How to Prepare Kale (teaching video)

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I love talking about food and I love getting questions from people I meet.

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Just the other day, an older woman and I both were looking for beets–so I took the lead and asked the produce man if he had more in the back?  While we waited I struck up a conversation.  (because I am the Queen of Chit Chat!)

Me:  So what are you going to use your beets for?

Old Woman:  I’m on an anti-inflammatory diet and my doctor told me to eat beets.  But I don’t know how to cook them!  And I don’t even know what an anti-inflammatory diet is!

Me:  Well, lets look it up.  I whipped out my iPhone–too bad I didn’t have Siri to help me–and I looked up the diet and talked a little bit about it.  

Old Woman:   How do you cook your beets?

Me:  These beets I’m juicing–for a drink, but normally I roast them, 400 degrees for 40 minutes.  

Then we chatted a little more–I gave her the link to my website and I’d like to think she or one of her grandkids have come to my online kitchen but I’ll never know.  

This is just one example of how I am a food information magnet for people with many of my conversations centering around food and recipes.  I talk to everyone and probably seem whacky–but I’m ok with that.   It makes my heart sing to help others.

I’ll be writing about beets soon–I like to write about foods as they are in season–but I also like to write about food that I’m using, as I’m using it.  I love my beet juice!

Ok, so about kale.

curly kale

curly kale

I’ve had over 10 people ask me about kale.  More than one person said they love to eat it but have never made it at home–which had me begging the question–WHY NOT?

 “I don’t know how to cook kale.”

purple kale

purple kale

Well, now you will.  I made this video–I apologize it is on the long side–10 minutes!  But it doesn’t take 10 minutes to prepare kale.  What this video highlights:

  1. Identifies 3 different kinds of kale.
  2. How to cut kale.
  3. How to make Polenta.
  4. Nutrient facts of kale.
  5. Nutrient facts of portabella mushrooms.
  6. My favorite vegan “butter”.
  7. How to make a awesome vegan lunch.

If you like this video and you thought it was helpful–please share it or leave a comment letting me know!  It helps me create videos that are helpful to you–so let me know what you need some loving help with!  I really appreciate your input.

Be Blessed.

be my Green Valentine

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Why is it so hard to be green and frugal on holidays?  I go to Target and see all these cute things–they say love, joy, happy–BUY ME!  The candy section is brimming with all my favorites–in pink and red–but wait, I still have candy from Halloween!  I need a eli-pen for buying cute!

I also need a plan for how to share my love for my family and friends!  This is where I am:

For the sweet treat lover:  a box of hot chocolate, chocolate raspberry yogurt, Chobani just came out with some new flavors, a family dessert–this year I’m going to make a heart shaped ice cream cake and let the kids add their own toppings of hot fudge and strawberries.

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For the frugal romantic:  giving the same card–corny but my husband and I enjoy reading and seeing how our loves has grown from “I love you so much, you are the most important thing to me” to “I love you so much, you are the most important thing to me because I know I can count on you–no matter what!”  It shows the evolution of a love affair. (yes this is my 1st Valentine’s Day card from my husband–before he was my husband.  In the words of my daughter, “I didn’t know paper could live that long.”

For the plant lover:  instead of cut flowers consider a plant.  A tiny rosemary tree for the dining room table, potted herbs–I love basil and tarragon for salad dressings in the winter.  Or check out this list. (insert link to your recent post)  A mint plant is wonderful for making tea (and they even have chocolate mint plants).  For the frugal friend you can grow celery or beet greens.  (But you’ll need to start today!)

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For the homemade gift lover:  A water bottle cozy made from a felted sweater.  This is super easy–just use the arms–no sewing just cutting–for a no frills cozy.   I added a felted flower but you could easily sew on beads, stitch a heart or add ribbon.  This cozy is my version of Holly.

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This year I plan on sending e-cards, saving on paper and postage.  I’m going to have my kids make a heart garland with words of gratitude to decorate our home through Easter.  I’m looking for natural/green ways to show that we care for each other and the earth . . . not just on February 14–but all year-long.

How do you show your “green love?”  I would love to hear your ideas.

Be Blessed.

 

 

French Toast Bake (Iron Chef Mom: Eggs)

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I’m thinking it had to be more than 20 years ago when I walked into Great Harvest Bakery on S. Main in Ann Arbor, MI.  I worked at the other end of the “mall” in the deli of a grocery store.  Glamorous no–on the verge of poor yes . . . but I was never hungry.  (and my friend Ken supplied me with as many lattes as I could drink!)  Oh, how I ramble . . . when I walked into Great Harvest it smelled like home.  When I was growing up it was my job to make the bread each week–5 loaves.  I still have a love/hate relationship with bread . . .

Great Harvest had bread, butter, jams and jellies . . . and recipes.  I love recipes–but I don’t collect them exactly.  I make them and if I like it . . . I keep it–if I don’t–the recipe goes.  This is the Great Harvest French Bread Recipe.

One more quick story–when we lived in Michigan, I made French Toast Bake often.  I loved making it for my nephews.  But then we moved . . . no Great Harvest here.  I painfully tried different breads . . . nothing compared.  So that last time I was in Michigan–I ordered 20 loaves of bread.  I didn’t really realize how much room that would take up in an already full van or how much room it would take up in the freezer.  Opps.  I make FTB once a month now . . . and that is the best Sunday morning of the month.

the kids love to help out!

the kids love to help out!

making it organic and frugal

making it organic and frugal

after I add the eggs mixture I pat it down (gently)

after I add the eggs mixture I pat it down (gently)

dot with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mix (which I always keep on hand--because life is just better with warm buttered toast with cinnamon sugar)

Ready for the oven, dot with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mix (which I always keep on hand–because life is just better with warm buttered toast with cinnamon sugar)

 

the awesome crunchy topping . . . it is so good you really don't need syrup

the awesome crunchy topping . . . it is so good you really don’t need syrup.  I serve this with bananas and seasonal fruit.

This recipe is from Great Harvest Bread Company call them at 734-996-8890 if you want to order bread–they will send it!  Click here for the website and more recipes!  Had I known . . . it would have been a much different trip home.

[recipe]1 loaf Farmhouse white or cinnamon crunch bread (10 cups of bread)

8 eggs

3 cups of milk

4 tsp sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 tsp salt

Topping:

2 T. butter cubed

2 T. sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

Place bread cubes in a grease 13×9 baking dish.  In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla and salt.  Pour over bread.

Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.  Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.

Dot with butter.  Mix sugar/cinnamon mix and sprinkle over the top.

Cover and bake at 350 for 1 hour.  I uncover for the last 15 minutes to make a crunchy top.

It serves 6.[/recipe]

Organic tips:  this recipe can be completely organic.

Dairy free:  I have substituted Almond milk.  I liked it the kids did notice a difference.

Frugal tips:  Save the bag from the loaf of bread and use it to cover during the 8 hours.  I use old bread bags for plastic wrap.  My grocery store has organic eggs and organic milk 50% off.

I’m linking up with Iron Chef Mom and Frugal Fridays.