Beautiful Kale with a Kale Chip Recipe!

So the other day on Facebook, I was asking if it was ok to eat Kale that was flowering?

Mainly because my garden is overrun with it!

I didn’t pull out my kale at the end of last summer and a beautiful thing happened, it kept growing ALL winter!!

Now it’s flowering (making babies) and it’s very beautiful!

I loved the contrast of the purple, green and yellow! So pretty!

Did you see the bee in the middle picture?  Him and I made a deal, if I didn’t move to fast, or ask him to smile, he wouldn’t sting me  

So great!!

Then I made Kale chips and they were GOOD!!

I’ve made kale chips a few times before with the steps so go here for the steps and my favourite “sauce” recipe so far.

For this Kale Chip “Sauce” 

1/4 cup raw almonds

1 TBSP. apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup nooch

1-2 tsp garlic powder or fresh garlic

alt to taste

water (just enough to make it blend)

That’s all – Blended it together and then massaged onto my kale!

Into the dehydrator it went

And Volia – my beloved kale chips!!

If you don’t have a dehydrator – I have directions here for the oven method!

As a side note – if you have EVER eaten store bought kale chips and thought they were gross, make sure to try homemade ones!! They are WAY better!! I have never had store bought ones that I’ve enjoyed!

Mushroom & Kale Quinoa Risotto

Ok ok,

I’ve been promising this recipe for awhile!!  It’s SO tasty!! Enjoy

Ingredients  *everything is approximate I just threw everything together.

3/4 cup dry quinoa (rinsed)

1 – 2 cups sliced mushrooms (I just used white ones)

as much kale as you like

1/4 cup walnuts – chopped

1/4 white onion chopped

1 tsp dried savoury or herb of choice

2+ cups broth (I used chicken)

 

Sauté onions and mushrooms until onions are translucent.

Add in quinoa and 1/2 cup broth

Simmer on medium until all broth is sucked up (yes that’s a technical term)

Add another 1/2 cup of broth stirring until broth is gone again… continue in 1/2 cup

Add in kale, walnuts and savoury  - stir until combined and kale is slightly steamed

Add in salt and pepper to taste!

Serve warm or also is great as a cold left over!

So creamy and delicious!!

This was such a fantastic meal!!! Hearty and filling!!

 

I think next time I might use these…

And use the water from soaking them as the broth!! (YUM! and so nutritious!)

 

As I have mentioned a few times, this recipe came as an inspiration from someone elses blog, so if this was yours, please let me know, so I can give you kudos!!

 

Have a great day today – are you up to anything fun??

I’m doing homework, a few wedding things and then hopefully ZUMBA!

It’s a kale kinda day!

First a quick reminder – Have you done your random act of kindness yet today? If so, enter the giveaway!!

I love that you guys love this idea!! Keep the kindness going!

So I’ve been attempting to eat more raw foods lately! I am going to post a challenge when the weather gets warmer for a 2 week 80% raw food challenge!  Are you interested?  I haven’t figured out all the details, but I have some pretty amazing raw foodies lined up to do guest posts!! :)

This is what I had for breaky today! 

I got the idea from someone’s? blog, and it was so good!

Avocado with agave, salt and pepper

OMG – so amazing I HIGHLY recommend this!

I also had a green monster!

Loads of spinach, water, strawberry, banana, barney butter and coconut butter (which ended up being little tiny YUMMY coconut chips in the smoothie) 

I felt lost after realizing that Amazing Grass and my stomach aren’t friends (pouts) and stopped drinking green monsters… so I am trying to get back in the habit!!

I’m also starting to make Dave some protein shakes

(minus the green)

I also made myself some more KALE CHIPS today! (which I’m snacking on right now!)

Preheat oven to 350.  Wash up kale and put on a baking sheet

Then massage in about 2 tsp oil, some salt and whatever spice you like!

Pop the kale into the oven for about 10 mins, then turn the oven off and leave them there until they are crispy!

Ketchup chips have been getting the best of me lately, I need another crunchy, salty snack and this is perfect!

Best part – it’s about 2x servings of DARK LEAFY GREENS!

Last but not least!   I am going to share with you a TOP SECRET salmon recipe that rocks!

