Editor’s Choice: Kettle Brand

I love baked potatoes (well, potatoes in general). I’ve said over and over again to people that I could honestly make a meal out of a baked potato. So many toppings! So many possibilities! So few calories! (But who’s counting those anyway?) So when we received a sample of Fully Loaded Baked Potato — the newest potato chip flavor from Kettle Brands (www.kettlefoods.com) — I was in heaven.

Carolyn Richards, chief flavor architect for Kettle Brands, drew her inspiration for this new flavor from the classic baked potato bar. When I popped a chip in my mouth, I could taste the various toppings I would pile onto a potato. Admittedly, I felt a little bit like Violet Beauregarde from Willy Wonka when I shouted out things such as, “I can taste the sour cream! And the bacon bits! And green onion!” But seriously, you can taste it all, in addition to a hint of Cheddar and a distinct smoky flavor.

I was happily surprised to read that these crunchy chips are made with natural ingredients and contain zero trans fat. They are also a snack option for our vegetarian and kosher friends. Try some today, but don’t count on the bag lasting very long (I am not even going to tell you how little time it took me to finish it.)

-Ashley

Editor's Choice: Kettle Brands

When faced with my afternoon salty snack craving, anyone handing me a bag of chips with "65 percent less fat than regular potato chips" emblazoned across the front of the package is likely to get a scowl or at the very least a skeptical brow. It's nothing personal, I just prefer chips that aren't the texture of damp cardstock. That being said, I happily found absolutely nothing about the Kettle Brands Baked Potato Chips that even remotely resembles the crunchless, melt-in-your-mouth product one usually gets with a baked chip. These thick chips provide a kettle-quality crunch that I'm sure can be heard down the cube-hall.

The newest flavor in Kettle Brand's delightfully crunchy baked line is Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper. The name basically says it all, too. The chips actually taste like potato, salt and pepper freshly ground from a mill. There's just enough bite from the pepper, but not enough to overwhelm the other elements of flavor for this tasty chip.

Other flavors in the line of Kettle Brand Baked Potato Chips include Sea Salt and Vinegar, Aged White Cheddar, Hickory Honey Barbeque and Lightly Salted (but go for the Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper, if you want my two cents). More about Kettle Brand chips can be found at www.kettlefoods.com.