The only sounds to be heard this dinner! KALE CHIPS:
I was very skeptical that these would turn out, but I did some internet research and it seemed that many people made them successfully, so we gave them a try.
I REALLY liked them!!! They were just like chips – I put a good bit of Crazy Salt on them to make them kind of salty. I think because kale is chewy to begin with they were crunchy but still had chew to them. It wasn’t just air, which is how I thought they’d turn out. They really were like thin potato chips!
And the best part is it took me a looong time to make my way through this pile. By the way, this pile (including a drizzle of EVOO and and a sprinkle of Asiago) was only about 100 kcal. Talk about healthy chips!
Rough Recipe:
- Preheat oven to about 375*
- Use about 1 OXO salad spinner’s worth of kale (which was a stuffed grocery store veggie bag). Trim off stems and cut into bite size pieces. Spread out on cookie sheets.
- Drizzle with about 2 tsp of olive oil
- Sprinkle with Parmesan, Asiago or your seasonings of choice.
- Bake for about 15 minutes, until edges are brown and kale is crispy when moved in pan.
Before
After
With the kale we popped some MorningStar Original Grillers in the oven to have with yummy potato buns. I topped my burger with ketchup, mustard, pickle, jalapeño and some Cholula hot sauce.
MY GOSH these buns are SO doughy!!
Next to the kale chip mountain (I’m seeing a mountain theme in my meals these days….)
All together with unsweet, milked Thai tea –
This dinner was about 435 kcal, 6 grams fiber and 27 grams protein.
Dessert
Ginger cookies with a blob of peanut butter. I went back for one more plain cookie that I didn’t photograph! I have to say the ginger/peanut combo wasn’t the best so I ate the peanut butter off and then ate the cookies!
Afternoon Snack
Mocha yogurt (I LOVE coffee yogurts and can never find them so when I do a snag it!) with TJ’s high fiber cereal. I like taking the yogurt out of the container – it’s more fun to eat in a nice big bowl than feeling claustrophobic with your cereal in the container!
See you guys for steel cut oats in the AM!
Amy C. says
That all looks great! I have to try that yogurt. I love anything coffee flavored. 🙂
I have to say I’ve tried the gingersnap/pb combo before too and didn’t like it either. Gingersnaps and nutella on the other hand….
kay says
Is my comment the first one??
I am stalking you Kath! 🙂
Romina says
I’ve never tried kale before, unfortunately. Not sure why, but I will make it a priority next time I go to the supermarket, just so I can make these kale chips! I see them everywhere.
Mmm… gingersnaps with peanut butter… gosh that sounds perfect.
NC says
haha you are too funny Kath– I so know what you mean about claustrophobic yogurt!! I like mixing cottage cheese in my yogurt for some extra protein, and I always feel like it’s going to overflow. Those kale chips sound so interesting. Do you think that technique would work with any hearty leafy green (ie collards)??
kay says
Oh! I am second…. I guess I am not stalking as well as others… 😛
Could you sometimes post your husband’s plates next to yours? I think it will be interesting to see the different portion sizes.
Michelle says
Yummy…I love crazy salt!! Growing up my mom flavored everything with it and now I use it all the time too. Are the kale chips good? What would you compare the flavor to? Two more weeks until I am Charlotte bound!
Maria says
Hah! What a fantastic use for kale – like you said, so chewy to begin with, it must be delicious with a bit of added crunch, mmm… with lots of fleur de sel. That’s one thing I love about eating homemade 90% of the time – because I control the salt by eating very little processed stuff, I don’t feel bad sprinkling liberally where it matters, like on baked fries or avocado slices.
I see fish and ‘chips’ in my future. 🙂
Amandamoo says
Hi Kath,
I have some disappointing news… I made a bunch of kale last week with EVOO, balsamic vinegar, and a drizzle of honey. I LOVED it, the boyfriend… not so much… How IN THE WORLD do you get the husband to try things like kale chips? The boyfriend over here says he feels like a rabbit sometimes when he eats the food I prepare (granted he’s appreciative that he’s lost 7 pounds in the last month). HELP!
