This time of year, even I am starting to feel like I could use a break from the greens, so I get really excited to use broccoli, sweet onions, squash, and beets. But the greens have become an active part of my life and an integral part of my “let food be your medicine” lifestyle.
Kale and swiss chard are still breakfast staples for us out here. Multiple days a week, these greens are sauteed and mixed with scrambled eggs or sausage and topped with some kind of ferment (kimchi, or sauerkraut, etc). It is a great way to start the day, bringing in lots of those super food nutrients, and a healthy helping of valuable fiber. But, speaking of ferments…Did you know that you can live ferment your kale? For those of you not as into the live fermenting thing, you can make great vinegar pickled kale too.
Greens can be mixed with just about anything, if you are willing to get creative. Have you ever considered baking with your kale? Check out this muffin recipe. As a matter of fact, here are 5 ways to sneak kale into your dessert. Italian foods lend themselves really well to using greens. Thin chop or even food process them and hide them in spaghetti sauce or make a swiss chard lasagna.
Ohh and don’t forget to
freeze your greens on weeks when you won’t get to them. You will thank yourself this winter when you body starts to crave that chlorophyll packed goodness. Of course there is the ever popular smoothie, that can use up gobs of greens faster than a speeding bullet. Here are some ideas to get you ready for green
smoothies in an instant.
Let’s not forget about the now famous
“kale” chips, which can actually be made with most of the hardy greens, and are a winner at any table. But make a lot, cause they won’t last long. Once you get started with these, it can become an addiction and the flavor combinations that can be created are really endless. Think curry, or Mexican style cumin, or cheesy nutritional yeast, or red pepper veggie medley….Oh my gosh don’t get me started!
May your adventures in greens turn into the love affair that they have with me. Your body will thank you for it and you will have a fuller more enjoyable CSA experience. You might even want to get yourself a
greens cookbook for inspiration. Heck, you can even get yourself a
cookbook on Kale alone, cause kale has become the new carrot ya know. Happy cooking and let yourself love those greens.