Baked Kale and Quinoa Mac ‘n Cheese

You’ll fall in love with this recipe!! It’s absolutely delicious, the perfect comfort food.

This dish is very similar to traditional baked macaroni and cheese only lighter and slightly healthier (at least I tell myself it is, hehe). In this version I used kale, but you can use spinach instead. I’ve used spinach before and it’s just as good!! It also makes great leftovers!

So here are the Ingredients you’ll need to get started…..

3 tbs Butter

3 tbs Flour

1/2 tsp Salt

2-3 Cloves of garlic

1 tbs Paprika

1 tbs Crushed red pepper

2 Cups cheese of your choice. I chose Cheddar.

2 Cups of milk…I use about a 1/4 cup more for a creamier texture.

3 Cups of Cooked Quinoa

1 Bunch of Kale or Spinach

Panko Bread Crumbs for topping

**Preheat oven to 350°

After you’ve gathered the above ingredients you first need to cook the quinoa, it you haven’t already. Follow the instructions on the package and remember that 1 cup uncooked quinoa equals about 2 cups cooked.

Next make the cheese sauce/base. Melt the butter in a sauce pan, add the garlic, then whisk in the flour. Whisk until you get a smooth paste. Then pour in milk, slowly and about 1 cup at a time, whisking continuously for 5-7 minutes. Add spices: salt, crushed red pepper, paprika, and any thing else you might like!

You should have semi-thick sauce by now, so it’s time to add the cheese!! Only about 3/4 of the cheese though, the rest is for the top. Once the cheese has melted, you can remove from heat.

In a large mixing bowl combine cooked quinoa, cheese sauce, and 1 bunch kale (torn into pieces). Be sure to only use the leafy parts and that the kale is torn into bite size pieces. Mix well.

Now get a cake pan, mine was about 9×13. But pretty much any size or shape that will fit the ingredients nice and evenly. Make sure to grease the pan!!

Next pour the combined ingredients into the pan. Top with the remaining cheese and a very thin layer of panko bread crumbs.

Bake at 350° for about 20 minutes or until golden brown on top and bubbly.

Now most importantly, grab a cold beverage of choice, sit back, relax, and enjoy this delicious meal!!

Chips de Kale

Also known as kale chips. They are sooo delicious! And healthy!! If you haven’t tried them yet, you are missing out and need to do so because these things are awesome and addicting. But it’s ok because they are good for you!

Here is the recipe I used from Vegetarian Times Magazine.

Necessary Ingredients:

1 bunch of curly kale

3 tablespoons nutritional yeast

2 tablespoons olive or grape seed oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375°.

Once you have those things, you’ll need to tear the kale into pieces that are about 2-3 inches big and be sure to only use the leaves, not the hard part in the middle. Then in a large bowl, put in the kale, then the oil and coat the kale pieces completely with the oil, you only need the 2 tablespoons of oil, this is VERY important, if you put too much oil on them they will not turn out. You want the kale to be shiny but not soggy. Next sprinkle the remaining ingredients, salt and nutritional yeast, over the kale. Then spread the kale onto baking sheets, I used two. You then bake for 5 minutes, flip the chips and bake for another 8-10 minutes or until they are crispy. You don’t want them brown because this means they are burned. I did have a few of mine come out brown and they were fine, just be careful of it. If you want you can try one when close to done to see if the crispiness meets your desire.

I’m still experimenting with kale chip recipes, I have had one unsuccessful one and one that was a huge hit for both Jason and I, which was the one above. So I hope that you have fun making these and are successful with them! If you have any recipes that you’d like to share kale related or not, I’d love them. Don’t be leery of the kale.

It is D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!

Monday: Mongolian Dinner

Mongolian Seitan Stir Fry

This recipe is quite possibly the best thing that I have ever eaten. It was soo tasty!! I was so excited about this dish because Jason chose it and he even cooked it! For all you meat lovers out there don’t be afraid of the seitan, it is so delicious and way better than tofu! I suggest you all give it a try.

