I love Kale. I mean… if I could I. would. marry. it. Mmmhmmm. I love it that much. And I have it raw, chopped up and thrown into a salad, sauteed with garlic, olive oil, and a splash of balsamic or lemon, and sometimes I’ll throw ginger in there. If I could, I would eat it everyday, and for a while, as I was beginning my recovering from all the damage gluten had done to my body and was so anemic I could barely walk a block from the weakness, I did. Its high in iron, chlorophyll, calcium and vitamins A and C. Kale is my medicine and oh what a delicious hearty medicine it is. Kale is a strengthening vegetable and even now, when I’m on my moon, I eat a little extra just to give my system a boost.
“Kale eases lung congestion, benefits the stomach, and is a specific healer for the liver and the immune system. Its juice is medicinal for treating stomach and duodenal ulcers.”
~The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia
While perusing the food blog world in the last month there seems to be a resurgence of posts on Kale Chips that really piqued my interest. The idea had never occured to me, but this was way to good to pass up. My love of Kale with my obsession with crunch all rolled into one? I was sold. And here is what I made!
I washed and chopped the Kale in big pieces removing the larger stalks. Dried them off and threw them into a large bowl where I poured in a Tbsp of Olive Oil. Mixed it all up with my hands and then laid them out on cookie sheets. I sprinkled sea salt and cracked pepper over them and slid the trays into the oven at 300 degrees. I put the timer at 15 minutes and then proceeded to check them every couple of minutes after that. Our oven is a bit of a challenge, and the bottom was done faster then the top tray, but all told, I think it all took 25 minutes.
They are crazy yum. Truly. And this time, because it was my first, I only added salt and pepper, but next time I might try the paprika and garlic that Gluten Free Girl talks about. I also have some extra that I have let sit out a bit. I want to crush them and save the kale flakes for a seasoning on… well, anything really. I’m making rice for a dish tonight and might try it then, and Smitten Kitchen suggests putting it on popcorn, which I’m thinking would be a great snack for our next Jamie Oliver TV Night.
Kale. Seriously, its probably my most favorite green leafy veg.
I had no idea you had this wonderful food site! I love it, you have such talent:)
Hey Miss Tracie! Yes… My latest venture. Thank you so much. I’m still busy redoing http://www.lunarmusings.com, but its been great having this one up and running.
It’s been a long time since I had kale. We don’t have them here. You’re making me want to eat them now.
Divina, where are you? Kale is a pretty hardy plant that lives in quite a bit of climates.
i . . . was not even aware of this blog. i went back to lunar musings, and don’t know how i’ve missed it. but hoooooray for the first post i’ve read being about kale! yay!
Hey Mama! Yes, this is one of three actually, although lunarmusings and inner revealings are in major overhaul mode and getting sadly neglected. But I’m glad you found me here! And viva Kale!
I have only discovered kale this year and did not have many chances to cook it. Love all your kale ideas! I will get it next time I do my groceries 🙂 Thanks!
You’re welcome Cooking Rookie! Its great seeing you here from Foodbuzz!
I love kale too. Over the past couple of years I’ve been reading so much about how great it is for you and that cancer patients are using it with success.
I have to try this recipe – it sounds great!
Amber,
Yes, I have to say that I feel like its literally medicine for me. And I suppose that all whole food is like that in its own way. But Kale is so packed with nutrients I almost consider it a super food.
This will be great to make salads I bet. 🙂
Kathy,
This actually became a bit of a discussion over on my Facebook page. The ideas for what to use the kale chip flakes on seems to be endless. Among them: Salad, soup, popcorn, sandwiches, mashed potatoes, rice, a rub for a meat or tofu dish…
We should start amassing a list!
Dahlink! Those look deelish and Ima gonna make ’em! Thanks for the inspiration! *marking down on shopping list: Kale*
Hey Mamalama! Great seeing you at Aroma yesterday. 🙂 Let me know when you make the chips! We may have to have a girlie blog day while noshing on gourmet snacks. 🙂
Wow! Never knew that kale was so healthy and the chips don’t seem to be very hard to make at all!
Rochelle,
They aren’t hard to make at all, and this morning I used the last of the kale flakes in my scrambled eggs! I have to say that this is quickly becoming my new favorite thing.
Honnneee! I made these..and it was guud *said very solemnly and reverently*. No REALLLY they were uber yummilicious – I wanted to thank you for the inspiration. The lovely pics helped! OK, so…I wanted to share…I sprinkled coarse Kosher salt and Braggs Nutritional Yeast Seasoning. NO-I don’t work for them! haha :} Thanks again-I sooo love this blog!
I’m telling you, Nutritional Yeast is amazing! Its what I use in my tofu dip, in soups, over popcorn… 🙂 we may have to have some when we next do our girly get together.
Mmm! This makes me hungry. I probably talk about kale way too much on my blog during the growing season (which is about 10 months a year) because I love it so much. Right now I’m in the kale hiatus. Last winter’s plants are gone, and the spring crop is just tiny little seedlings. Sigh.
I don’t think we could ever talk about Kale enough! 🙂 We never seem to get a break from Kale here in Southern California. And I’m so ok with that, but my boyfriend, who really doesn’t like Kale (I know… I have no idea how we have lasted this long) has kept me living in Kale moderation. If I lived alone, I would likely eat it everyday still.
Kale chips for seasoning, genius!