section.

What better gift for Father’s Day than Crunch Daddy popcorn?

The sweet and savory flavors are not only delicious; they’re healthier snacks, as well (popcorn is a whole grain).

The business began as a passion for “Crunch Daddy” Dan Bazis, who started out simply trying to improve the recipe for kettle corn.

He then envisioned the potential for a gourmet popcorn business, and spent several years exploring flavors, refining recipes, sourcing ingredients and equipment and creating a website—all the while “navigating the tangled web of regulations that govern the operation of a small business like mine.”

We think he’s done a great job, and you don’t need a gift occasion to enjoy his wares. Buy them for yourself, as well as for the dads in your life.

TERRIFIC GOURMET POPCORN FLAVORS

Maple Bacon Crunch popcorn: It’s maplebacalicious! Photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE NIBBLE.

 
We loved them all!

Get yours at CrunchDaddy.com. Try every flavor!

Give them as party favors, send them to kids at camp. Enjoy more popcorn, the better-for-you snack.