Marinate your salmon with olive oil, soya sauce and WAY TO MUCH PEPPER (trust me on this) – Marinate if for a min of 1/2 hour.   Cook and enjoy – best salmon you’ll ever eat!

I served it with some of the risotto that Elizabeth send it her package! (with cute notes of course)

and kale… it was a fantastic dinner!

Ok guys, I must get to my to do list now!! 

Enough procrastination for this chick!

Don’t forget about my giveaway!  There are not very many entries so at this moment in time, your chances of winning are pretty fantastic! haha

Happy Monday

xo Jessica

FAQ and some embarrassing pictures!

How are you guys doing today??
It’s rainy and yucky here but all is good!

I am soooooooo happy with all the entries to my giveaway!
Still a few days to enter!


I’m also super happy, as I think my new probiotics are working their magic.
Click here for more info on them. 
This is the second time now that they have saved me from ickiness!

I had a few questions asked in the past few days and I decided to answer them on the blog so everyone can know the answers!

Q. What are you taking in school?
A. Right now I am taking Psychology and in September I will be going to school to become an education assistant (short term goal) and one day (long term goal) do my Child and Youth Care degree (think Social Worker, but a little more fun and only with youth)   another long term goal is something in Nutrition, as it has always been something I wanted to do!    Mainly though, end goal is to work with teen girls developing self esteem.

Q. Why Dairy Free Betty if your name is Jessica?
A. I have been asked this a few times, so now is story time!
I went to a super small school for high school, and we had a little “love triangle” going on…
which really resembled the lives of the characters in the Archie comics!
 
So we each got our nickname and went on out way.  
Mine has just stuck over the years,
and I couldn’t think of another good blog name on the spot, so that’s what it is!! 

I kinda resembled Betty back then didn’t I?

Awwh to be 15 again! :)
(Source)



I have been a very bad food blogger the last day or so and haven’t taken many pictures (bad bad bad) But I did have this bad boy for breaky… yum

Sneaky little kale poking out!!  
Kale was definitely my fav veg of 2009…
Especially since I grew it in my garden…
this year I am going to double or even triple the batch!!


I also had more of this yummy banana/chocolate goodness



Not sure if you have noticed or not, but meat hasn’t been making much of an appearance lately in my life?
I am finding that right now I am not craving (or wanting it) I’m feeling really satisfied with what I’m eating…  Not that it won’t come back soon, it’s just taking a little break!

Pssssssst.  Did I also tell you that I am doing a cross border exchange with the
lovely Elizabeth from On Tap Today.
I had sooo much fun making up her little package I hope she loves it!  
Here is a sneak peak of the package I sent her.

I would be really interested in doing another one of these Marchish if anyone (near a Trader Joe’s) is interested!

Just leave me a message and we’ll figure something out, and if there are a lot of you then I will figure something else out! hehe

Last but surely not least… thank for for telling me your silly “make me laugh” stories on the Giveaway post.
A few of them had me chuckling all afternoon!

Here is my question of the day!
What was your favourite veggie of 2009?

Plus I promised you some embarrassing pictures (of my teen years only!)  Enjoy

Orange hair… really?

Ciao guys, have a great night!

As long as my stomach continues to hold up, we are heading for THAI food tonight YUM!!

xooooooooooooo  Jess

Quick post! :)

Good morning!!

Thought I'd give you a somewhat short post before heading to work for the day!   Scary to say, but I haven't worked an 8 hour shift in a long time, it should be interesting!  I love this time of  year, as I get to pick up lots of shifts!!

Sorry to scare everyone yesterday with the countdown to Christmas, hehe...  Scary reality check hey?

Thanks for the starter ideas too, I think I will do a veggie platter with hummus (and probably ranch dressing),

some fun deviled eggs (wasabi)!

I had some fun eats again yesterday!!

Breaky started off with scrambled eggs with 1 slice of bacon, zucchini, kale, nutritional yeast and some mrs.dash!  

with a pita... yummy... I was starving!!

Then I made Kale Chips!!!

Take a bunch of curly kale, massage with olive oil and sprinkle with salt or seasoning.

Pop in the oven at 375...  until crispy.

They were mom tried and true - she liked them!!

 

Then one of my very best girlfriends stopped by with Christmas presents!! :)

and

I collect (and love) Buddhas!! :) 

Especially laughing ones!  They make me smile!

