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Heart

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Kale chips not potato chips. Let's just get that out of the way. But they are better. But sometimes they are worse, way worse.

An old boss of mine had a heart transplant a little over a year ago. He was sick, very sick, for a young man. For awhile he was attached, and essentially kept alive by an obtrusive, loud, cranky machine. An external pump, if you will, that he carried around behind him like a business traveller and his carry-on through the airport.

Kale is one of the dark green, leafy vegetables that 'they' like to tell us to eat, and eat often. Nothing but good stuff in them. Loads of vitamins, beta-carotene, and even calcium. One of the key vitamins in kale is Vitamin K, very good for blood coagulation.

And blood coagulation is very bad for men with external heart pumps.

But now, with a new heart pumping and no carry-on luggage, those dark green, leafy vegetables are back on his plate. And because potato chips are supposed to be off that same plate I am offering up this recipe.

Kale chips are an addiction in this house; a favourite way to use up the abundance from our CSA. Yes, the girls like them too. Kale chips have a crunch that disintegrates as soon as you bite into them. They do taste green (which is a good thing) but they also carry the taste of the salt and spices you toss them with as soon as they come out of the oven.

So, if you are a salty snacker, try adding kale chips to your bowl. Ridiculously easy to make, fast, and full of real flavour that you control. Snacking at its best. And new heart approved.

Kale Chips

1 bunch kale - purple, green, or lacinato (or a combination
Olive oil
Salt
Seasonings (smoked paprika, truffle oil, seasoned salts, cumin, black pepper, chili powder...)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Wash and dry the kale very well. Cut out the stiff rib and cut the leaves into 1-2 inch pieces.
3. On a rimmed baking sheet toss the kale with a light drizzle of olive oil. Go easy on the olive oil to have crisper chips.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Give the kale a gentle toss halfway through.
5. Remove from the oven and toss with a generous sprinkle of salt and seasonings of choice. (Smoked Paprika is our favourite.)

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A Pretty Thing

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Just a scarf.

You've heard me say it before, but I really don't like to sew clothes. There are so many delicious patterns out there and loads of fabric that I do think would make better clothes than quilts, but I can't quite get motivated to break out pattern pieces.

When Jacquie sent me a piece of Anna Maria Horner Good Folks voile I wasn't confident that it would work in a quilt. Yes, all together with a whole bunch of voiles would be fantastic, but I also don't generally do single fabric line quilts. Geez, I really am a picky quilter!

The voile is just too pretty to leave languishing in a stash bin. Unbelievably soft too. Yes, it would make a gorgeous blouse or summer dress. With my clothing sewing skills, however, I also thought it would make a lovely scarf.

Selvage to selvage it is a bit shorter than the conventional 42-44 inches. This makes it too short to be good scarf. When I went searching for a coordinating print I couldn't help but take out an older AMH fabric in that pink. So one side is AMH, the other is grey. A quilter's linen and a Lecien print I picked up in Ontario.

This is ridiculously easy to make. Sew your front pieces together, sew your back pieces together. Then, wrong sides together sew around almost all four sides. Leave a spot to turn it right side out, after clipping the excess fabric from the corners. Top stitch all the way around.

This scarf now goes with me everywhere. I'm not generally a pretty kind of gal when I dress, but I do adore this scarf and even though it is plain jane construction, it makes me feel very pretty to wear it.

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Thanksgiving

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I am thankful for:

... A family who loves me even when my crazy comes out.
... Farmers who works hard.


... My new career.
... Knees that still walk for me, even if I can't ski, skate, or run anymore.
... Curious, feral daughters.
... Friends that stick with you.


... Indian Summer
... Our kids being at an age where they will disappear and leave you to have adult conversations with wine.

... Scotch and fat pants.

What about you? What are you thankful for this year?