RECIPE: Kale Chips

I know this recipe is an easy one – like posting directions on how to make ice cubes – but they were just so tasty, I had to share.

Confession: I have been stubbornly refusing to try kale, and anything to do with kale. I’ve been hearing so much about it lately, that I wanted to be a “rebel” and avoid the leafy fad “to be different”. I also felt as though I’d be betraying my meat tooth by succumbing to a veggie fad. But my kids have turned me.

When my  daughter and I went to pick up my boy from daycare the other day, he ran towards me with a giant leaf in his hand, and was munching on it like a starving rabbit. “Ohh what do you have there?” I asked him, giving a sideways glance to his daycare teacher with disbelief in my eyes. “It’s broccoli lettuce!” he announced, and took another chomp. I smiled a crooked smile and watched as my girl begged for a leaf of her own. “It’s kale” the teacher mouthed to me from across the way, worried that if the kids overheard the ‘k’ word, they’d drop their leaves and run.

As I drove home, the kids went on and on about how kale was the best thing they had ever eaten. I rolled my eyes, and promised that I’d buy some for them.

Tonight I found a bunch of kale in the fridge, and thought I would try out this “kale chip” fad that people won’t stop talking about. And while I thought I’d end up with a pile of soggy moosh or burnt flakes, they turned out just right, and were easy peasy to make.

So in case you’re tempted to jump on the kale train like I have, try this! I promise you (and your kids) will love them.

I used 3 ingredients (beside of course, a bunch of kale leaves).

STEP 1: I tore up the kale leaves into bite-sized pieces, and tossed them in a bowl with about a teaspoon of olive oil.

STEP 2: I spread them out on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil, and sprinkled the leaves with coarse sea salt, and a little bit of garlic powder.

STEP 3: I baked them in the oven at 350F for 8 minutes.

And voila! Perfectly crispy kale chips:

They came out nice and crispy, and were so delicious, I almost ate them all without sharing!

Next was to test them on my little picky eaters. I placed a pile of kale chips on their plates, next to some sliced raw carrots and their favourite pasta. I crossed my fingers and placed their meals in front of them.

And you know what? They wolfed down the kale chips FIRST, and so quickly, I was barely able to snap this pic:

Two thumbs up from my little munchkins, and an extra two from this mama too!