Cheesy Kale Chips

These are addictive.  When I first read about this recipe there was a story about kale chips disappearing   The author said she finally caught her little 2 or 3 year old sneaking the chips out of the dehydrator!  I had a 17 month old at the time and if she could have reached my dehydrator she would have done the same thing.  She loved them.  These chips are a little time consuming and disappear fast.  You can use collard greens too.   They are a little easier to use but I like the taste of the kale much better.  I usually triple the recipe.  Let me know how you like them!

Cheesy Kale Chips

1/3 cup cashews, soaked 1-2 hours (optional)
2 Tbsp. lime juice
3 Tbsp. water
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp. Original Himalayan Crystal Salt
¼ cup nutritional yeast
¼ medium shallot or ½ small yellow onion (optional)
½ tsp. chili powder
Pinch cayenne
Pinch turmeric
3 cloves garlic
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1-2 bunches of washed kale or collard greens, removed from stem and torn into pieces

Blend all ingredients in a blender. Dip kale or collard leaves in mixture and dry them for 4-6 hours in dehydrator (until crispy)

NOTE:  Save the stems in the freezer and add to green smoothies.

Source:  Email from Green Smoothie Girl

Savory Veggie Smoothie

A spicy savory smoothie is a nice addition to a healthy diet. As with most smoothies you can adapt with what you have and change things up to fit your taste.

Savory Veggie Smoothie

2 cups baby spinach

1/2 cup cabbage

1 cup water

1 cup chopped carrot (about 1 carrot)
1 avocado
1 Tbs of lime juice
2 garlic cloves
½ tsp coarse sea or real salt
pinch of cayenne pepper
some ice cubes
Place all of the ingredients in your blender and puree until smooth and creamy. 

Adapted from

http://healthyblenderrecipes.com/recipes/raw_vegan_spicy_vegetable_green_smoothie/

Better then Bacon Pumpkin Seeds

This is a great little recipe for many reasons: it's sprouted, easy, very good for you and it's a good replacement for bacon when used as a garnish. My kids call these salty seeds. You do need a dehydrator so, if you don't have one, borrow one from the neighbors. This recipe takes quite a bit of inactive time but it's worth it! To preserve the enzymes in these sprouted seeds, dehydrate under 115 degrees (Green Smoothie Girl keeps her temperature at 105 degrees. See the note below on the benefits of sprouting.

Better then Bacon Pumpkin Seeds

3 cups raw pumpkin seeds (hulled)

Water

2 1/2 TBS Bragg’s Liquid Aminos

Soak pumpkin seeds in water overnight. Drain well. Dry seeds in dehydrator for 3-4 hours until they are mostly dry (to be able to absorb liquid again).

Mix pumpkin seeds with Liquid Amios well. Let sit to absorb liquid, stirring occasionally, until all liquid is absorbed (15-30 min.). Taste and add another 1/2 to 1 teaspoon if more flavor is needed. Spread on teflex sheets in dehydrator and dry until crispy, for a few hours.

Adapted from 12 Steps to Whole Foods

Note: Sprouting seeds, grains, nuts, and legumes causes the starches to convert to easily

digested sugars. Germinating activates the enzymes so the plant begins to produce

vitamins that it needs for its own growth. According to research performed at the

University of Minnesota, sprouting increases the nutrient density of foods. Sprouted

wheat had 28 percent more thiamine (B1), 315 percent more riboflavin (B2), 66 percent

more niacin (B3), 65 percent more pantothenic acid (B5), 111 percent more

biotin, 278 percent more folic acid, and 300 percent more vitamin C than non-sprouted

wheat. In some legumes, vitamins multiply by up to 500 percent after the bean is

sprouted. Enzyme content is sometimes more than 40 times higher in the sprouted grain,

and even fiber multiplies 300 to 400 percent over the ground, dry whole grain! Another

change brought about in the sprouting process is that carbohydrates decrease and protein

increases substantially, as atmospheric nitrogen is absorbed in the breakdown of carb

molecules, reformed as amino acid building blocks of protein. Source: Green Smoothie Girl's 12 Step Program.

Fixer Elixer

This is great stuff and addicting. It's great for when you have a cold or you are cold. It's great to use as a snack when you are trying to loose weight. It's great just as a refreshing healthy drink. You can add a little cilantro too if you want to include greens. Adjust the ingredients to your taste. This is pretty potent.  Enjoy!

Fixer Elixer

Add the following to a blender

• 2 cups fresh squeezed Lemon Juice
• 5-10 cloves of Garlic
• 1-2 inches of Ginger
• 1/16 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup Raw Honey (see note)
• 1/4 tsp. Raw Salt

Blend until smooth and add 5 cups of very warm water. Blend again and enjoy!

Note: my raw honey is thick and hard so you may need to adjust depending on the consistancy of your honey

Yummy Healthy Tomatillo and Avocado Salsa

Made this yummy salsa and it was a hit.  It's also very healthy so it's a double good whammy!   Enjoy!

Yummy Healthy Tomatillo and Avocado Salsa

2 cups coarsely chopped rinsed husked tomatillos (I had about 6 tomatilllos and didn't chop and measure)

1 4 oz. can diced green Chiles

2 large avocados, halved, peeled, pitted, diced

3/4 cup chopped white onion

1 garlic clove, thinly sliced or chopped

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon vinegar (I always use Bragg's apple cider vinegar)

Place tomatillos and chiles in food processor or blender. Using on/off turns, process until coarse puree forms. Pour puree into medium bowl. Mix in all remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover; chill).

Adapted from http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Avocado-and-Tomatillo-Salsa-108062