We had a great visit (as always) and started on our New Years Eve plans!!

I think we are going to keep it low key this year!

During the day I drank lots of this...
 

Then for dinner I made yummy pasta.. I can tell you what's in it later but I'm running late!

 

It was SOOOOOOO good!!

I restrained myself and only had one bowl!!

For breaky this morning I finally tried out oats in a jar!

Oats, crasins, coconut and chia seeds - and of course peanut butter!

I had to pack a lunch today, so this is what's on the menu..

 

Left overs, soon to be filled green monster, clif bar, oranges and apple!

Have a fantastic day guys, sorry this is a super quick post!

A happier day!

Hey guys,

Thanks for all wonderful comments on the house post!!  We are still feeling positive about it all, plus we got a fantastic offer from our real estate agent, which may make it a reality again!   BUT we are not taking any steps until after Christmas.  And ENJOYING the holidays, not stressing!!   If it will be, it will be!! :)

I had SUCH a yummy lunch on Thursday!

The left over fatoush salad, pita, hummus and 2 pieces of yummy no filler sausages!

I wish I could remember the flavor names they were soo good!

Yesterday was the day to get stuff done!!

I started off with a Green Monster and some left overs from dinner Thursday night.

Then I shopping, on a whim I decided to go to our little health food store.

Totally scored!

Almond milk was one 2 for $4

Amy's soup 2 for $5

Black organic kale $1.99

Curly Kale $2.50

The falafels were on sale

Red Star Nutritional yeast -to finally try it out.  $.59

and I got the Amy's burgers just for fun, they were regular price..

 Oh and this was on for $3.99 or $4.99

I got all this stuff for $32.  Total score.

I was a happy girl!

When I got home I made a steaming bowl of black kale with olive oil and nutritional yeast.

Super good.   I am a fan of the nutritional yeast and the nutritional benefits are awesome too! 

Here are some facts on the stuff,

Red Star nutritional yeast is the only vegetarian source of vitamin B12 that can actually be utilized by humans (because it’s grown on an enriched medium). The vitamin B12 used is made by fermentation, not synthetic or animal sources.

Ingredients: Inactive Dry Yeast, Niacin (vitamin B3), Thiamin (vitamin B1), Riboflavin (vitamin B2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12

Vitamin profile: per 1 and a half tablespoons.

Thiamin - 640% RDA, Niacin – 280% RDA, Folic Acid – 60% RDA, Selenium – 32% RDA, Iron – 4% RDA, Riboflavin – 565% RDA, Vitamin B6 – 480% RDA, Vitamin B12 – 133% RDA, Zinc – 21% RDA

Want more info check THIS out. 

This stuff tastes like cheese to me!!  I really enjoyed it..
I had a snacky day too... Some of these

They are wee babies!!

And I had one of these

If you haven't tried a fresh date with peanut butter - do it!!

Superstore sells a huge bucket of dates for pretty cheap!

Then for dinner I whipped up some turkey dinner!

Most of it was frozen in the freezer!

Mashed potatoes - made with chicken broth (delish)

Turkey (which I didn't eat)

Pan fried brussel sprouts - YUM

A wee bit of newfie dressing (stuffing)

After I started eating, I  didn't feel overly hungry so I ate some of the brussel spouts,

mashed potatoes, and about 1/2 the dressing.

Oh before I forget - everyone is asking me how I live in the house with the peanut butter cups!
I don't really crave them,  I have eaten about 3 this whole time!!
I prefer to make them for everyone else!! :)
 

Last but not least, I finished off the night with popcorn

The popcorn had some earth balance, salt, nutritional yeast and

a few sweedish berries just for fun!

I may have self control for peanut butter cups but I had zero self control for popcorn.

I ate the whole bowl and loved every second of it!

We watched Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - from the parts that I saw, it was super cute!

I CANNOT stay awake in movies... even at the theater I doze off! 

haha... but what I saw was cute!

Anyways, today is operation de-clutter!

Dave did a whole bunch of cosmetic renos yesterday (painting, new blinds, moving around furniture)
So today is my time to de clutter all the cupboards and pantry- we want this house to shine!!!
Whether we put it up for sale or not!! 
I will post some pictures of the final product (maybe some before and after's from when we moved in!) 

Huge changes! 

Have a great day!!!
Jessica