Category Archives: Recipes

Recipe | Vegetables | Crazy for Kale | Kale Chips

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Kale 

Authors Cook!

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Recipe: Kale Chips

Summary: Simple Recipe for Kale Chips. I love Kale! This is a recipe I am going to try when the weather gets cooler. 

  • Organic Kale
  • Orgainic Olive oil
  • Sea Salt
  • Organic Garlic

Instructions

  1. Bake in a 275 degree oven.
  2. Take the ribs off the kale, cut them in nice size chunks.
  3. Spray with olive oil then lightly salt, add a touch of garlic to them and put them on a single layer on a cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes, turning half way.
  4. I think you could probably try sprinkling garlic powder or salt in place of the garlic if you had no fresh garlic. Carol said they were crispy, light, and tasty. Also she commented that she would make them this way again.

I was scrolling down my timeline on Facebook today and came across a message that Author Carol Englehaupt put up telling what she had fixed for supper. As a side, she made Kale chips.  I love Kale, steam it and put butter, salt, and pepper on it. Love! Carol said Kale chips were a simple recipe to make, and she shared. She didn’t say to use “Organic” ingredients, I built that into the recipe because I eat organic wherever I can find it. Thank you for sharing, Carol! 

Carol Englehaupt, Author:                                                                                 http://www.amazon.com/C.-L.-Roth/e/B00A5CQH82/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Cosmic Shift by C.L. Roth http://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Shift-Chronicles-Adventure/dp/0984661905/ref=la_B00A5CQH82_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371951733&sr=1-1

Recipe | Wild Greens | How to Cook Dandelion Greens & Recipes

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How to Cook Dandelion Greens & Recipes

By Virginia Wright

Recipe: How to Cook Dandelion Greens

Summary: There are various ways to cook dandelion greens, an edible weed, this post includes two of them- plain with butter or olive oil and tossed with bacon. When I make these recipes I use dandelions out of my yard that has not been treated with any chemicals. Also, I use organic butter, organic extra-virgin olive oil, organic hot red pepper flakes, and uncured nitrite and nitrate-free bacon with no artificial preservatives.

Ingredients

  • Dandelion Greens
  • Bacon
  • Hot Red Pepper Flakes
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Butter
  • Olive oil

Instructions 

  1. Gather, wash, and cook greens.
  2. Drain cooked dandelion greens well.
  3. Serve with butter or a drizzle of olive oil.
  4. Dash of salt and pepper, to taste.
  5. For serving dandelion greens w/ bacon & hot red pepper flake follow directions for cooking dandelion greens.
  6. Cut-up bacon in 1-inch pieces, cook well.
  7. Add drained dandelion greens to bacon, toss.
  8. Add a sprinkle of hot red pepper flakes.
  9. Dash of salt and pepper, to taste.

Preparation time: 30 minute(s) 

The number of servings (yield): Depends on the number of greens you gather.

How to Cook 

A handful of Greens © Virginia Wright

 

Shopping Bag of Greens © Virginia Wright

Dandelion Greens – Wrap your hand around the dandelion greens and make your cut at the base of the plant.

About Dandelion Greens – Pick a Bag Full In the spring of the year dandelion greens are found everywhere you look. It’s one of the first edible weeds that you can eat from the blossom (head) to the root.  

It’s a simple wild green to fix and can be used in many ways. Everything from tea to sauteing the roots. To get started, go find your dandelion patch– First, wrap your hand around the dandelion greens and make your first cut at the base of the plant. I use sharp kitchen scissors and cut leaves enough to fill a plastic shopping bag full.

Every spring, we harvest this “free” delectable wild green when there isn’t anything else growing. Once I get our bag of greens, I clean one side of the kitchen sink, then fill it with cold water. The leaves are placed in the water and cleaned by swishing them well. I use a very large kettle with a lid to put greens in.

DSCF2800
Wash greens thoroughly. © Virginia Wright

You can just taste the healthiness in these wild greens, and is a great edible weed that you can forage for in early spring!

Dandelion Greens w/ Bacon & Hot Red Pepper Flakes 

Follow all the same directions for cutting, cleaning, and cooking your greens. Drain. You should have about 4-cups of greens once boiled down.

Cut-up bacon in 1-inch pieces to cook
dandelion greens in. © Virginia Wright

Cut-up bacon in small 1-inch square pieces, fry until done.

Take your 4-cups of well-drained dandelion greens and place them in the frypan with cooked bacon and grease; toss.

Serving Suggestion: Serve dandelion greens hot; with a sprinkle of hot red pepper flakes, and a dash of salt and pepper.

COOKBOOK:Ayuh, Another Downeast Cookbook: Recipes From Maine    Advertisement 

 © 2012-2020  Virginia Wright. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Recipe| Vegetables |Organic Sautéed Kale

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Recipe: Organic Sautéed Kale

Summary: Organic kale sautéed in olive oil is a great veggie and easy to make. Top sautéed kale with a drizzle of fresh squeezed lemon juice.

