Kale Chips and Beet Chips

I've seen several recipes for kale chips and heard that they tasted good, but had never tried them. Then on facebook about a week ago on this super fun FB page called What's Cooking Mom, some of the gals were talking about turnip chips, then someone mentioned beet chips and kale chips......and I was thinking....hey I have some beets in the frig. So when I ran to the store, I picked up some kale and figured why not try them both at the same time!!!!

Well.....they were both excellent....I can't decide which one I like more. The kale chips were light, crunchy and addicting. They make you want to have....just one more. The beet chips have a sweet and savoriness to them and give you different dimensions of flavor the more you chew. So for me I can honestly say, that I cant honestly say which one tastes better!! Which is a good reason to try both!!

Kale Chips

1 bunch of kale, torn into 2" pieces (approximately)
juice of half a lemon
1 T olive oil
1 tsp salt

Wash and dry kale thoroughly. Tear leaves from stems and discard stems. Put in a large bowl and toss with lemon juice, olive oil and salt. Toss around to cover all leaves. Arrange on two large cookie sheets trying not to overlap too much. Bake at 350 for 10-12 min. Check after 8 min. They burn easy....I'm speaking from experience. ;)

Beet Chips

3 beets peeled and slice thin
1 T olive oil
1/2 tsp salt

Arrange beets on large cookie sheet and drizzle oil evenly over beets then sprinkle with salt . Bake at 425 for 30-40 minutes.

Potato Broccoli Cheddar Soup...makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside!!

As Winnie the Pooh once said......"It's a blustery day." With blustery days comes......can you guess?? Come on you can do it......HONEY.....oops....sorry that would be Winnie the Pooh's answer....I meant SOUP!!!!

Then the next question was....what kind of soup?? Something think and creamy and rich and tasty but yet filling. That's when I decided potato, broccoli and cheddar cheese. I also made quesadilla's to go along with it, they make great dippers!! This soup is souper easy.....get it 'souper' ooohh...maybe I should change the title to 'Souper Easy Potato Broccoli Cheddar Soup' I think that's a catchy title, don't you think??

Anyways, it really is easy to make. There are very few ingredients and they are mostly ones you would have on hand!! Good luck and happy soup!!

3 peeled and diced potatoes
4 cups of chopped broccoli
4-10 cloves or garlic depending on your liking of garlic ( I might of put 11)
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
8 cups of chicken stock/broth
1/2-1 cup heavy cream or 1/2 and 1/2

In a large stock pot place potatoes, broccoli, garlic and cover with stock/broth. Bring to a boil and let cook for about 20 min until veggies are pretty much mush. I used my emulsion blender, but if you don't have one place in food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Add cheese and cream or 1/2 and 1/2 until cheese is melted, stirring often. Serve

EASY Chicken, Steak & Veggie Stir Fry

I just love love love when you just throw stuff together and make something delicious. It makes me feel fuzzy all over! :) This was one of those.......I'm really starving moments....I need something healthy, but it has to taste good meals. That didn't fit in the title or else I would have called it that!!

Sooooo.....I was digging around in the frig and found zucchini, mushrooms and cabbage. Plus I found leftover steak, I already had 2 defrosted chicken breasts so I figured I'd throw them both in and call it good. You don't have to use both, you could use one or the other. I'm only the boss in my kitchen.....not yours!!

Chicken, Steak & Veggie Stir Fry

2 chicken breast cut in chunks
3 oz of steak cut in chunks
2 zucchini's, cut in half then sliced
1/2 a head of cabbage
6 mushrooms sliced
1/2 onion, cut into wedges
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 T Chili garlic sauce (found on Asian isle)
2 cloves of garlic, grated

Heat pan until very hot, throw in chicken and steak (you can use either or, you don't have to use both) When they are cooked through add in all veggies. In a small bowl combine soy sauce, chili sauce and garlic. When veggies are cooked remove from heat and add sauce. You can serve this over rice if you'd like, but I ate it without.

Feel better chicken soup

Ok....so I know that there is probably really not healing qualities in chicken soup.....its still fun to make when there are sick people in the house!! Besides....with the amount of garlic I put in this bad boy......there's no way it couln't be good for you!! There must me hundreds of varieties of chicken soup and I enjoy hearing what people like to put in theirs!!
Here's mine:
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 stalks of celery, halved + 2 more, diced
2 carrots, halved, + 2 more, diced
1/2 an onion
4 large cloves of garlic + 5 more
4 T rice
dash of red chili flakes
chicken bouillon

Put first 5 ingredients in a pot and boil until chicken is cooked through. Then remove everything, reserving chicken, but throwing out carrots, celery and onion. Dice chicken in bite size pieces. Add diced chicken, diced celery, rice and carrots. Boil until rice is cooked, about 20 min, then using a microplane grate remaining garlic into soup. Chop a hand ful of cilantro and stir it in. Serve right away after adding garlic and cilantro. That way the garlic stays as fresh and raw as possible. It has a nice spicyness to it from the fresh garlic.