Thanks to food gawker and Williams Kitchen for this delightful recipe.

http://www.williams-kitchen.com/2013/01/mongolian-seitan-stir-fry/

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burritos

Delicious!!

I found this recipe on pinterest and I am in LOve with it!! SO is Jason 🙂

We made it a few weeks ago and then again last night…soooo tasty!! Ya’ll gotta try it!

Thanks to the originator of this delightful dish!!

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/special-dietary-needs/vegetarian/roasted-veggie-and-black-bean-burritos/

Here’s how we did…we made a few adjustments to the original.

Tasty items you’ll need:

• 2 medium sized Sweet Potatoes, cubed
• 1-2  Jalapenos seeded and diced
• 1 red, yellow, or green pepper, Diced
• 1 onion yellow or red, diced….the first time we made these we even put some green onions in the actual burrito…yummoo
• 2 teaspoons olive or grapeseed oil
•  1 teaspoon cumin, maybe a tad more
• 1 teaspoon chili powder, maybe a tad more
• 1 pinch salt And pepper
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained (15 Ounce Can)
• about 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
• juice from one whole lime
• 1-2 cups cheddar cheese or pepper jack
• 1 package big ole tortillas (white or wheat)

In a bowl, toss your raw veggies in olive oil and season with spices. Place in a large baking dish and roast in 425 degree oven for about 20 minutes, tossing around halfway through.When this roasting part is done, the potatoes should be soft or nearly soft.

Take the veggies out and let them cool a bit. Add your roasted veggies to a can of rinsed black beans. Add cilantro and lime juice. Combine gently.

Add two heaping tablespoons of vegetable and bean mixture to center of wrap. Top with shredded cheese. Roll the tortilla like burritos, by folding in the sides and rolling, all the ingredients should be packed in there nice and tight! Then place the tortillas filled with yummy veggies into a greased baking dish…it’s OK for them to touch as they most likely will.

Bake in 375 degree oven for about 10-15 minutes.

Enjoy!!

Recipe makes about 6 medium sized burritos!

For REAL this time

Hello all!! I am back and haven’t posted in a few months. I’m pretty bad at this blog thing but instead of getting facebook again, I decided I am going to try and connect with friends and family by posting daily on this blog!! I hope to truly stick with it this time, and would love to meet new people through it as well. I am going to use this blog to display my photos, words, inspiration, and other delights!! 

love, 

amber

Homemade Chai Tea Concentrate

A remedy for all blues, especially winter ones!

I had been looking for a delicious chai tea recipe that I could replicate and stumbled across one on a blog about a month ago. I gave it a try and was thoroughly impressed with the outcome of it! I have yet to make it again but when I find the time again I will and I also am going to try and make it a little spicier! Give it a try and let me know what you think!

I found my ingredients at the local coop!

Recipe:

4 1/2 cups water
1 stick cinnamon
1 3-inch piece of fresh ginger, chopped
7 whole cardamom pods
2 whole star anise pods
10 whole cloves
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon orange zest
10 bags of black tea
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon vanilla

I steeped it with one cinnamon stick and then put another one in the jar I stored it in.

Combine spices and tea bags with water in medium pot and steep for 20-30 minutes. In a separate bowl combine brown sugar, honey and vanilla. After tea is done steeping strain it through a very fine strainer, trying to keep all spices out of the strained mixture and combine it with the sugar, honey and vanilla in the separate bowl. Stir until well combined and sugar is dissolved. Store in a mason jar or other container and refrigerate, (this is where I added a cinnamon stick to the jar).

To enjoy delicious Chai, combine equal parts with milk or soy milk and heat until hot or put over ice!

Muah! Enjoy!

Recipe courtesy of  http://awoodennest.blogspot.com/2011/08/spiced-chai-concentrate.html