What’s salty, crispy, and the hottest new ingredient around?  Potato chips!  Think about the possibilities – crispy chicken, savory casseroles, and tempting desserts.  That’s a day in the life of the Southern Living Test Kitchen. When I first started working with Food For Today (FFT for short), I was a little intimidated by the “guidelines” which include super short ingredient lists (sometimes a max of 4). Delicious, quick, and innovative – it seemed like a challenge I would be up for!  My goals - creatively showcase sponsored ingredients, developing recipes with a Southern flare. How bad could it be to take a food or ingredient you love and dream up new ways to enjoy it? Or take a classic Southern recipe and sub in a new ingredient to give it a fresh twist. Once peanuts came along, I hit my stride. From rice to ice cream or mayonnaise to peanuts, it’s a challenge that will keep me coming back for more.

So, what did I do with a bag of potato chips?  Well, you’ll have to stay tuned for that, but I’ll give you some hints.  I paired potato chips with artichokes, squash, sour cream, chocolate AND ice cream (not all in one recipe, of course!).  I admit - it’s quite an array of ingredients.  By themselves or paired with chocolate - who can resist?!

What would you do with a bag of potato chips…besides snuggling up in front of the TV with a bag of your favorite chips and a great movie?