Kale-ifornia Dreamin’
(Can’t say I’m not California Dreamin‘ as well.)
I finally got around to making those kale chips everyone’s been talkin‘ about. I must admit that at first bite, these chippies weren’t really my cup of tea. They were too crispy, too crunchy, too… well, just not the taste I expected. But, as you can see from the following pictures, the green guys must have grown on me, because lately I’ve been a mean, green, kale-eatin‘ machine!
Photos:
Kale Chips, Take 1– with roasted butternut squash, baked tofu, and an Ezekiel 7-grain pita drenched in Hunts’ tomato sauce (my newest favorite way to eat the pitas; it’s like a cheeseless pizza, and the sauce makes the pita all soggy, which is exactly how I like it).
Kale Chips, Take 2– with garlic-sauteed red peppers, vegan-buttered toast, Lightlife chickn strips, Westbrae ketchup, and a crisp Gala apple
Kale Chips, Take 3– Another saucy pita, more chickn strips, some 5-spice-stir-fried veggies, and a small piece of a dark chocolate bar made for a very happy CCV’s tummy.
Kale Chips, Take One Million (errr, 4)– Yet another pita, this time dipped in the sauce/ another apple that was too big for its britches (a.k.a. the plate)/ 1/4 of a vegan quiche! Yumlicious, indeed!
Katie’s Lazy-Girl Quiche
(based loosely off of Susan’s mini quiche recipe)
Ingredients:
- 1 red pepper (you don’t even have to slice it first– yay!)
- 1 heaping cup mushrooms
- about 3/4 of a box of Mori-Nu firm tofu (I would’ve used the whole box, but I’d already used the other 1/4 in a different recipe. I’m sure the result would be pretty much the same with whole box.)
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (I cut back on the amount in the original recipe because I don’t like a strong nutritional-yeast flavor)
- 1 tablespoon freeze-dried chives
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 2/3 teaspoon salt
- I completely forgot about adding the garlic! But the result was so yummy anyway that I probably won’t bother to add it in next time (*gasp* did Garlic-Fiend Katie just say that???). I also didn’t add any tahini, as it’s not an ingredient I usually have on hand.
Procedure:
- Preheat your oven to 375 F.
- Cut out the core and stem of the pepper, then put everything in the blender (Vitamix Super 5200 = best gadget EVER!). Blend until smooth, then transfer to a quiche pan.
- Put the quiche in the oven and check it after 30 minutes (mine was in for about 40 minutes, then I turned the oven off, but left the quiche in… so I’m not exactly sure how long it cooked. Sorry I can’t be more specific than that!)
And now back to your regularly-scheduled kale chips:
Kale Chips, Take 5– with more butternut squash, more sauteed peppers, and hulled-barley pilaf.
Thus ends the first of many “Things that are Green” Week posts.
I certainly like the Kale Chips, and I think if I ate them more often, I’d grow to love them! Glad to see they grew on you
Thanks for the recipe!
I adore your eclectic dishes! So much variety on one single plate (or 2 as the case may be…err sometimes 3
).
I desperately wish I could get kale where I live, unfortunately it only seems to be available in the top half of the country
The chips look so yummy!
Whenever I make kale chips I always have to eat them all and I don’t even think they taste THAT great! They are super addicting for me, haha.
MMM I love kale – in chip form, steamed, casserole, blah blah blah! Have you had them with vegan parm or do you just go raw-dog?
I had kale today but I totally should’ve made kale chips! You dishes all sounds yummy.
Haha and I love the lazy quiche recipe! I think I will make it soon, it takes too long doing all the steps but your version is perfect. If only I had a Vita-Mix…
Your titles are too cute! I love kale every way I’ve tried it so far. . .so I must try those chips! And lazy recipes are the best, don’t you think?
I must try these kale chips!!! I have to say your blogs are always so inspirational because you have such a healthy diet and attitude towards food in a world where so many people don’t. You’re awesome
I have been meaning to try the kale chips…but Ive been too scared! I am relieved to know that not everyone loves them upon first taste.
Thanks for experimenting so much with your food, it really helps me get the courage to try new things out!
Angela
http://www.ohsheglows.com
I must make kale chips! Man, I can’t keep my eyes off those sauteed red peppers! Thanks for the awesome quiche recipe!
Oh my goodness, I’ve fallen so behind on all of your lovely posts with school stuff. I’m DONE! So I’m getting all caught up now! Missed reading about all of your lovely foods! I tried kale chips once. They were okay… I think I’m going to give them another go though. If you can learn to love em maybe I can too!
mmmm kale’s my favorite veggie!
Kelly Turner
http://www.everygymsnightmare.com
deeelish! i’m not a huge kale-lover but i think it may grow on me too
but only because it’s green haha. i looooove the tomato sauce on the ezekiel bread. i always order cheeseless pizzas at restaurants or make bagel pizzas at home with just sauce and veggies. mmm
I hope I like them! I am hoping to get a dehydrator for Christmas and that’s the first thing I want to make! So sad you didn’t like them!
Is it sad that I’m still trying to figure out how to get that nummy texture in my plain baked tofu?? I am a saaaaad tofu-baker! Must try these kale chips soon too, maybe I’ll fare better with those!
Definitely just bookmarked that quiche recipe…can’t wait to try it. Perhaps it would make a good breakfast for Christmas morning?
a new quiche recipe! it looks so yummy!
the one time i made kale chips, i over baked them. i think id rather stick to steamed garlic kale instead
i love kale chips but i have to try butternut squash chips now!
call me green with envy, Special K! It all looks so darn yum! I wish I could get me some kale, post haste!
I need to try kale chips! I love it it when things like that kinda grow on you when you’ve eaten them a few times…
Yep, kale chips kinda sneak up on you and before you know it, you’re in love. I love all this butternut squash action, too! What really intrigues me is this saucy pita idea. It seems like you always come up with food combos that seem slightly weird but in my head I see that they make sense and would be delish.
Keep on putting your meal creations up, I love ‘em!
Oh, and I more than agree — someday we must meet up in Cali or NYC for some CCV and RRV fun.
I have yet to try those kale chips! I was afraid I wouldn’t like them, but if you say that they’ve grown on you, I’ll take your word for it
)
ooh! i’ve been meaning to try kale chips but every time i buy them, they always get accidentally sauteed by my dad
haha.
I’ve got a theory about kale – eating it is like sleeping with ugly men, an acquired taste that inspires devotion in those that persevere with it…
I like kale chips every now and then. It’s fun to roast greens. I’m glad you found so many ways to enjoy them!
Kale chips are yummy. Especially if you add them to a salad.
As always, your meals look so healthy, varied and delicious. I love your placemat.
I had to get some squash to make empanadas and ravioli, and I thought of you and got a butternut squash
.
I also got a hubbard because that is my all time fave (still is, you should try one if they have them in your area. Great texture and taste).
I roasted the butternut squash seeds and they were really awesome. The skin is very thin, so the seed is almost all the yummy inside stuff. You should roast them if you aren’t already doing that.