Anyone? Any advice? Can I force feed him? Kiala does this with her hubby, right? Does that make it ok?
: )
Laurel says
NC, I mix cottage cheese in my yogurt too! With the whipped cottage cheese, I can’t really tell it’s in there once I mix it up.
I love the variety in Kath’s meals and snacks. I also like how she eats produce that’ s in season. I’m trying to do that more now myself, as I’m finding off-season produce so unappetizing.
I tried making Kath’s oatmeal a couple of times but it didn’t come out so well. Since I’m not a morning person (at all) I made the oats the night before. I made quick-rolled oats one time and whole grain oats the other.
One batch I added half water and half hemp milk and a banana for creaminess. It came out too rich.
The second batch I only added a splash of 2% milk upon reheating, and cut a banana into it. I also sprinkled on some slivered almonds and a teaspoon of brown sugar. It was oddly unsatisfying and I’m not sure why.
I used to love whole grain oatmeal (I enjoy the chewy texture). I can’t remember what brand I used to use but the one I currently have (Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grain Steel Cut Oats) comes out all crumbly.
The oatmeal came out blah the second time and slimy both times. Any way I can fix this while cooking up the oats the night before?
Ana says
what a long day we have had in the comment section! Kath, as always, that dinner looks SUPERB! I have never heard of this recipe! Looks so yummy…I sense a grocery trip coming up for me (gotta get some kale!)-_^
Betsy says
omg…that sounds AMAZING. I need to try that ASAP. as i am currently obsessed with kale, i’ll have no problem doing that!
tracy says
I love kale. Lightly sauteed and salted.
But ….. Try a REAL chip. A perfectly cooked, lightly salted deliciously yummy real chip. Nothing compares. And, no, I can’t eat just one. . . but I can stop at about 10! Usually:)
michelle says
i also never tried kale before unless you count chinese kale (i am asian =]). How does kale taste? is it peppery like arugula? is it crispy like lettuce? lols, i think i should just go and try them.
oh and today was my FIRST time trying cottage cheese. iI was torn between trying out the Greek Yogurt or cottage cheese. The yogurt was a bit more expensive so i settled for the cottage cheese. It was surprisingly filling and it tasted really good. Although it had a lot of protein, it did contain a lot of sodium. I ate 1 cup of cottage cheese and that was 30% of my intake!! Is there a brand that has reduced sodium?
Annie says
Michelle, Hood sells a reduced sodium, 1 % cottage cheese. The taste takes a little while to get used to, so I use it like dip with veigs or crackers a lot. I also will put it in a pita and make a little sandwhich, or, this sounds weird, but sprinkle it with a ton of cinnamon. Its SO good
NC says
Michelle, friendship also makes a no salt added variety. It’s great mixed with salsa as a dip for tortilla chips. I also prefer using the no salt added in my yogurt because it takes on the flavor of the yogurt better!
VeggieGirl says
KALE CHIPS?!?!??! oh my goodness do those look enticing – I eat so much kale that I’m surprised my skin hasn’t turned green!! haha.
Enjoy your Tuesday evening!
melissa-little runner says
Hi Kath,
This is totally random, but I thought you might find this funny.
The other day, I was posting something on my little sister’s facebook wall, when I noticed the previous post.
“It’s 8:30 and Kath hasn’t posted brunch yet, I’m worried”
I almost fell out of my chair laughing because we do look forward to each and every post! I told my sister about the blog and she loves it too. Enough to discuss it on facebook!
Not that you should feel any pressure to post. I am amazed that you are as unbelievably consistent as you are! I can barely manage once a day!
Good night!
Michelle says
I forgot one question…for those of you who eat the Ezekiel bread and other Food for Life breads…how do you go about eating them for a sandwich. I usually just toast them, but I feel like if it is not toasted it will just be soggy from being frozen. Any tips?
