Kale Chips

All I have to say is... Kale Chips...

Light, crispy, healthy and addictive... Mmm...Mmm...

1 bunch kale
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 tablespoon of seasoned salt (or your own concoction of favourite spices... garlic salt, curry powder, bbq spice...whatever your heart desires!)

1) Preheat oven to 200 degrees C, or the lowest possible temperature (if your oven has a drying option, even better!)
2) With knife, remove the center stems of each leaf by slicing on either side of it. Cut leaves into bite size pieces.
3) Wash kale and thoroughly dry (use a salad spinner or dry overnight on a tea towel)
4) Drizzle olive oil onto kale leaves and toss to evenly coat. Lay on a parchment lined baking sheet.
5) Sprinkle with seasoning salts.
6) Bake on low for an hour or two making sure to monitor for crispiness.. and to ensure it's not burning

There are so many variations but this is the most basic... and also the first one that I tried. I am fortunate enough to have a drying function on my oven so after an hour and a half, it worked out perfectly! Beginner's luck, I guess!

Smooooooth Operator

Since my last post, I've met another love of my life... he's a smooth operator... the Vita-Mix Blender.. Oh yes.

I'm convinced that I should actually work for Vita-Mix given the praises that I talk about this machine and how... ahem.. I've basically convinced three different people to buy one in the short time that I have owned mine.

What can I say about this machine? It makes the smoothest smoothies EVER and just pulverizes everything you put in it! I've made a plethora of varying smoothies consisting of fruits, leafy greens and even root vegetables, and it all comes out as a smooth and delicious bevvy! I've made cashew milk and even almond milk (without any soaking process whatsoever)... this thing even makes soup - heating it right in the blender! I have yet to make a heated concoction but friends have already raved it's heating abilities!

I can literally say that it has changed my daily intake of vegetables. I make batches of fruit and veggie smoothies at least twice a day, with the Mr. and the offspring asking for leafy greens in their smoothies everyday!

I can go on and on about this smooth operator but I can only say that you have to try it to really experience it in all it's glory.

Here's a smoothie I like to call Ruby Red Slippers:

1 carrot (peeled)
1 apple (cored - skin on)
1 beet (peeled)
2 handfuls of kale
1 handful of bluberries
water (to whatever consistency you want the smoothie to be)

Put all ingredients in the Vita-Mix, turn on at variable function starting at speed 1 and turning up to 10... Blend for 30 seconds to 1 minute and enjoy!!