I Can Do All Things Through Kale ...

Hey there, Gnawers!  So, I know I already posted this morning, but I wanted to add one more recipe for tonight too!  I made my amazing Spicy Peanut Kale Salad again tonight for dinner.  I am seriously addicted to this stuff.  I have already posted that recipe and added the link above.  :)  It is just SO stinking good!

My parents got in from a week long trip to Colorado tonight.  Bless their souls, they came straight from the airport to my house just to give me hugs!  Yes, I am 30 ... It is just that I am just very close with my parents and grateful for it every single day.  It was great to see them.  Plus, they helped me manage all the leftovers I had!  Both my mom and dad feasted on all the leftovers from the week ... Curried Lentil Soup, Vegan Cookies, Cilantro-Lime Chickpea Salad, Chickpea Cookie Dough ... all of it!  There were a lot of "mmmmmmm's" and "ahhhhhhh's".  They liked it!  They loved the Spicy Peanut Kale Salad too.  They are so proud of me and the changes I am making.  That means the world to me.  They both say that I am moving better and look like I have lost weight too ... BONUS!!!

So, I decided to try and make us another snack on top of the leftovers...  I keep seeing recipes for "Kale Chips" all over the internet and Pinterest.  I have been meaning to make them, but I haven't gotten around to it until now.  I decided to make vegan Cheesy Kale Chips with a recipe I adapted from Nicole Burley's Website.  They turned out GREAT.  I found them to be very filling and delicious.  Definitely an awesome substitute for chips!  The only issue I had was getting them crispy.  I had to raise the temperature and add time to the original recipe to get them crispy enough.  I have put some recommendations in the recipe below, but definitely watch your chips and make sure you get them to the right crispiness!  Otherwise ... DEEEE .LIC. IOUS. I highly recommend these.  I can't wait to try to make a salt and vinegar kale chip recipe ... I do love me some salt and vinegar chips!!!

Cheesy Kale Chips (Vegan)


Ingredients:

• 1 large bunch curly kale
• 1 cup raw cashews, soaked for 2 hours
• 1/4 cup jarred roasted red peppers
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)

Preparation Instructions:

1.  Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

2.  Wash kale and remove stems.  Put bite sized leaves into a large bowl.

3.  Add cashews, red peppers, garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and salt to blender (VitaMix!).  Blend until smooth.

4.  Pour blender mixture over the kale.  Massage the sauce into the kale making sure that the kale is not drowning in sauce.  You want there to be just enough to coat the kale without making it too limp.  

5.  Place the kale pieces onto a baking sheet, spreading into an even layer.  

6.  Bake for 45 -60 minutes, or until crispy and slightly browned.  

7.  Remove kale with spatula, serve, and enjoy!!!!

These tasty little nuggets are a great alternative to potato chips - yummy, and filling!  It doesn't hurt that they are full of nutrients.  The nutritional yeast is especially important since it provides B-12 that vegans miss out on.  Give 'em a try!  

I hope you enjoy the recipe, Gnawers!  I am enjoying how I am feeling better each and every day.  I am hoping that you are starting to feel some of these benefits too!  Until next time, friends ... take care of you!!!