Courtney says
Great idea, Kath – I’m definitely going to try that. I was inspired by your cauliflower last night and made some for dinner tonight. (It didn’t really mash, but it was still tasty.) I combined the cauliflower with some horshradish, light sour cream, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and dried red pepper flakes. Thanks for the great ideas!
Julie says
Hi, I recently discovered your blog and just wanted to say it’s awesome!! I’m almost done reading all the archives. I tried eating oatmeal this morning for breakfast (with some pumpkin) and I was full until lunchtime – that NEVER happens. Love your blog 🙂
Kelly T says
Weird! I made kale chip accidentally once. i sauteed it for a bit then stuck it under the broiler with a little bit of mozzarella cheese and kind of forgot about it. It turned out delicious and crunchy. I thought I invented it. Dang.
michelle says
has anybody tried the wasa crispbread? the nutritional value is really good, but it tasted and looked a little cardboardy to me. any recommendations for tasty whole grain crackers?
mel says
Kath, keep up the great work! I for one like the calorie count even though i don’t count calories, I do like to see your portions and how much you can get for a reasonable amt of calories! I’ve gotten so many great meal ideas from you and I think you and your husband are doing great! People need to stop comparing themselves to you and others bc everyone is different! i for one, don’t count calories, eat dessert everyday, and work out a lot less- but hey it works for me. I used to think “Gosh I eat way more than the celebs that post their meals or more than some of my friends” but I know everyones needs are different! And Kath doesnt deprive herself at all…in my opinion! Have a great night everyone!
Brynn says
Michelle,
I actually think the wasa crispbreads are pretty good with some pb and berries or banana. But, and I think Kath would agree, nothing beats an original TLC. They’re so yummy and satisfying! I just tried their new flavor, Roasted Vegetable (or something close to that), which are really good. I still like original best though because they can go with nut butters and fruit, or cheese and savory dips, whereas the flavored ones sound gross with pb or sweet fruit (to me at least).
Betsy says
Michelle
I use Ezekiel sesame bread for my sandwiches and have never had a problem with sogginess. I eat one basically every day and haven’t had a problem yet. And it makes fantastic sandwiches!!!
april says
Hi! What exactly is kale? and where would i find it? also where can i find whipped cottage cheese?
BC says
Melissa, that is SO FUNNY. There should be a KERF group on facebook… that would be totally hilarious.
Cara says
Wow those look really good. What does OXO mean though?
chandra says
Oh yum!! I just bought my first bunch of kale over the weekend and I’ve been wondering what to do with it! Problem solved!
Elizabeth says
Michelle,
I love the Wasa crispbreads! Try them with a little Laughing Cow cheese — delicious!
Katers says
Kale chips! How smart and clever are you?? I cannot wait to try these! This makes me think of the CSA we joined for the summer because how delicious would organic local kale chips be??? We got our first newsletter this week! So excited! Kath, have you guys heard back about your membership?
Also, I got my heart rate monitor in the mail today! So excited about tomorrow morning’s workout!
Sorry for the long posting day! I LOVE the blog; it’s helped me so much. 😀
anon says
Sorry, what does KERF stand for??
Kelly T says
Kath Eats Real Food.
Ryane says
I second the Wasa with laughing cows!
Also, the friendship whipped cottage cheese is not everywhere, as it’s not in any of the supermarkets in my 30 mi radius (oh, how I have looked – NH and some of Mass).
Kale is a big leafy green. It’s with the Swiss Chard… Broccoli Rabe (my current obsession!)… Leeks and whatnot…
Oh – here’s a question. I was meandering around Target (one of my favorite things to do). I found some Archer Farms (their house brand) Peanut Butter. It’s all natural, but is actually vanilla-cranberry peanut butter (I KNOW!). The ingredients list Roasted Peanuts, Cranberries, Vanilla and sugar. THere’s only 6 g. sugar compared to all natural PB’s 2 +/- g and the calories and fat content are pretty on par as well. So….I guess I was thinking this product was too good to be true (it’s delicious by the way, usually I prefer chunky but the cranberries add a chewy texture so hey that’s cool).
