Sauteed Swiss Chard with Lemon and Parmesan & Crispy Kale Chips

Sunday was a busy day and I made a few different vegetables. For lunch, I made kale chips. Kale is a dark-green, leafy vegetable. Kale is also a super-food that everyone should incorporate into their diets. Kale is high in fiber, iron, calcium, Vitamins A, C and K and has many other benefits!

There are a few different types of kale, but the one you'll most often find in the grocery store is curly leaved kale (which is what I received from my CSA). Kale is very versatile; it can be eaten raw, sauteed, cooked in soups, added to smoothies, etc. but kale chips are one of my favorite ways to eat kale. Kale chips are very quick and easy to make, as well as crispy and delicious!

Crispy Kale Chips

(Yields 2 servings)


Ingredients

• Bunch of kale
• Olive oil
• Garlic powder (or whichever seasonings you like!)
• Salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Thoroughly wash and dry kale
3. Tear kale leaves away from stem and into roughly one inch pieces
4. Spray a cookie sheet with olive oil. Place kale pieces onto cookie sheet.
5. Spray kale with olive oil (I have an oil mister - if you do not have one, just lightly drizzle olive oil on the kale pieces)
6. Sprinkle with garlic powder and salt
7. Place into oven for 8-10 minutes or until kale it light and crispy

Here's a picture of my kale before it was baked.



And dinner last night, I sauteed Swiss chard with lemon and parmesan. Swiss chard is a tall, leafy, green vegetable that is slightly bitter. The stalk of Swiss chard is crunchy and thick, and can be red, yellow or white (can be referred to as 'rainbow chard'). The leaves of Swiss chard are wide, green and softer.

Through reading about Swiss chard, I found out it is not native to Switzerland. Contrary to its namesake, Swiss chard is native to the Mediterranean region. Swiss chard has numerous health benefits as well and I personally think it is simple beautiful. Here's a picture of my Swiss chard before cooking.

Sauteed Swiss Chard with Lemon and Parmesan

• 1 Tbsp. garlic, minced
• 1 shallot, minced
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (I used the juice from half of one lemon)
• 2 Tbsp. parmesan cheese
• 1 bunch Swiss chard, roughly chopped
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

1. Thoroughly wash and dry Swiss chard
2. Chop Swiss chard, separating stalks from leaves
3. Heat pan over medium heat. Once hot, add small amount of olive oil (enough to coat pan)
4. Add garlic and shallots - cook about 1 minute
5. Add chard stalks and white wine and cook until stalks soften - about 5 minutes
6. Stir in chard leaves and cook until wilted - about 1 minute
7. Stir in lemon juice, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper