Kale Chips

So, I know that kale has been the "hot" new health food item for a while now, but I am still getting into it.  I decided it was finally time to make some kale chips, since they seem to be all the rage.  There are probably a ton of recipes for kale chips out there, and I am sure they are all basically the same, because they are so easy.  The difference comes when you add different flavors or spices, and I decided to go with garlic.  I found that the prep was the most time consuming part, but other than that, they are a piece of cake to make.  Here is what I did:


Kale Chips
(makes 1-2 cups)

• 1 head kale
• 1 T olive oil
• 1 t sea salt
• 1 t garlic powder

Preparation
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.  Cut up the head of kale by removing the ribs and chopping it into 1-1/2 inch pieces.  (This took the most time).  Use a salad spinner to thoroughly wash and dry the kale.  Line a baking pan with parchment paper and arrange the kale pieces on it.  Drizzle on the oil and sprinkle the salt and garlic all over.  Toss the kale so all the pieces are coated, then bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, tossing at least once.  Allow to cool, and start snacking!

The only downside of this method is that it is a fair amount of work for not a ton of result.  Even starting with a whole head of kale, you end up with just 1-2 cups of chips, since kale shrinks down so much when cooked.  It is more economical than buying them pre-made, but will take time for sure.  But they are delicious and a great, healthy snack!  You should definitely try this out, and use any spices you want- though the garlic is great.  Enjoy!