Kale Chips!

I was experimenting with different seasonings for kale chips yesterday, and this one turned out pretty good!  Kale is one of the most nutrient dense foods out there. It can be prepared in many ways, steamed, sauteed, roasted, or raw. Making kale chips are a wonderful method of preparation, and kids absolutely love them.

A quick look at some of the vast health benefits of kale according to whfoods.org:

• Cholesterol-lowering properties (especially when steamed)
• Proven to lower risk of certain cancers, particularly bladder, breast, colon, ovary and prostate.
• Great in supporting detoxification.
• Full of anti-oxidants and very anti-inflammatory, which fights oxidative stress.

Also from whfoods.org (a fantastic website, by the way, that I highly recommend), see the following chart for a more detailed look at the nutrients in kale:

RECIPE: SPICY SESAME KALE CHIPS

Ingredients: 

Kale (any type, as much as you want, remember it cooks down to at least 1/3rd its original size)

Unrefined, cold pressed sesame oil

Sea salt (celtic or himalayan are great for their trace mineral content)

Black pepper or lemon pepper

Cayenne Pepper or red chili flakes (optional, add if you like spice)

Curry Powder

De-stem kale and place in a bowl (make sure its completely dry). Add above ingredients (all of which are optional and to taste, play around to see what you like best), and mix well, making sure all of the kale is coated with oil (but not too much, you don't want it soggy). Spread out on a baking sheet and put in the oven at 350 degrees. Take out and mix/turn every 10 minutes or so until they are crunchy...the timing on this will depend how much kale you are making.

Enjoy!!