Recipe: Apple chips

Val Creager, the Apex mom, business owner and organizer of the Apex Farmers' Market shares this yummy recipe that takes advantage of the season's main fruit: apples.

I featured Creager this summer. In addition to her work at the market, she also is a professional photographer and runs Neighbor Boy Inc. and Tequila Dale's, a food product company, with her husband.

The market will host a Fall Harvest Festival from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturday, at the market, 220 N. Salem St., Apex. The morning will include activities, prizes for kids, a food drive, live music, food, ice cream and a pumpkin carving contest that's open to anybody.

Here's her recipe for apple chips, which you can make with apples from the market and are a healthy treat for all ages.

Apple Chips

• Purchase a few of your favorite apples. I usually like to get a variety of sweet, sour, crisp and soft.
• Peel them and then, using a food processor or mandolin slicer, slice very thinly. I don't core them before slicing, so that they retain the beautiful star in the center.
• Line several cookie sheets with parchment paper and evenly lay out all your apple slices.
• Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon before placing in a 200 degree preheated oven.
• Bake for one hour, then turn over all the slices and bake for another hour.
• Turn off the oven and let the slices cool in the oven or on the counter.
• The apple chips will crisp up as they cool.
• They are absolutely delicious as is for a snack or with lunch, but are also great for serving with caramel, pumpkin or cheese dips.

Go Ask Mom features recipes every Friday. For more, check WRAL.com's recipe database.