Saturday, October 9, 2010

Hale to Kale!

The perfect storm:  Vegans, like pregnant women, often get strange cravings.  At least strange to "normal" folks.  Yesterday I woke up craving kale.  Kale, kale, kale.  And when I walked into my local organic/health food market, there by the front door awaiting me was............drum roll............bundles of leafy green, perfect kale. 

Of course, now what to do with it??  I was too lazy to make kale chips.  Inspired by the cooler temperature in the SE, I put together the following No Name Kale Recipe.

Into a skillet (you can start with a soup kettle, but I preferred to start with the skillet and then pour my ingredients into the kettle once sauteed):

I began with a TSBP of olive oil,
one diced Valdalia onion
about 1 1/2 cups match stick carrots
one clove mashed and chopped clove of garlic

and then I sauteed them until soft

I next added 3 diced, unpeeled Yukon gold potatoes and about 1/2 cup of water to keep things from sticking and to help steam the potatoes

about now my skillet was getting full, so into the soup kettle went my mixture.

Now I added:

the bundle of kale, which I previously washed and tore into smaller pieces removing the stems,
and because I had left over in the fridge, I added torn romaine and boston lettuces.

and more water to aid in steaming.

Lastly,
I added: two cans of white beans, (probably any kind of beans you have in your pantry will work just fine) rinsed and drained,
and
red pepper flakes
and
some cayenne to taste
and
some Himalayan sea salt to taste
and the coup de grace:
a decent amount of sun dried tomatoes and the herbed oil in which they were stored --yum -- this added the kicker.

All in all, it was a hearty stew, with a taste of the veggies, some heat and some herbal teasing.  A keeper in my humble opinion.  Kale, kale, the gangs all here -- well, if I had enough left over to invite them, they would be here!

2 comments:

  1. Ann! I tried it! And contrary to my fears, I did NOT die of chlorophyll poisoning!!! It was yummy and I feel the strength of Popeye (spinach...kale...what's the diff?)coursing through my entire being. Keep dreaming up those recipes, dear girl!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am going to try it, Ann, even though I think I'd rather eat weeds than kale. You make it sound so yummy!

    ReplyDelete

The Story Behind the Garden of Eden Vegan Blog

For those of you who knew me prior to December 30, 2009, I was a veteran of the fast food culinary institute. My son, when he lived with me would ask if I had ordered the "Shabbat pizza" yet as the sun was setting Friday nights.



My idea of a good meal was a McFish sandwich, fries with extra salt, and a medium diet coke.



Everything was better covered in a rich creamy sauce and the idea of a naked baked potato was as foreign to me as walking naked in Manhattan.



In June of 2009 I decided to formally become a vegetarian. Although I had dabbled with this, it was not until I read Skinny Bitch that the gauntlet was thrown.



Now being a vegetarian does not sign you up for good health. I was proof of that. Chubby when I started, I indulged in pizza, french fries, cheese, cheese, butter, cheese, pizza......and became very over weight, tipping the Toledos at 200 pounds at 5'4". And taking an assortment of meds for cholesterol and GERD and who knows what else.



As the decade was waning, and with my 60th birthday approaching in the year 2010, there was a perfect storm that snapped my beak and got me in gear. The same friend who gave me Skinny Bitch, turned me on to the John McDougall website. At the same time, there was a Grand Round lecture at the hospital where I work on the book Eat to Live, and at the same time, I was tired of how I looked and felt and needed to make a change.



I regret that I did not start this blog when I changed my lifestyle, but it is better late than never.



My weight is down about 35 pounds, my size has gone from a tight 16 to a loose 12. And I am on no meds, although my vegetarian doctor and I will review my blood work within this month to see if I need anything (like b12) boosted.



I began as a Vegan Minus. Or what I call a Garden of Eden Vegan.



As you know, a Vegan eats no animals nor animal products - none. But then I subtracted oil, sugar, and processed foods.

That is a big subtraction -- but it is this subtraction that helped with weight loss, lack of cravings, increased energy, health, and vibrancy.



Now I am dabbling in raw foods and have signed up to learn with Russell James (google him).



I like the taste and health aspect of raw foods, but worry about the increased calories. So I will (hopefully) use the raw creations as a supplement to my Gan (Hebrew for Garden -- I am in a Hebrew mood today) Eden Vegan lifestyle.



My doctor said that I should write a book about this since most of her patients need it. I said, "Who, or how many, would want to do this?" We shall see. It has been easy (no cravings) and exciting as life and energy unfold before me, just as it was meant to be. (It didn't unfold over a fried fish sandwich, extra tarter sauce.)



Join me or not. Walk with me the whole journey, day trips, part of it, or not. This is my 60th year -- buckle up life, here I come.