Kale Chips

The other day I went to a local market right by where I live called Cermak. They seriously have the cheapest and best produce around (I'm talking a container for raspberries for $.99!) I was picking up some lettuce because I've started eating a big salad before each meal to cut down on calorie intake. While browsing I saw that there was a sale on kale and I've never tried it before (I know crazy, right!?) 

So I picked some up and decided what better way to use kale for my first time than to make kale chips. It's a healthy delish snack that's sure to satisfy any chip craving. 

*I ate mine with Trader Joe's salsa verde. 

                           

Kale Chips:

- 1 bundle of kale

- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

- 1 tsp low sodium soy sauce

- 1 or 2 shakes of salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

 Rinse kale and pat dry

Rip apart into medium sized pieces and put into a large bowl

Add EVOO and soy sauce and mix

Place kale on a parchment paper and bake for 10-15 minutes or until brown at the edges. 

Sprinkle with 1 or 2 shakes of salt

Enjoy!

Fall and Football

Yesterday I went over to my sisters to watch the Packers kick some Texans butt. She bought this take-n-bake pizza by HomeMade Pizza Co., which was really good. It was loaded with mushrooms--which my younger self would have refused to eat, but as I got older I realized mushrooms weren't so bad. Before I came over she asked me to make something for dessert and I knew exactly what I was going to make. 

Caramel corn!!!

Caramel corn just reminds me of fall and football. About 2 or 3 years ago whenever I would go home to my parents house my Mom and I would make caramel corn to snack on while watching football. I feel like ever since then it has become a tradition to make it for any football game. 

Believe me, this stuff is to die for! It's kind of like the Pringles saying "once you pop, you just can't stop." Seriously, one year I made some to bring back to Brian and I ended up having to make another batch, because my Mom, Dad, Chloe (the dog) and I ate ALL of it! Whoops... It's so easy to make too, which is the best part! 

Basically all you need is: 

2 sticks of butter

2 c. loosely packed brown sugar

1/2 c. light corn syrup

1/2 t. salt

5qts. popped popcorn (3 bags of microwave popcorn)

1/2 t. baking soda

In a medium sauce pan, melt butter over low heat. Add brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt to pan; mix well. Increase heat to medium-high; bring to a boil. Boil mixture for 5 minutes.Remove from heat; stir in baking soda. Place popcorn in a large roasting pan. Pour caramel mixture over popcorn, stirring to coat. Bake uncovered in 250 degree oven for 1 hour, stirring ever 15 or 20 minutes. Turn out onto wax paper to cool. Break into small pieces. Store in an airtight container. 

What's really neat about this recipe is that it comes from a cook book my Mom helped put together for Central School, my old elementary school, back in 1995 in Plainfield, IL. This was one of many recipes she contributed :) 

Here are some pics at my sisters (sorry they're basically all cat photos) 

Bobcat

Doing the blanket dance

Giving him some love