Let’s make kale chips and unbox a PocketCHIP ⊟
FedEx delivered this PocketCHIP hackable handheld just as I was getting ready to hack away at some kale to make chips, so I figured I’d combine this tech unboxing with an tutorial for how you can roast a tasty snack.
The PocketCHIP, for those who missed the twee trailer, is Next Thing Co.’s kickstarted gaming handheld/mini-PC that comes with the Pico-8 “Fantasy Console” preinstalled, meaning you can play, edit, and even make tiny games.
Kale chips, if you’ve never had them, are a tasty, low-calorie treat. They are also easy to make, and will help you build the confidence to roast more veggies.
Okay, recipe time! For the kale chips, gather a bunch of kale (like, an actual bunch that they sell at the store), olive oil, and salt or your preferred seasoning.
To unbox the PocketCHIP, you will need.. a box with the PocketCHIP inside it. You can preorder a discounted one right now for $49. It comes packaged in a shrinkwrapped cardboard box that’s nice enough to keep instead of recycling!
You can start by removing the kale leaves from their stems and rinsing them. Then tear them into small, chips-size pieces. So simple.
Here’s the back of the PocketCHIP box, which features tips on how to get started with the device. Also pretty simple!
You want the leaves to be hecka dry before popping them in the oven (start preheating it to 350°F, by the way). Throw them in a salad spinner to whirl off that moisture, or put the leaves on paper towels and dab them dry.
The side of the PocketCHIP box outlines specs for the handheld. Neat.
Once it’s all dry, hand-toss the kale with a tablespoon of olive oil in a mixing bowl to make sure the leaves are coated well.
Keep all of this away from the PocketCHIP’s box (and the interior cardboard seen here), since you don’t want to ruin it with the oil!
I also like to mix in a tablespoon of melted ghee (or plain butter) with the leaves to make it a bit more delicious and unhealthy. You are going to eat vegetables instead of potato chips; you can treat yourself a little.
Hey, here’s the actual PocketCHIP handheld, tucked into the cardboard! There’s a protective film on the screen you can peel off, but it also looks like there’s one over the “keys” – don’t pull that one off!
Now lay the kale pieces on a big baking sheet covered with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Try to get them flat, give them room to breathe, and make sure they don’t layer over each other!
The casing on the back of the PocketChip is transparent, so you can see all the electronics junk inside. Part of the device’s appeal is you can open it up and make modifications to it, but, uh, my expertise here ends with roasting chips.
Before putting them in the oven, sprinkle salt or any seasoning you love over the leaves (this is my current favorite).
If you are into hacking hardware and soldering things, here you go. You can also see the micro-USB port for charging, the USB port for hooking up accessories, and an audio jack to plug speakers or headphones into.
Okay, push these into the oven (the kale, not the PocketCHIP)! Try to check on them after 6-7 minutes, flipping the pieces over and rotating the sheet. If any already look crispy, pick them out and throw them into a container. You will want to check on them every 2-3 minutes to make sure they don’t get brown and overcooked. Make sure to set a timer! If you walk away and forget about these for just a few minutes, they will come out tasting bitter af.
Take them out once they all look and feel crispy! If you messed up and left them in too long, leaving you stuck with brown burnt chips, don’t worry! Depending on the size of your sheet, you probably have enough for one or two more batches, so you will get a couple more tries. Just make sure to keep a closer eye on them so you don’t overcook the chips this time!
Like the Nintendo 3DS now, the PocketCHIP doesn’t come with a charging cable (or anything else besides the device I’ve shown). I just plugged mine into the wall with an Apple plug adapter and a random phone mini-USB cable.
Put your chips in a container and eat them! Don’t put a lid on them, or they will wilt and lose their crisp quick. If you come back to them later and they’re not crispy, just throw them back into the oven at a low temperature, and they will be crispy again after a minute or two – again, make sure to check often to avoid overcooking them! Congratulations. You made kale chips!
The PocketCHIP’s all charged up! Now I’m going to go play with this thing and share more impressions later!
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