The Sustainable Spot

Recently I have discovered a new food obsession which also happens to be extremely healthy loaded with fiber, cancer-preventing compounds and vitamins such as beta-carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C and calcium.  It is aesthetically pleasing with its bright purple and green coloring and bouquet like presentation and I can eat it like potato chips guilt free!  I am even lucky enough to have met a new friend that is proficient in growing it in his garden.  So what is this miracle food?  Why kale of course!

My dear friend Katlyn and I have been experimenting with all of the different ways of preparing this green goddess food. We have stirfryed it, steamed it and baked it and while we have discovered many delicious dishes with kale as our main ingredient, we both agree hands down our favorite results have been kale chips.  They are incredibly easy to make and take less than ten (twenty for a big batch) minutes in total.  And they have a potato chip like consistency that melts in your mouth and is packed with nutritional value.  So skip buying them for up to $8 a bag at the health food store and make your own!

Baked Kale Chips

Ingredients:

1 bunch of kale

1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt and cracked pepper

Seasoning of your choice (we used cajun seasoning and it was delicious!)

Step 1: Wash and dry kale thoroughly

Step 2: Rip into 3 inch pieces, lightly drizzle with olive oil, rub into both sides and place evenly on baking sheet without overlapping

Step 3: Add salt, pepper and seasoning and bake for 5-8 minutes

Directions:  Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Cut leaves of kale from center stalks.  Wash and dry thoroughly.  It is extremely important that you dry the leaves completely otherwise they will steam instead of bake so use kitchen or paper towel to dry rigorously.  Rip into pieces 3 inches in size.  Chips shrink when baked so you don’t want them to be much smaller than 3 inches.  Lightly drizzle with olive oil and rub onto both sides before placing on baking sheet.  Make sure pieces do not overlap on baking sheet or they will not bake evenly and may steam.  Sprinkle sea salt, pepper and seasoning to your preference over face up side of kale pieces.  I advise starting light as you want to taste the kale itself as well, you can always add more after baked.  Put in oven for 5 minutes and check to see if ready.  May need an additional two minutes for larger pieces.

Et voila!  Enjoy!