Am I missing something, or would you put it in the same boat as all natural PB?
By the by, this PB was on clearance so I’m guessing it wasn’t a huge seller. But I’m going to go back and maybe stock up and see if there were any other flavors.
Oh gosh. One more thing. I made some oats the other day and I usually do some PB, of course, but I was thinking back to Kath’s trail mix with the chocolate chips… So instead of a spoon with some PB on it… I used Nutella. Just a smidge, but I ate it gingerly so it stayed on for awhile – Kath style…. Mahhhvelous for sure!
Natalie says
Does Kale taste like seaweed?
Michelle,
My EZ. bread also never gets soggy. 🙂
Kelsey says
April,
Kale is a type of green, part of the cabbage family. I find the taste to be a cross between spinach and cabbage. I also think it’s not as bitter or spicy as some of the other greens. I find it in the seasonal produce section of my local grocery store. I’ve also seen it in places like SuperWalmart, but I don’t care for buying my produce their.
As for the cottage cheese, I just bought Friendship Whipped cottage cheese (1%) and it’s very tasty! I saw that Hood had whipped too.
Hope that helps!
Hallie says
Question for Kath or anyone: my scale has died on me, and I’d like to get a decent one. I prefer digital and I think I don’t want to spend more than $50. Any suggestions on a good brand/model?
Kammie says
Like what Brynn said, nothing beats the Kashi Original TLC. I like my wasa with peanut butter and raisins or bananas. I just tried Back-to-Nature Stoneground Wheat crackers baked with flaxseed. They are tasty, but are not whole wheat.
Katie says
Oh yum. Kale chips are so good. Looks like a fabulous dinner!
Kath says
NC,
I don’t think the chips would work for collards – they seem too dense. But if you try it, let us know! Maybe mustard greens. Probably not turnip greens. Maybe swiss chard.
kay,
We usually have about the same portion (this one was the same but he had cream cheese on his burger). But he usually has an after-dinner snack of cereal, peanut butter and nuts, so he’s getting his extra fuel 🙂
Michelle ,
Send me an email if you want to try to meet up for lunch!
We keep our EZ bread in the fridge so we don’t have to thaw it. I usually toast it if I’m eating it right then or just make my sandwich in my lunch and it’s room temp. by the time I eat it for lunch.
Amandamoo ,
No idea how to get your boyfriend interested! Perhaps leave a copy of SuperFoods on his nightstand 😉 Maybe you could serve him the rabbit food along with heavier foods. Like a big pile of cheese or something with the kale?
Laurel ,
The batch you said was too rich was probably the right one!! Have you watched the oatmeal video for the technique? (https://www.katheats.com/?p=2173) I would make sure you’re happy with the results before you try saving and reheating, since that often changes the consistency a lot.
michelle ,
Kale tastes like the other big leafy greens to me but is much less bitter. It’s also very chewy, which I love. A little less chewy than collards. I hear ya on the cottage cheese sodium, but I don’t eat CC too often so I don’t worry about it.
melissa-little runner,
That’s too cute!
Julie,
Thanks!! Welcome to KERF!
Cara,
OXO makes a line of kitchen gadgets. I LOVE the salad spinners – I wouldn’t know how to wash (and dry) greens efficiently without one!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004OCKR/km-20/ref=nosim
Katers ,
We were accepted to the CSA!! It doesn’t start until May, and I’ll probably post about it then. I’m SO excited!!
Ryane,
I’ve seen that PB too but I ended up putting it back on the shelf because I reasoned that our PB had less ingredients. But I didn’t think it looked that bad – especially if used more as a treat every now and then than as a daily staple. You should snag one on clearance and tell us what you think.
Hallie ,
We need to buy a new scale soon too. I did some prelim. research and added the two I’m choosing between in my Amazon store, so I’d recommend either of those.
http://astore.amazon.com/kaearefo-20/104-8460299-6426337?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=5
Kath
Katers says
Congrats!! Ours doesn’t start til June. 🙁