Friday, April 27, 2012

Choppin' Broccoli


It’s normal to eat an entire bunch of kale by yourself, right? Normal. . .hmmm. . .that’s a tough one. Normal for whom? For someone who grew up eating Blackjack Pizza, bologna sandwiches on white bread, and candy (think jellybeans at Easter, peppermint nougat at Christmas, and cinnamon bears year-round)? Is it normal for a previously plump adolescent who is still working through a challenging history of bulimia and anorexia? Or is it normal for a vegetarian living in the healthiest city in America?

I am all of these things, in addition to being a doctoral student, wife-to-be, and new homeowner. In the upcoming year I will move in to a new house, get married, finish my dissertation, and maybe even get knocked-up! This blog is a journal of my attempts to find happiness, health, and fitness through all of this, without giving up muffins or my sanity.

That’s right: happiness is directly correlated to muffins. (Don’t question me on this, math people!)

Stick around, read more, or shoot me an email at: nikkicookskale@gmail.com.

P.S. Thanks for reading! I’m glad you’re here.

P.P.S. I don’t really cook--I just try to. Currently, I mostly microwave, stir, and/or roast things. I also buy pre-made food at Whole Foods and feel guilty about it J That's definitely normal!

8 comments:

  1. Have you tried kale muffins? Sweet, with raisins and cinnamon? It's the best of both worlds - the muffin world and the kale world.

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  2. I'm way too excited about getting a comment to think about muffins! OK, not really, but almost! Can you direct me to a good recipe for kale muffins? My fiancé and I are currently moving into our new house, but once we're settled I think kale muffins might be just the trick to break in that spankin' clean kitchen!

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  3. Kale muffins? Bah. Spray them with olive oil, dash them with salt, put them in the broiler for a few minutes at 450 degrees: easy, fast, crunchy kale chips.

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  4. I concur, Mr. Hale. Might I also suggest adding some nutritional yeast before you broil them--it's like vitamin B12 mated with cheese, i.e. yum.

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  5. I reserve my nutritional yeast for popcorn, thank you very much.

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  6. 1/4 c Butter
    1 1/2 c Unsifted flour
    2 ts Baking powder
    1/2 ts Salt
    1/2 c Sugar
    1 lg Egg
    1/2 c Milk (or a bit less if the kale is very moist)
    1 packed cup steamed kale, moisture squeezed out, finely chopped (or throw in the blender with the milk)
    1 ts Cinnamon
    a handful of raisins, soaked in alcohol of choice for a while

    Generously butter a 12 cup muffin pan.

    In a small saucepan or skillet, melt butter; set aside to cool.

    In a mixing bowl, thoroughly stir together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar and cinnamon.

    In a small mixing bowl beat egg enough to combine yolk and white; beat in milk and melted butter. Add to flour mixture; stir quickly and lightly just until flour is almost dampened. Add kale; lightly stir in.

    Spoon batter into prepared muffin-pan cups, filling each slightly more than half full. You can sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon-sugar over batter in each cup.

    Bake in a preheated 375 degree F oven until golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean - 20 to 25 minutes.

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  7. I really hate to admit this...I had to google Kale.

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  8. Haha--I was just thinking that I'll have to explain what it is when I tell my parents I've decided to write a blog!!! ��

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