Kale and Hearty

We have a new favorite snack food around our house.  No, it's not malted milk balls, although who doesn't love those?  No, Kate's new snack du jour is kale chips.  That's right.  She loves kale chips.

When I think of kale I don't immediately think of a snack food.  In fact, I think just the opposite.  So, imagine my surprise when I made a batch of kale chips as a snack for Kate and she gobbled them up in about two minutes flat.  They kind of remind me of potato chips with a nice crunch and salty taste.  Honestly, you would never know you weren't eating some sort of bizarre green potato if I didn't tell you.

I had heard about kale chips in the past but I had never even considered making them.  That is, until all around perfect person and lifestyle guru Gwyneth Paltrow put a recipe for kale chips in her new cookbook, My Father's Daughter.  They sounded vaguely intriguing so I decided to give them a try.  I'm glad I did.

Kale chips are very quick and easy to make.  I hate to sound like one of those "my children only eat organic" mothers, but they're really healthy, being made from kale and all.  And let's face it, nowhere in the universe is a potato chip healthy so these are a much better snack than your standard snack chip.  All in all,  kale chips are a winner.  Toss the kale with a little olive oil,  sprinkle with some sea salt, and throw them in the oven and you have a snack that is sure to please.

And kale is just the beginning.  You can do the same thing with spinach and chard too.  Play with the seasonings.  Try some cumin, chili powder, and garlic.  The world is your oyster.  Follow the same directions and try something new.  You're in charge!

I urge you to give kale/spinach/chard chips a try.   You can be that mother who makes homemade healthy snacks for your kids and then lords it over all the other mommies at the playground.  That is, if you're into the kind of thing.  If not, well, you can eat them all yourself and not feel guilty which is something we all like.

Recipe:  Kale Chips
(Adapted from Gwyneth Paltrow)

Ingredients:


1 bunch of kale, wash and center stem removed
2 tablespoons olive oil
sea salt

Directions:


Preheat the oven to 300F.

Tear the kale into 1-1/2 inch pieces and place in a large bowl.  Toss the kale with the olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.  Toss to combine.

Transfer the kale to a baking sheet.  Scatter the kale in a single layer and bake for about 20 minutes, until the kale is crisp.

Let cool.