Kale Chips

Yep, this is another recipe I found via Pinterest. Love that website!! These are such a tasty snack. I may have just eaten the whole bunch of kale in one sitting. Guess that's a good thing! 

These are a recipe you can make a variety of ways. This is the way I did it...

I cleaned and tore off leafy parts of the kale and placed them in a bowl. Then I drizzled a little bit of olive oil on top, used 1/2 of a freshly squeezed lemon, salt to taste, and about 1 tsp minced garlic. Place in oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, or until leafy edges are crispy. Eat right out of oven. Yummy!!!

Other options:

salt & vinegar

parmesan cheese

any seasoning really. The list can go on and on. 

Hot Spinach Dip

I found this recipe via Pinterest. It came from THIS website. This recipe is for a healthier spinach dip and is so so good and super easy! Enjoy!!

• 10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and excess liquid squeezed out
• 1/2 cup light sour cream
• 5 tbsp light mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup Parmigiano Reggiano (I used grated Parmesan & Ramano blend and it turned out yummy!)
• 1/4 cup scallion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1 cup (4 oz) shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
• fresh pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375°.

Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Place in an oven-proof dish and bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes, until hot and cheese is melted. Serve right away.

Can be made one day in advance and stored in the refrigerator before baking. Makes about 2 1/2 cups.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

I love the website www.ourbestbites.com. My mother-in-law made this and it was SO good! Its a good way to use up that garden zucchini. A sneaky way to get your kids to eat their vegetables! It tastes like a moist chocolate cake.

Recipe by OurBestBites.com

{makes 2 loaves}

2 C flour
2 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 t baking soda
6 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 C canola oil
1 C sugar
1/4 C brown sugar
3 eggs
2 t vanilla
1/2 C sour cream
3 C grated zucchini
3/4 C mini chocolate chips

Topping:
2 T brown sugar
2 T white sugar
1/2 t cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 2 loaf pans and set aside. I actually used one 8" disposable pan to give away and a larger 9" one for me and the batter divided perfectly. So you should get 2 very full 8" pans or slightly less full 9". Do one of each like I did!

Mix topping ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

Place flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.

With a stand or hand mixer beat oil, white sugar, brown sugar, and eggs until combined and slightly fluffy, 1-2 minutes.

Add vanilla and sour cream and mix until combined.

Gently stir in the grated zucchini.
Take a spoonful of the flour mixture and stir in with the chocolate chips (that will help keep them evenly distributed.) If you only have regular chocolate chips, or a chocolate bar, just give it a chop so it's the size of mini chocolate chips. Stir remaining flour mixture into batter and mix just until combined. Add chocolate chips and stir to combine.

Divide the batter between the two pans. and sprinkle topping over each.

Bake in your preheated 350 degree oven for 50-60 minutes. I set my timer for 45 minutes and then keep an eye on it for the remainder. Ya never know how different ovens handle things.

When it's done a toothpick or skewer should come out without goopy batter on it and the top will be gorgeous and cracked with sugar.


Let it cool on a rack for 5-10 minutes and then remove from pans. You definitely have to eat a slice warm. And slathered with butter.

Tomatoes, Tomatoes, EVERYWHERE!

This is the time of year that garden tomatoes seem to be coming out of our ears! They are EVERYWHERE! Are you wondering how to use them? Here are a couple I have been hooked on lately.....

Eggs and Tomato Soup (sounds gross but is very delicious and filling). My sister-in-law and parents live in Atlanta and are of Asian decent. They own a popular Asian restaurant. I made up my own version of the recipe she made for us one time. This serves 1-2 people so you may want to double or triple it for more people.

3 large garden tomatoes, diced

2 egg whites

1 tsp Mrs. Dash (or other seasoning)

dash of pepper

splenda or truvia to your liking

(you also may add cubed tofu and chopped green/white onions)

In a frying pan cook eggs. Add everything else and let simmer 5 minutes.

Easy Italian Tomatoes

For this one there is really no recipe. All I do is chop up some garden tomatoes and drizzle Kraft's Zesty Italian dressing over the top and toss. I have added diced avocados and chopped up raw squash like yellow or and zucchini before. It was very good!

Baked Asparagus

2 lb asparagus (2 bunches)

1/2cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

S&P

Parmesan cheese

Cut a few inches off asparagus stem. Place in a 9x13 baking dish. Mix vinegar and oil and pour over asparagus. Sprinkle with S&P and Parmesan cheese. Bake 450 degrees for 15-20 min. Place asparagus on a serving platter and garnish with more Parmesan cheese.