How to Prepare Kale (teaching video)

/1 Comment/in , /by

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

IMG_4578

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.

How-To Cut a Pineapple Video (and a quick dinner)

/2 Comments/in , /by

Pineapple.sweet.yellow.tart.awesome.loveIMG_5487

Ok, so pineapple is not very local in Illinois.  There I’ve said it!  I have a goal in my mind of wanting to eat local, organic, veggies, everyday BUT somedays I end up eating something that is grown a million miles away.  I’m still trying to reconcile the veganomics of the food I eat.  

How to Cut up a pineapple

I love pineapple but they are sort of a sticky mess to cut up.  I could buy one precut but then I start to think about all the things that could have touched my pineapple . . . then I get grossed out.  So I buy a whole one and cut it myself.  

My family runs hot and cold on food {does your family like something one day an not the next?}–one day it will be the favorite food and the next time I make it . . . not so much.  We buy about 1 or 2 pineapples a month–my kids go “on” and “off” fruits and veggies, so I always ask before I buy one.  This saves me from being crabby about what they will or won’t eat.  (although now that I have a juicer, I’m way less crabby because I know I can juice the “off” food.)

The How-to Cut up a Pineapple Video!

In this video I cut a pineapple AND show you how I make a very quick meal of rice, broccoli, store-bought chicken meatballs and of course pineapple!  This entire meal is ready to go in the time it takes for the rice cooker to finish.  It would take even less time if you had the pineapple cut up ahead of time and prepped the broccoli.  

[Tweet “I learned something new today @ Renee’s Kitchen! I’m going to be a rock star in my kitchen!”]

Vegan Tip:  leave out the chicken meatballs and add black beans.

Pineapple is also on the Clean 15 list--go check it out!

pineapple is a symbol of hospitality

pineapple is a symbol of hospitality

Be Blessed.

L.O.V.E.,

Renee