garlic


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Kale Overboard! Top 10 Things to Do with Kale

DAMNIT. I’ve finally succumbed to the Kale trend. I will eat the brittle green leaves in various dishes (never juice though – never). I particularly enjoy creamed Kale. But I can appreciate the nutritional value and even the flavor of Kale when it is done right. So there…I’m putting my white flag up halfway to the trendy, hipster, “eat green, eat clean” health food nuts. But again – no juice. Anyway, here are our top 10 Kale dishes to try out.

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10. Red Quinoa Butternut Squash Stew

Now look at this fine kale specimen. It includes the tastes of kale, complemented by savory flavors. However, the rough green leaves are not poking your eye out. Bonus: it tastes delicious.

 

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9. Smokey-Sweet Autumn Breakfast Hash

I am a breakfast lover. I believe anyone who is not is wrong. This keeps breakfast satisfying while also giving a nice boost of fiber.

 

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8. Warm Fall Kale Salad

This salad is great on a fall or winter day and you’re running out of proteins in the freezer.
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7. Jamaican Jerk Kale Chips

The ONLY way I will eat or attempt to make kale chips.

 

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6. Kale and Carrot Salad

Why not add some sprouts and carrots to your kale and nuts? Huh?

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5. Coconut Kale Quinoa

Think of this as a side to braised beef or short rib. Salivating? You should be.

es-kale-bitesWonky Wonderful

4. Kale and Quinoa Bites

Now THIS is what I’m talking about. Put kale in a delicious muffin. Call it healthy. Win. Check it out at Wonky Wonderful.

es-cheesy-bacon-kale-stuffed-chicken-landscapeJulie’s Eats & Treats

3. Cheesy Bacon Kale Stuffed Chicken

“What’s for dinner tonight” sometimes make me run for the salad bag and seeking out some chicken in the freezer. But this is a recipe that’s easy to implement. It may even impress. (Via Julie’s Eats & Treats)

es-roasted_garlic_kale_hummus_and_let_them_eat_kale_giveaway_2The Roasted Root

2. Roasted Garlic Kale Hummus 

Beet hummus, garlic hummus, pepper hummus, the list goes on. Why not try some garlic kale hummus this time? (Via The Roasted Root)

es-best-garlicky-kale-bacon-pizza-recipe-copyJust A Taste

1. Garlicky Kale and Bacon Pizza

We typically have some pizza dough, pizza sauce, and mozzarella cheese in the fridge/freezer for those days we feel lazy. But sometimes a plain cheese pizza is not enough. How ’bout these kale leaves? (Via Just A Taste)

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Spicy Shrimp Salad
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Spicy Garlic Shrimp Salad

Spicy Shrimp SaladShrimp! And white wine! When it comes to this combo, consider me a regular Beaver Boy. (And if you aren’t a Tim and Eric fan, that video might not make sense, but roll with it.)

Another thing that’s great together, besides shrimp and white wine, is shrimp and avocado. Also, shrimp and garlic. This salad mixes up all of these things! You sauté fresh shrimp in coconut oil, lemon, white wine, lemon, and of course lots of garlic and red chili flakes. Then It’s tossed with a delicate green salad full of fresh avocado, cherry tomatoes, and lots of fresh cracked black pepper. Since shrimp cooks so quickly, this entire salad takes about 10 minutes to throw together. You’re welcome.

Spicy Garlic Shrimp Salad

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Slow Cooker Ginger Honey Chicken
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Slow Cooker Ginger-Honey Chicken

Slow Cooker Ginger Honey Chicken

I can’t believe it took me so long to blog this ginger honey chicken dish, because it was SO GOOD. While winter is in its last gasps I encourage everyone to make and enjoy this super-easy slow cooker recipe. As with all the best slow cooker situations, it’s quick to prep, makes your house smell delicious, and seems like you put waaaay more work into it than you actually did. Score, score, and score.

Slow Cooker Ginger-Honey Chicken

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Vitabar Forget-me-not burger
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Endless Road Trip Iceland: An Unforgettable Burger

Vitabar Burgers

Here we are, back in Iceland. We’ve talked about cheap and easy hot dogs and we’ve talked about exotic whale meat, so now let’s meet somewhere in the middle: burgers.

Specifically the ones at Vitabar, which is said to have the best burgers in Reykjavik. It’s a pretty divey restaurant/bar and I mean that in a good way. I heard people call it “fast food” but it’s nothing like American fast food restaurants—there’s no drive thru, no neon logos, no franchises. But it is really cheap! Especially by Icelandic standards (as you may recall me lamenting in past posts, going out in Iceland costs a pretty penny).

Getting your grub on at Vitabar is simple. You go up to the register, order your beers, burgers, and whatever sides you want (basically french fries or onion rings) and then they’ll bring everything to your table in just a few minutes. It’s very no-frills but hey, it’s a greasy burger joint, what did you expect? Vitabar is especially known for its Forget-Me-Not Burger, which is absolutely slathered in melty blue cheese and stinky garlic. Your breath will definitely not be forgotten after one of these bad boys. Just check out that monstrosity below. Woof.

