"Healthy Snack Options for the Whole Family" Week: Pasta Chips from Vintage Italia (Review)

Disclosure:  I was sent samples from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

OMG!. I recently stumbled upon the bet snack food known to mankind.  Well, that is stretching it, but I have to say that Pasta Chips from Vintage Italia are out of this world good. Maybe it is in the pasta loving Italian in me, that makes me falls head over heals in love with these oven baked, thin and crispy pasta chips.  

With flavors like Alfredo, Spicy Tomato Herb and Marina, these 60% less fat (than regular potato chips) pasta chips are baked and not fried, using only premium semolina flour.  The first bite I took of the Marina pasta chips I was hooked.  And, i couldn't help but think back to when my Italian grandmother would make her own homemade pastas and sauces.  With the leftover pasta she had, she would make us a similar bakes treat.  But, unlike these pasta chips, which are drizzled with olive oil and topped with a few salt crystals, her with thicker, and probably had a higher fat content. :-)  

I love being able to blog, as I get to try products like Vintage Italia's All Natural Kosher Pasta Chips, which I otherwise would not have a chance to try, unless I was specifically looking for them while grocery shopping.  But, you know as well as I do, that every day more and more snack foods are being added to store shelves -- so, it is hard to keep up with what is available, let alone try everything.  So, I love being able to have access to press releases, samples and more, to not only sample these unique finds with my family, but also share them with you, so you don't miss out either. :-)

Out of the three Pasta Chips flavors I was sent to review, I have to say my personal favorite is Marinara, as it was full of a robust tomato flavor that added a nice spice and kick to these thin and crispy oven baked pasta chips.  

Pasta Chips are a great appetizer served prior to your pasta dinners.

In addition to the three Pasta Chips flavors I was sent to review, you can also find the following two flavors available from Vintage Italia:

You know that I love to cook and try out new recipes. Well, I couldn't leave out this amazing recipe for mac and cheese, which I found at the Vintage Italia website. After seeing it, I ended up heading to my local grocery store to pick up more Pasta Chips to try out this recipe with my two picky eaters, and myself. :-) Boy, was it tasty, and a fun take on everyone's favorite comfort food, mac and cheese - but, with a crunchy twist, which will have your taste buds dancing, as you reach for another spoonful!

Pasta Chip CruSTED MINI MAC ANd cHEESE

Ingredients• 1 pound mini macaroni
• 2 cups of milk; 1/4-cup flour
• 8 table spoon butter (6 tablespoon for sauce. 2 tablespoon for Pasta Chip crust mix)
• 4 cups extra sharp cheddar cheese; 2 cups Parmesan cheese (1 3/4 cups for filling & 1/4 cup for finishing)
• 1/2-teaspoon white pepper
• 5-ounce bag of Alfredo Pasta Chips or use your favorite flavor. Reserve 12 Pasta Chips for finishing the topping (enjoy any extra chips with your Mac and Cheese)

To Prepare:
Mix 2 ounces (30 chips) of Alfredo Pasta Chips & 2 tablespoon melted butter in small food processor until finely crumbled. Remove crumbs and scoop 2 tablespoons into each of the 6 ramekins. Press into bottom and side edges of the ramekin.

Salt a large pot of boiling water. Add macaroni and cook according to directions on the package, about 8 minutes. Drain well.

Heat milk in a small saucepan, do not boil milk. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, using a whisk to stir. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for 2 minutes, until thickened and smooth. Remove from heat and add the cheddar and Parmesan cheese, 1-tablespoon salt and white pepper. Add in the macaroni and mix well. Divide the filling into the 8 ramekins. Sprinkle leftover crust evenly over individual macaroni.

Place ramekins on baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. Remove from oven. Place 2 Pasta Chips on top and sprinkle remaining Parmesan. Return back in oven for 3 minutes or until cheese has melted. Remove and serve warm. Optional, Let cool slightly, remove from ramekin and carefully place on a serving platter. Mac and Cheese mixture generously fills 6 ramekins."

Source: Vintage Italia, Recipes Section: http://pastachips.com/recipes/.

So, what are you waiting for?  If the above mac and cheese recipe or my rave reviews of Vintage Italia's Pasta Chips didn't get you excited to try these unique chip like snack, I don't know what will.  All I know is that once you take a bite of these oven baked pasta chips, you, too, will be in heaven, and want to reach for another, and another and another... :-)

Don't forget to follow Pasta Chips on Facebook to stay up-to-date on news, special offers and coupons and more...

https://www.facebook.com/PastaChips.

--BUY NOW--

Can't seem to find Vintage Italia's Pasta Chips at a retailer near you?  Then, use the online store locator to find retailers who carry this product line - http://pastachips.com/find-a-store/.  I personally found these Pasta Chips at my local Target and Big Y stores.  Other popular retailers carrying this snack chip line include Shop Rite, Roundy's Pick'n Save, Harris Teeter, Safeway, The Fresh market, King Kullen, and Duane reade, to name a few.

You can also order directly from the Vintage Italia website, where you can purchase individual size bags (in either 2 oz. or 5 oz.) as well as cases.  To learn more about ordering online or to place an order today, visit the online Pasta Chips Store.

Disclosure:  I was sent samples from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.