Kale Chips

The kale chips aren't all that pretty, hence the pic of the raw kale!

We are making progress on our front yard.  I am embarrassed to tell you, however, that we started this project when it was still 2010.  The neighbors must roll their eyes at us.  We work in fits and spurts, with long breaks in between.  I guess they should be happy we've done anything at all.  The yard was, BAD when we moved in, and it stayed that way for three years.  So, removing the juniper bushes, painted green cracked cement walkway, and the AstroTurf covered porch was a huge improvement, even if we were left with a large mud pit.  We replaced the crumbling retaining walls and the walkway is now a nice cobblestone path.  But we still have big areas of what could only be referred to as "weeds".  Between the kids, full-time jobs, and life, it is tough to get anything done.  That's why I love simple, easy, delicious recipes like this one.  We got to use some of our homegrown kale, which was great, and made us feel like we had actually accomplished something.  You can add any seasonings you like, but garlic and paprika are particularly good.  We tried making some with salt and vinegar and it came out pretty well - although we preferred the garlic and paprika. 

Recipe - word of mouth, although there are loads of recipes online

1 bunch of kale, rinsed and chopped
olive oil to lightly coat kale
sea salt, to taste
fresh ground pepper, to taste
1-2 cloves garlic, minced (or use garlic powder to taste)
light dusting of paprika, to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Spread chopped kale in a single layer on a large cookie sheet.  Drizzle with olive oil and toss until well coated.  Dust with the sea salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika and toss again.  Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.  Stir and return to the oven for another 10 minutes or until crispy.  Enjoy!