Baked Kale Chips

Okay, this is NOT cribbed from Alicia Silverstone's book, but still counts as vegan (I think.)

This is also one of those rather annoying recipes with no amounts specified -- if we could cook like chefs who don't need recipes, then we wouldn't need to keep a blog like this! (I enjoy using the royal 'we' on occasion.) But use as much kale as you feel like you can eat. How's that for vague?

Ingredients:

Kale (washed and with the tough center ribs and stems removed)

Olive oil ( try to use the least amount while making sure the kale is entirely coated)

Salt

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 300*. Tear kale into potato chip sized pieces. Arrange on a rimmed cookie sheet. Bake for 10 - 15 minutes, checking that they don't burn.

2. I turn them out onto a paper towel to absorb any extra oil, then serve.

Going Raw, part 2 -- Carrot Cucumber Salad w/ Spicy Peanut Dressing

Something that greatly amused me as I was trolling the Internets for simple raw recipes was the number of raw junk food ones I found. I mean, raw "ding dongs"? Raw "oreos"? Raw "chocolate banana bread"? The sweet recipes outnumbered the savory two to one. I think, if you want to eat the sweet stuff, EAT THE SWEET STUFF. Don't drag out a dehydrator and pretend to make oreos.

Anyway, this recipe is just a salad and could have been listed on any recipe website. I like that it's not officially "raw" because I feel enough like a fraud.

Ingredients:

2 large carrots

1 cucumber

1/4 cup peanut butter

1 tablespoon Bragg's Aminos

1 tablepoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon lime juice

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 cup of water

Method:

1. Peel thin strips of carrot and cucumber with a vegetable peeler.

2. Mix the remaining ingredients together in a bowl.

3. Toss the vegetables with the dressing. Top with raw, unhulled sesame seeds.

Going Raw -- Marinated Portobello Mushrooms

My cousin Eileen sent me an email describing a raw foods dinner party she hosted. (Eileen can be very hard core in her diet at times.) While switching to a completely raw food lifestyle holds zero appeal -- sorry, but I like my chocolate, steak and bread -- of late, I have been eating fewer fruits and vegetables than a nine-year old boy. So, I thought, why not try to have a raw food day? What's the harm in it? It's only one day.

Here, then, is a recipe I found on the glorious Internets, home to just about every perversion (0h, relax, all you offended raw foodists out there!)

Ingedients:

4 large Portabello mushrooms

2 tablespoon sesame oil

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or pressed

1 tablespoon chopped ginger

2 tablespoons of Bragg's Amino Acids

2 tablespoons raw, unhulled sesame seeds

Method:

1. Slice the mushrooms into strips

2. Mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Add the mushrooms and "gently massage" until they are evenly covered.

3. Allow to marinate for at least two hours. Eat.

4. Feel very virtuous and still hungry