Kale! One of My Favorite Food Super Heroes.

People seem to shy away from Kale...maybe it's because they just don't know what to do with it? Or because they think it's doomed to be a tough, bitter vegetable, rotting in the back of their fridge. But it has so many awesome health benefits, you can get rid of the bitterness, and you can just do so much with it.

Here's a link that talks about some of the health benefits of kale: 

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4408/Top-10-Health-Benefits-of-Eating-Kale.html

Here's a list on ways to use kale, that I'm going to be building as I explore:

Kale chips:

http://www.katheats.com/favorite-foods/kale-chips

Kale can be added to quiche, lasagna, pizza, and anywhere else where you might normally use spinach...except it has greater health benefits! Just blanch it, or saute it in some oil and water until softened. The less you cook it, the more nutrients it holds on to...so keep that in mind. 

Here's how I normally cook it, as mentioned in my last post on kale ravioli:

My Standard Kale Procedure: Strip the leaves off the stalks, chop them up a little bit, throw them in a frying pan or wok with some oil (coconut oil is my absolute favorite!), salt, pepper, and enough water to steam them...Add whatever other herbs/spices sound good at the moment. You can have so much freedom with this recipe. Stir, then cover to steam on medium high heat for about 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Once they're lightly cooked, if there's water left in the pan, drain it out. 

Kale is also great for juicing, if you have a juicer, or for mixing into smoothies. It's best to eat it raw (in forms like this, or in salad), but you do have to combat the bitterness with other flavors. A little goes a long way!