Fresh Kale

Fresh Kale, OrganicIngredients

  • 1 bunch of kale
  • 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp garlic, chopped fine
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 1 Tsp red pepper flakes
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste
  • 2 wedges of lemon

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, add olive and garlic. Cook on medium-high heat until garlic is tender.
  2. Add loosely cut kale in sections all over bottom of pan. Pour 1/2 boiling water over the top of the kale, toss, and cover. Cook kale for about five minutes.
  3. Uncover, continue cooking until water has evaporated, then salt and pepper kale to taste.
  4. Serve with a drizzle of fresh lemon over the top.

Preparation time: 15 – 20  minute(s)

Cooking time: 10 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 3-4

My rating 5 stars:  ★★★★★ 10 review(s)

Cooking tip:

Rinse kale in cold water, and pat dry. Use kitchen scissors to cut, or tear kale with your hands. Use both leaves and stems for the recipe.

Not all Olive Oil is Manufactured Equal
Cooking with a “good” olive oil is important because– olive oil stands up well to high heat (frying temperatures). However, do not cook (above its smoke point) as it can make food taste bad.

This is a good link to refer to about olive oil from the Olive Oil Source, the site is everything olive oil:

http://www.oliveoilsource.com/page/heating-olive-oil

Buying Organically
Wherever you can, buy “Organic.” In most all the recipes I develop and post, I substitute non-organic ingredients for ORGANIC ingredients. When you shop at your local farmers market, if the produce is not marked Organic, ask them if it is organically-grown. It is okay to ask! It is your right to know what you put in your mouth or not.

What “Organically Grown” Means

Produce that is organically grown and processed uses no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides during the growing process.

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/organics.htm

National Organic Program

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop

Enjoy this Sauteed Kale Recipe! 

Visit often to see what we are cooking up next…

Disclaimer: The websites (pages), that I mention in my articles, does not mean an endorsement by me. Nor does it constitute an endorsement by the other website, or me (Virginia Wright). I have independently written this article with recipe as a freelance writer.

© 2012 Virginia Wright. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Recipe|Dandelions Batter-Fried Eating Wild-Dandelion Blossoms

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Batter-Fried Dandelion Blossoms                                                                                        By Virginia Wright

Ingredients

  • 2 c dandelion blossoms
  • 1 egg, slightly beaten
  • 1 c milk
  • 1 c self-rise flour
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • ¼ tsp cumin
  • 1 tbsp basil
  •  Light olive oil for sautéing
  • 1/2 tsp garlic salt

Instructions

When you go out hunting for your dandelion blossoms, you will need certain tools, scissors and a 2-cup measuring cup to collect your blossoms in.

1. Cut dandelion blossoms right under the base of the head, avoiding bitter stems. Pick blossoms just before using, as the blossoms will close up quickly after cutting.

Cutting Dandelions right under head of blossom. © Virginia Wright

2.  Fill a bowl with water, put blossoms in and rinse well; place on paper towels, and gently pat dry.

Rinsing Dandelion Blossoms.  © Virginia Wright


3. Beat the egg and milk in medium-size bowl; add flour, pepper, onion powder, garlic salt, and savory herbs– cumin and basil.

Dipping blossoms in batter. © Virginia Wright

4. Mix well. Dip each flower head into the batter, one at a time.

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Dip Blossoms and Pan Fry © Virginia Wright

5.  Sauté flower blossom in olive oil, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels lean brown paper bag. Serve hot.

Battered Fried Dandelion Blossoms © Virginia Wright

HELP SAVE THE HONEYBEES

I hope when you notice dandelion greens growing on your lawn that you do not kill them, besides being a nice early springtime treat to eat, the honeybees like the blossoms as well. Save a patch of grass for the honeybees!

COOKBOOK: Ayuh, Another Downeast Cookbook: Recipes From Maine                    Advertisement 

© 2012-2020  Virginia Wright. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Recipe | Christmas Cookies | Pecan Puffs

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Pecan Puffs

Christmas Cookie | Pecan Puffs

Christmas Cookie | Pecan Puffs

Summary:                                                                                                                                                                                   This is a great cookie to make for the holidays. Quick, simple, and delightful! Goes great with coffee or hot  cocoa. You can freeze cookies after they have cooked and rolled with powdered sugar. Take out several hours  before guests arrive. Yields 40

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 Ingredients
  1. 2 cups butter
  2. 4 cups all purpose unbleached white flour
  3. 4 tsp. pure vanilla
  4. 8 tbsp. powdered sugar
  5. 3 1/2 cups ground pecans or walnuts
  6. powdered sugar for rolling cookie in
Instructions
  1. Cream butter, and other ingredients together. Roll dough into small balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake approximately 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Take out of oven and roll cookie in powdered sugar. Let cool. Roll a second time. Excellent Christmas cookie.
Notes
  1. These cookies puff up when baking, allow a little extra room on the baking sheet between cookies.