Spiced Tofu &Chickpeas on Kale

I got this from Eating Well magazine, and proceeded to make some variations.  Spicy, and tasty.Seems like a bunch of messing around to get to the end product, but the result was worth it!
The recipe here, serves 4.

Combine, mix up in a big bowl
3.5 tsp paprika (sweet, hot or mixed)
3.5 ground cumin
2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground pepper
1/4 tsp salt

Set aside 2.5 tsp of the spice mix

Mix into the rest of spices
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp olive oil

Add to spice mix, stir up, leave sit for 10-15 minutes or so
1 brick of tofu - 14 oz, drained and cut into 3/4 inch cubes
1 can (15 oz) - chickpeas, rinsed and drained

Spread tofu and chickpeas on greased baking sheet
Roast in 450 F oven for 20 minutes.
Stir once half-way.

While tofu and chickpeas are roasting, put the set aside spices into the big bowl and mix it up with
3 Tbsp lemon juice
3 Tbsp olive oil

Add 1 big bunch kale, ripped to bite size pieces
Massage kale in the spice, juice, oil mixture.  Kale will reduce in size as a result.

Plate the kale - divvy up for 1 serving (about 2.25 cups each)

Add to plated kale:
10 CastelVetrano olives, halved
1 red pear, cut up
1 Tbsp pumpkin seeds, toasted 

Add 3/4 cup of the tofu and chickpea mixture on top of the kale bed.

Serve and enjoy!

Rated a 4.59 on the Kale Scale. 

Steamed Kale under Indian-Spiced Quinoa with Raisins and Pine Nuts

Mom gave me a recipe from the Oregonian for Indian-Spiced Quinoa with Golden Raisins and Pine Nuts which I varied a bit for this meal. It is deeee-licious!  The nutrition count is for 1 serving of the quinoa mixture, on 1+ C kale.  This mixture will serve 3-4.

Saute until onion is limp
2 tsp olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 tsp raw ginger, shredded

Add and mix up with onion and oil
3/4 C quinoa (rinse first)
Ground spices:
  1/2 tsp cardamon
  1/2 tsp coriander
  1/2 tsp cumin
  1/2 cinnamon
  1/4 tsp turmeric
  1/8 tsp cayenne

Add, mix, lower heat, cover and simmer for about 10-18 minutes until quinoa is done, and mix is still moist
2 C broth (vegetable or chicken)
1 oz white wine

Add, mix and serve
1/3 C raisins
1/4 C toasted pine nuts

[To toast pine nuts, put them in skillet on low heat. Stir every so often until done.]

Serve the quinoa mixture on a bed of:
1+ C steamed kale, ripped to bite size pieces.

Rated a 4.67 on Kale Scale.

Aged Havarti Sauce with Kale and Pomegranate

Wanted quick and easy, which this was. Tasty, and next time I think I'd add an apple or pear to balance out the flavors. But, this was workable as a side to a Salmon Dinner.

Steam, wilt as desired
1+ cup Kale, ripped to bite size pieces

Heat in microwave or on stove top til cheese is melted
1 oz aged havarti cheese, diced
1/4 cup soy milk
1 oz white wine
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp cinnamon

Mix up Kale with cheese sauce and heat through.

Add and mix up
1.5 tsp coconut, shredded and unsweetened


Serve with
1/3 cup pomegranate arils on top


Rated a 4.54 on the Kale Scale

Can a Kale Smoothie Go Wrong?

Yes - a kale smoothie seems to have its limits. I'm not sure what made this smoothie one of the worst - it might have been using the Lacinato type kale, or maybe it was using the hemp protein powder, or could have been the two dried figs I tossed in it. It was so thick that the straw stood on its own. And so thick that I just didn't even want to finish the whole serving. Seemed to get thicker as I drank it.

If you want to try this, put in a blender or Vitamix and blend away:

1 cup, non fat milk
3 tbsp 100% Pomegranate juice
1/2 cup, blueberries
1/2 carrot
3 clementines, peeled
2 dried figs
1 cup lacinato kale, ripped up
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 Tbsp hemp protein powder

Serve and try to enjoy!

Rated a 2.9 on the Kale Scale.

Quinoa in a Kale Smoothie?

Yes! Quinoa works great in a kale smoothie. At least with the vitamix, it is blended to smithereens. I used red quinoa, and in the photo, you can see some red flecks in the drink - that's the blended quinoa. As per my last smoothie, I have some work to do to get to a reasonable calorie count with these liquid meals!

Blend as desired - with Vmix - about 1 minute or so
1 cup non-fat milk
30 grapes
3 clementines
1/2 cup cooked quinoa (red, this time)
1/4 cup non-fat plain yogurt
2 Tbsp POM pomegranate juice
3 pitted dates
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1+ cup kale

Serve and enjoy!

Rated a 4.72 on the Kale Scale.

Lemon Grape Smoothie

And another way to enjoy Kale - vitamix smoothie #8 with Lemon and Grape. I thought the lemon would make it too tart, but seems like I compensated quite well with the other fruit. Delicious!  This one came out pinkish brown due to the black grapes.

Put in blender and blend to your desired consistency (with a vitamix, takes under a minute)

1 cup milk, non-fat
1/2 lemon, peeled
1/2 cup pineapple, raw, peeled, chunks
25 black grapes
4 dates, pitted
2 clementines, peeled
1/2 carrot
1+ cup of kale, ripped up
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Serve and enjoy!



Rated a 4.73 on the Kale Scale.

Smoothie for a Hot Day

Hot today. Felt like 90+. Doldrums, no wind. Great day for a smoothie! Delicious!

Put in Vitamix and blend

1 cup	MILK, NONFAT (SKIM)
2 tbsp	hemp protein powder, Bob's Red Mill
1 fruit	ORANGE
3/4 cup	GRAPES
30	BLUEBERRIES
2/3	CARROT
4 medium	STRAWBERRIES
2 oz	YOGURT, VANILLA, NONFAT, Dannon
1/4 tsp	CINNAMON, GROUND
1/2 tsp	NUTMEG, GROUND
10	Tomato, grape

Rated a 4.7 on the Kale Scale.

Kale Scramble Simple

Late dinner, wanted something simple. This worked and tasted good!

Saute
2 tsp olive oil
1/3 C onion, chopped

Add and continue sauté, stir up and go for a minute or two
1 C kale, finely chopped
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp ras el hanout
1/8 tsp cinnamon
5 leaves fresh basil - from my garden!
1 tsp fresh thyme - ditto!

Add, cover, lower heat, wilt
2 Tbsp white wine

Add and cook uncovered
1 egg beaten with 1 egg white
another 1/2 tsp black pepper

Serve with
2 Tbsp grated parmesan


Rated a 4.67 on the Kale Scale.

Steamed Kale Topped With Roasted Vegies

Decided to roast some root vegies which included fennel bulb, onion, parsnip, turnip, rutabaga, yellow pepper, fingerling potatoes. Roasted with a bit of oil, balsamic vinegar, ras el hanout spice, chili pepper ground, black pepper ground, ground ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. HmmMmm... good!

Steam
1 Cup of Kale, ripped to bite size pieces

Top with
1 and 1/4 cup of the roasted vegies
10 grape tomatoes, halved.

Enjoy!


Rated a 4.71 on the Kale Scale.