Earlier this spring, I mentioned that I wanted to start eating more in tune with the seasons. That meant that as a first step I had to start learning what is in season when. And I figured a great way to do that would be to start growing some food.
I have experimented with gardening in the past, mostly with disastrous results. My main problem is that I’m not great at follow-through. I don’t say that to slam on myself, it’s just a fact. I tend to enjoy short, intensive, inspiring projects more than long hard slogs. You might say consistency is not my forte…
Okay, enough psychoanalysis. Where was I? Oh yes, kale. If you live in the northwest of the US you might already know–”You can’t fail with kale!”…and it’s true. The stuff grows beautifully here, and it was the perfect beginning choice for my umpteenth attempt at gardening.
But successful growing (check!) is only one part of the gardening equation in my book. My challenge is to actually eat all (or close to all) that we grow, so nothing goes to waste and we save some on grocery bills. And that is yet another reason kale was a great choice! I can use our kale from the garden in three different ways…
1. Smoothies
You already know I love smoothies, and my favorite recipe is here. I’m bagging and freezing lots of my kale fresh from the garden these days, and I know as long as there is space in the freezer nothing will go to waste. This is also where I’m seeing the most visible grocery savings–every bunch from our garden is one bunch of greens I don’t have to buy at the grocery store. That’s very motivating.
2. Sauteed Kale
I never thought I would enjoy this! I thought it would be all slimy and I would haaaaate it. But it turns out I like it just fine, especially in vegan bowls with quinoa and black beans or tofu (or any grain and bean combo). We’re eating this several times a week, and it’s super-convenient when I’m thinking about dinner and I know at the very least there is a vegetable always available in the yard.
3. Kale chips!
I have to say this is my favorite recent discovery. So easy and so yummy. There are all sorts of recipes around the web, and all different ways you can season them but I just do it straight up:
Kale Chips
Preheat oven to 350 F. Remove stems from (about one bunch) of kale, cut into about 3-inch pieces and place it in a large mixing bowl. Toss to coat with about a teaspoon of olive oil. Arrange on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until crisp. (If your kale is packed very closely you might want to remove it from the oven about halfway through and move the pieces around a bit with a spatula so they don’t clump.) After removing from the oven, salt to taste.
Overall it’s just a huge kick for me to walk outside with Z, snip off some kale and have it as part of dinner. It really is way more satisfying to eat something I have grown myself!
What are you growing and how are you using it? Do you have another use for kale I haven’t mentioned?
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Raw Kale Salad is GREAT! remove stems and rip into small pieces and with your hands, massage olive oil in. then just add whatever vegies and dressing you want–grated raw beets are good and red pepper and carrots…it all works.
Oooh! I will have to try that! Thanks Katy
You inspired my dinner, Eileen! I made kale chips, and steamed the stems, then chopped them up and added them to my summer salad with fresh corn, brown rice, grated yellow (raw) beet, scallions & cilantro with olive oil and lemon juice and a bit of rose harissa. Thank you!!! Wish you’d been here to share it with me
xo
Oh! I wish that, too. And steaming the stems is a great idea, I didn’t know you could do that! I always felt so guilty composting them.
I also love kale although it’s too hot here in Northern California to grow it right now – I have to buy it. I make a raw kale salad which you can find here:
http://bit.ly/gIPtCP.
I put kale in my husband’s smoothie every morning. I prefer to eat mine – either raw or pressure cooked.
You can also cook it and freeze it if you have too much and then add it to dishes or to soups.
Kale is amazing. Thanks for sharing.
I am also not a great gardener. I think that it takes a love of gardening and focus. I focus my energy on cooking it, not growing it although I am quite hopeful that I will see great tomatoes this year.
Yummmm!! That looks awesome! Thanks Jill
Hi, I was wondering what to do with all my Kale too, and happened here, so the question is I want to dry my Kale, and store for smoothies etc. has anyone ever done this ? Thank you for any thoughts (;
Hi Debbie, I haven’t dried kale but I do freeze it for smoothies. More about my system in this post: http://eileenvalazza.com/2012/07/got-kale-i-do/where-to-start
It seems like drying might work too! Good luck
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