Kale for Beginners

Kale (r) feat. its pal, Basil (l)

Nothing quite makes one want to hide in a corner with a heaping plateful of healthy greens like seeing an ad for nacho cheese-drowned Cheetos on a gas station window right after yoga class. But maybe that’s just me.

Either way, you’re getting a post jam-packed with leafy goodness.

I’m sure most people have gotten on the kale train by now, but if you’re still intimidated by it, I’m here to hold your hand. Not literally…that would be weird. Instead, I will share/remind you of some recipes I’ve posted in which kale is featured, but isn’t the tough, bitter thing that haunts you in your sleep. But you really don’t have nightmares about it, right?

I might recommend a smoothie to those most freaked out by kale, which may be ironic since green drinks could potentially seem the most repulsive. But you can’t even taste it in this TropiKale Smoothie, I promise! Just pretend it’s green from the kiwi.

Spicy Purple and Sweet Potato Gratin with Coconut Milk

If I could go back in time to just last year, I would thank myself for one thing: coconut. I spent all my life hating it, but after putting myself through a year of trying it repeatedly, it’s quickly high-tailing it to my list of favorite things. I keep reminiscing about a recent coconut margarita, and have you experienced coconut ice cream? If not, change that ASAP.

Always seeking out new things to try, one of the most recent adventures involved the purple potato via a curry. Ever since then, I’ve been wanting to pair it with sweet potatoes. This may mostly be for aesthetic purposes because, come on, you know one of the main reasons you visit food blogs is for the food porn. However, the purple spuds are actually little antioxidant powerhouses which I thought would make an awesome duo with their also nutritious orange cousins.

Daring Cooks’ Challenge: Gumbo!

What’s this?  Another New Orleans recipe in one week?  This one comes in the form of a Daring Cooks’ Challenge!

Our May hostess, Denise, of There’s a Newf in My Soup!, challenged The Daring Cooks to make Gumbo!  She provided us with all the recipes we’d need, from creole spices, homemade stock, and Louisiana white rice, to Drew’s Chicken & Smoked Sausage Gumbo and Seafood Gumbo from My New Orleans: The Cookbook, by John Besh. 

Gumbo!  Growing up in Texas, I think it’s hard not to try gumbo at some point, but maybe that’s more the case if your dad is a gumbo fanatic.  I always thought it was pretty good, but had never mustered up enough ambition to make it.  But then in true Daring Kitchen form, a recipe just like gumbo (ambitious?) is perfect for a challenge!

Daring Cooks’ Challenge: Papas Rellenas!

Kathlyn of Bake Like a Ninja was our Daring Cooks’ March 2011 hostess.  Kathlyn challenges us to make two classic Peruvian dishes: Ceviche de Pescado from “Peruvian Cooking – Basic Recipes” by Annik Franco Barreau.  And Papas Rellenas adapted from a home recipe by Kathlyn’s Spanish teacher, Mayra.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love the Daring Kitchen?  Last month with the Daring Cooks, it was Japanese (sigh…) and now Peruvian food!  Peru is a place I’d like to go to someday even though I don’t know much about it.  I hadn’t even thought a whole lot about Peruvian cuisine, but if it’s all as good as this experience, I want to go to there, stat.

This challenge actually featured a number of recipes (ceviche, papas rellenas, salsa criolla, and pisco sour), but we were only required to do the ceviche and/or the papas rellenas.  Even though I do eat fish, ceviche kind of freaks me out, so I nixed that one.  I’ve had chile rellenos, but hadn’t ever heard of the potato equivalent, so I was excited to try it.  Filled and fried mashed potatoes?  HECK YES.  I also made the salsa criolla because onions and I are buds.

Freezing Greens + Award Things

I’m pretty sure that the reason it’s been in the 70s and 80s here lately is because I bought a fantastic grey wool coat at a thrift store last week.  It seems brand new, fits perfectly, and was only 12 bucks.  The only downside?  The forecast is just an unending streak of warm weather, even though it’s February. 

And here is where I remind you of the 100 degree summers we have to look forward to in south Texas.  Don’t hate!

With spring on its way (maybe here sooner than other places), you might want to cherish your winter greens.  Here’s a tip I learned via a comment by ollie.oranges from this recipe.  If you’ve got a lot of greens that you’re not able to use up before going bad (or if wanting to stockpile), you can freeze them!  I mean, it seems obvious, but I hadn’t thought of it, and am never quick enough to use them all up. 

Kale Smoothie Madness!

What’s all this fuss about astrology lately?  I’ve never really been into it, but will admit that when I found out my sign would change, it made me sad for some reason.  Of course then I read that it only affects those who aren’t out of diapers yet, so hooray.  (poor babies.)

This post can be an example of why I’m a total Aquarius.  You’ve probably seen some kale smoothie recipes floating around on the blogosphere, right?  Being a somewhat recent kale fanatic who loves smoothies, I was instantly on board.  I decided to try out a few of these recipes and make my own, then report to you.  Consider it my contribution to making the world a better place.

Annnd I had to be weird and make faces out of food again.  I can’t help it.

Farfalle with Braised Kale

I seem to have an addictive personality.  This is something I realized about 2 1/2 years ago when I became quite obsessed with fond of Flight of the Conchords.  Many of my FOTC friends with equally addictive personalities encouraged me to give the new Doctor Who a go because they were quite into that as well.

One highly productive week in July, I watched all of Series 1 through 5.  In case you’re wondering, that’s 73 episodes and specials that are each 45-60 minutes long (I’d feel even more ashamed if I did the math).  This is why I do not watch TV. But really, Doctor Who is SO GOOD.  It definitely has plenty of cheesy moments, but you get over that.

Oh, right.  This is a food blog. 

Kale and Leek White Bean Soup

I’ve become kind of obsessed with kale.  Have you read about just how awesome it is??  Whenever I eat it, I feel like I’m getting a slew of bonus points and gold stars that the other kids are missing out on.  Or maybe I’ve been the clueless one all this time?

Either way, it makes me happy because as awesome-packed as it is, it even tastes good!  Talk about an over-achiever.  If I were another veggie, I would roll my eyes even though I’d secretly be jealous…or green with envy?  (boo…)

Pasta with Greens and Ricotta

Ever since college and grad school, I’ve been in the habit of making a full recipe when I cook even though it’s usually just for lil’ ol’ me.   Sure, that sometimes means 4+ days of leftovers, but I guess I’m kind of a lazy cook!

This recipe is certainly no exception.   I found it in my Moosewood cookbook, which I’d bought quite a few years ago and had shamefully forgotten about.   I really should have halved it because one pound of pasta??   So far, four heaping bowls have just gotten me to the halfway point…oy!  It says it serves 4-6, but I’m thinking more like 8-10.

Anyway, this is apparently a simplified version of pansoti from northern Italy, which is a pasta filled with greens and topped with a ricotta walnut sauce.  It’s a good way to get in some more servings of greens, and it sure does make a bright-colored dish.