I am so excited my Wilted Kale turned out tonight! I am on a comeback from my banana jalapeno experiment. I don't know why it has taken me so long to try kale. I have read about its many benefits, I have torn out kale inspired recipes, and I have even picked it up and looked at it in the store but that little leafy green vitamin packed powerhouse has always intimidated me for some reason! I am so glad I pushed myself over the hump and tried it!
While Cody was driving to Chicago this past weekend for our cousin Susie's wedding I was able to look through a small stack of magazines that had been piling up. I always go straight to the Cooking Light magazine and am always able to get some inspiration for dinner ideas. I found a recipe for Wilted Kale with Bacon and Vinegar. I figured if I had one chance to get Cody interested in a kale dish a recipe with bacon was going to be my one shot. It also didn't hurt that I suggested pairing the kale with char-grilled pork chops and baked potatoes!
Wilted Kale with Bacon and Vinegar
*Adapted from Cooking Light September 2013 Wilted Kale recipe
Ingredients:
3 center-cut bacon slices
3/4 cup vertically sliced sweet onion
8 cups kale
1/3 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
Directons:
1. Cook bacon on medium-low in large pan. Remove from pan; crumble.
2. Add onion to drippings in pan; saute 5 minutes or until tender.
3. Add kale; cook 2 minutes or until kale begins to wilt, stirring occasionally.
4. Add stock; cover and cook 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.
5. Stir in vinegar and syrup. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon.
This was so delicious! It remind me of a Southern greens type of recipe. Sauteing the onion in the bacon drippings really adds a great flavor and depth to the dish. The maple syrup adds just a touch of sweetness and it is not overpowering whatsoever. Cody went back for seconds and even said "the kale was the star tonight"! I couldn't believe my ears. I think his pork chop was equally as delicious. He is perfecting the grill. He has been using a seasoning called Sonny Salt that is made in TN. There is a lot more to the spice than just salt and we are obsessed!
If cooking the onion in bacon drippings isn't enough to entice you to try the kale recipe I don't know what is but I do want to mention its benefits. Kale is a nutritional powerhouse. It is loaded with vitamins K, A, and C, fiber, and calcium. It is packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory
nutrients. It is one of the most nutritionally beneficial things you can put into your body!
Over dinner tonight we had so much fun reminiscing about our weekend. Our cousin Susie's wedding was at the Brookfield Zoo near Chicago, IL. The ceremony was tucked away in a beautiful little nook and you would never have guessed it was in the middle of a zoo. After the ceremony we hopped on a trolly that took us through the zoo to the reception area. We were able to see giraffes, a rhinoceros, and bears. The reception area was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the company was great!
My husband has such a spunky, fun, and loving family. We were able to spend time with a lot of people we are not able to see regularly. From the moment I started dating Cody the whole Brown family has always made me feel welcome. We cherish the time we spend with them. We also found out the good news that our cousin Jenny was recently engaged to a great guy, Chris! At one point, Chris got teased that when he marries Jenny he marries the whole family. I can attest to this but I wouldn't trade it for the world!