Vitabar Forget-me-not burger

The Forget-Me-Nots were really great though! The patties were a little thin but they were flavorful with a nice charred texture, firm enough to stand up to all the sloppy blue cheesy glory. Topped off with a classic sesame bun and paired with a pile of thin, crispy onion rings plus a slightly mysterious packaged “cocktail sauce,” this meal was a bar food lover’s dream.

Also on The Endless Road Trip: Iceland
1. The Best Hot Dogs in the World?
2. I Ate a Whale and I Liked It


For more Iceland travel tips (not to mention cocktails, healthy recipes, and restaurant reviews), check out ES Emily’s individual blog, A Time to Kale, or tweet her @emilyteachout with all your burning food travel questions.

in Food Travel / Red Meat / Restaurants 0 comments
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Super Snacks: Baked Garlic & Swiss Cheese Dip

GarlicDipFootball

Ugh…. no Seahawks, no Saints, no Chargers, no Cowboys, no Texans… remind me again WHY I want to watch the Superbowl this year?!

Oh yeah, duh–the day-long bounty of indulgent dips, deep-fried apps, and beer. That’s right.

I love football and I love TV, and obviously I love cooking, eating, and drinking, so it should come as no surprise that Superbowl is one of my favorite days of the year. For me, it’s not a true celebration unless there are copious amounts of chips and dip involved. There is no other day in the year when dip gets the respect and attention it deserves. So when my friends at Kashi sent me some of their newest products and asked if I could dream up a delicious Superbowl recipe incorporating their tasty new garlic pita chips, of course I was more than eager to comply.

What goes better with garlic than more garlic? I was inspired by one of the best soups in Seattle, the amazing, rich garlic swiss soup at Hopvine, which was my fall and winter staple when I lived there. This is kind of a fondue version of that idea–a thicker, cheesier, more amped-up version that is straight-up addictive. I used elephant garlic because it adds a sweeter, mellower taste than regular garlic and mushes up nicely, but if you can’t find it in your area, no sweat. Just roast 3 large cloves of normal garlic and you’ll be fine.

Baked Garlic & Swiss Cheese Dip

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Salad, Please…Hold the Lettuce

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As this is my first post of 2013 I’ve brought all of you a special gift: 15 more pounds of me! This is in addition to the extra 6 pounds that I gained LAST year during the holidays. I don’t know what comes over me but during the last 6 weeks of the year I go on an eating, drinking and cooking bender that always results in a resolution of diet and exercise. Except that last year I never dropped the 6 new pounds which means that I am now 21 pounds heavier than I was in 2011.

But fear not ESers, this isn’t going to turn into a diet column anytime soon. I’m simply going to apply the M word to my daily intake and consume food in realistic proportions. From now on, whenever I make a pie I will divide it into equal pieces and down a SINGLE slice instead of just grabbing a fork and eating until the pan is empty. The same goes for pasta. A one-pound bag used to be my normal portion but from now on I will make sure that I get at least 4 servings out of each package. Preferably at 4 different meals!

I will even DRINK in moderation. I’ve cut my alcohol consumption down to 3 days a week instead of 3 times a day. No more shot-and-a-beer breakfasts during the week. From now on it’ll be…uh…whatever everyone else normally has for breakfast! I probably won’t even need the aspirins anymore. I could actually start taking real vitamins instead of telling everyone that my aspirins are vitamins.

OK, wait a minute here. Let’s start with baby steps. I’m going to need food that tastes good and fills me up so that I can stop eating like a termite with a tapeworm. Some healthy side dishes that will help me moderate my serving portions. Something fresh and clean like an oriental cucumber salad, but with more than just cucumbers. Something – like this:

Katt’s Cucumber, Onion and Bell Pepper Salad

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The Bourbon Grilled Cheese Sandwich of Etherus

Hey, guess who I bumped into the other day? Etherus. You know, the Santharian God of Excess. Not to brag but he’s a personal friend. Yeah, we go waaay back. He likes to drop by unexpectedly. Usually whenever I break out the bourbon. That’s a bad habit of his but what can I do? He just doesn’t take a hint. Like the other night while I was watching a football game and sipping on some sour mash when, sometime after the half, who shows up? The E-Man. It seems that E was hungry and thought that a grilled cheese sam’itch might hit the spot. Yeah, that might taste real good about now. But not just ANY grilled cheese. Oh, noooooo. Not for the G of E. He had a reputation to uphold. It was time to step it up! A little cheese between two hunks ‘a bread just wasn’t gonna cut it! It was all in and balls out! The following abomination is what he came up with.

The Bourbon Grilled Cheese Sandwich of Etherus

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in Bacon / Cheese / Featured / Personal / Recipe / Sandwich 4 comments
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