This could be a false memory, but hear me out: When I was a little girl, somebody put a blob of cooked, leafy greens on my plate. Already liking spinach, I didn’t hesitate to dive in. Unfortunately, this was not spinach. This was spinach’s evil cousin. Now I’ve gone my whole life believing that it was kale, but thinking back, I’m fairly certain that Ma was using the words “kale” and “collard greens” interchangeably. Until last year, I hadn’t even realized that these two leafy greens are not the same! This left me paralyzed in fear, puzzled as to which green was the greater offender, wondering which one I should try again. ‘Cause, ya know, kale is so trendy right now, the “super food.” Supposedly it turns regular humans into super humans.
Well, I wanna be super.
Everywhere I go, everyplace I turn, people are singing the wonders of kale like a Disney musical.
And I WANT to like kale.
For this reason, I’ve avoided it like the plague.
I can’t try it until I’m trying the best, most foolproof recipe there is! If I don’t like it on the first go-around, I doubt I’ll ever try it again, I’ve been thinking to myself. No pressure, but the first taste since childhood needs to be epic or there’s no going back.
Several people have suggested that I begin my kale journey with kale chips. What better way to enjoy a healthy, super food than dousing it with oil and salt, right?
So last week I picked up a package of baby kale. Baby kale’s flavor is supposed to be somewhat milder, so I thought it best to go that route. Before I tossed my baby kale in olive oil, I timidly tasted one raw leaf.
Hmmmm! I’d easily eat this as a salad! Kinda like spinach, but saltier!
That realization should have curbed my generous salting of the kale chips. Next time I’ll know better. After about 12 1/2 minutes in a 350 degree oven (with a moment to shake things up midway), I had delicious, somewhat-too-salty kale chips! 
I canNOT believe I’ve been such a chicken for so long. It must’ve been collard greens that I hated all along.
Now I know.
But given the fact that Brian won’t help me finish them (he likes the flavor, but not the “look” of them), I crushed some up and tossed them in a chicken salad instead of using more salt. Bennett also had some steamed, pureed and mixed with chicken and veggies. Looks like we’re gonna be a kale-eatin’ family now! I wonder what superpower I’ll develop…
I LOVE kale. I make kale and leek soup a lot for my family and my 6 and 3.5 year old BEG me to make it for them…no joke. 🙂
https://www.vitamix.com/Find-Recipes/K/A/Kale-and-Leek-Soup
I like mine in a healthy veggie soup, too. 🙂
I LOVE kale. This is my favorite bean & kale soup recipe. Oh my word. Color me happy. http://allrecipes.com/recipe/bean-soup-with-kale/
I’m going to try that leek soup too, I think!
My granddaughter-vegan-makes and likes kale chips. Lavelle does not. I also do not like the bitter taste of collard green, but mother always mixed the greens and that made them edible. Turnip green are good alone, but collard and mustard need turnips in them to make them good. At least in my opinion. All are good for you for the iron content–and need less salt because they are all salty naturally. Had to be forced to eat them as a child-anemic- but love them now.
Kale is awesome. Even before it was a “super food.” Collard greens and me are not friends. However, kale and I are buds. I just had it in some soup. They are also good in smoothies, must add peaches or grapes to the smoothie.
Momma kept telling me that I should read your blog today. Dr Bartlett just told me to start eating kale and beets! I was like okay. Sure. I don’t know how it happens but it’s like I willingly absorb and obey every drop of knowledge and advice pouring from her lips. No hesitation. She could tell me to eat/do anything and I most likely would do so. It’s like I’m hypnotized. ha ha
I started making kale chips earlier this year too! My grandma used to make turnip greens (by boiling them or some nasty way), and that smell literally would make me want to vomit, so I also stayed far away from really any kind of green that wasn’t spinach. Somehow a facebook friend convinced me to try kale chips, and they are sooo yummy! So now we eat kale regularly, even in smoothies and stuff too. I have developed no superpowers, unfortunately, unless you count my mad skillz at diaper-changing. Ha! 🙂
Not a kale eater, but will add to my list.
Kale is great with ham and navy beans. Just onions and salt need be added. Addicting. I use collards interchangeably in this mix, by the way
I liked kale in this recipe: http://www.adailysomething.com/2013/07/recipe-make-ahead-broccoli-kale-pasta.html