This is topic Making kale chips for the first time in forum General Support at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
 
Okay peeps, I wanted to document my first kale chips experience for y'alls. I just thought it'd be fun. We could use some fun around here, right?

Right now the "chips" are in the oven. I'm baking them at 250F this time. I think someone had mentioned using 200F, but I wanted it to be a little quicker. If the chips are tasty, then I might try the dehydrator next time.

Preparation was pretty easy. I'm using a red kale that is very fragrant. I drizzled them with olive oil and sea salt. Here's how they looked before they went in the oven:
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Does that look right?

WARNING! MAKING KALE CHIPS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS! Look, I cut my finger:
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Next time I'll have to wear heavy gauntlets.

BTW, you see the smaller circle on the right? That's where I cut my finger last week and wasn't able to write for a few days. It looks grosser from the other side, but I didn't want to gross anybody out.

I'll try to take a pic of the chips once they're out of the oven. I hope I don't mess up on these.
 
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
 
Mmm, I love kale!!! Next time no knife for you, just tear it up. Knives might be too dangerous for you!!

Sometimes I sprinkle garlic powder on mine. mmm
 
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
 
But I wasn't even using a knife! I tore the pieces with my fingers.
 
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
 
How did you cut yourself?
 
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by sixgoofykids:
How did you cut yourself?

Yeah, right. Let me tell you how I cut myself, and then you can make jokes about me for the next 3 months. Does that sound like fun to you? [loco]

Okay I just pulled the kale chips out of the oven. I'll take a pic and then I'll try to post it here soon. I hope it worked out! After the pic I get to do the official taste test.
 
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
 
The chips were very good tasting. They were surprisingly similar to potato chips - just a little thinner. I think I'm gonna try using the dehydrator method soon, because not only is it healthier, but also there are a lot of racks so I can make a lot of chips.

Here's how the finished chips looked:
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And here's how it looked after 2 minutes:
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YUM! [Smile] I highly recommend these chips to anyone who hasn't tried them.
 
Posted by jlp38 (Member # 27221) on :
 
My brother makes them with spinach. He gets the big tubs of prewashed spinach. No cutting involved.
 
Posted by scorpiogirl (Member # 31907) on :
 
Yummy!! Ok I'm going to buy a dehydrator now... you totally inspired me! I love veggie chips! Good job!!
 
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
I loved the kale chips but my husband HATED the smell of them! Shoot!!

PS.. the plural of y'all is y'all ... [Big Grin] [lol]
 
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
 
Your hubby didn't like the smell?! I LOVED the smell! I was saying that it was a big bonus to the procedure. Kale in general for some reason smells super good to me, almost like perfume.

P.S. Thanks for the grammar lesson, cowgirl. Bleshyer heart! [Smile]

Seriously, though, up north they say "yallz" in the ghetto. Like this: "Yallz betta watch cho back, foo!"
 
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
Texans started it .. so we're the experts on y'all. I'm very glad to see that you spelled it properly! [lol]
 
Posted by Kudzuslipper (Member # 31915) on :
 
I can't wait to try these!!! how many calories in a head of kale? do they really taste like potato chips James? really?
 
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
 
Kudzu - I ain't playin! They really do taste like potato chips! It's just that they're a little too thin. If they were somehow thicker, I don't think anyone would be able to tell the difference between those and potaters.

Alice - Here we say "Dude" too, but it's considered very informal. I don't remember the last time I used that word in spoken conversation. But I use it on the internet sometimes as a joke. Same with "babe" or "baby".
 
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
OH yeah.. hubby uses Dude.
 
Posted by scorpiogirl (Member # 31907) on :
 
James when you're sick of Kale, try Brussels Sprout and Beets.

No idea why I capitalized my veggies. [Smile]

I'm going out to get some to try today...

Does anyone have any recommendations for a Dehydrator? Thanks!
 
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
james... I looked up what you mentioned. I like it.
 
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
 
That's what happens to mine, all gone in two minutes!!! SO GOOD!!

And, who, me? You think *I* would tease you for months? Must be a great story.
 
Posted by jlp38 (Member # 27221) on :
 
Alice, he did them in the oven. Not sure they are as good as kale but easier and both of our picky kids ate them.
 
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
 
Kale chips????

I thought this was a James joke. Not a real snack.

And if you told the guys in the ER how you cut yourself, why won't you tell us? We promise not to kid you about it. Well, actually, not sure we can promise that.
 
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
 
Scorpio - we're writing more about dehydrators in the "halloween candy" thread. I think the big thing to remember is that it should have good air circulation, with a fan that moves the air evenly across all of the trays.

LOL @lou. You know it's not a "James joke" because I posted pics above! [Smile]
 
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
 
Off topic: "Sit down, you bum." What a great quote. I wish I could have said that to an attorney in a meeting today. She deserved it.
 
Posted by MannaMe (Member # 33330) on :
 
Would swiss chard make good chips?
 
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by MannaMe:
Would swiss chard make good chips?

Probably, but it's not as hearty as kale. Kale gets pretty fragile, so I would imagine chard would be even more fragile.
 
Posted by Marz (Member # 3446) on :
 
Hey James, Ya gotta make more than that in one batch to make it pay!

They're melt-in-your-mouth good and go down fast so aren't you still hungry?
 
Posted by scorpiogirl (Member # 31907) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by sixgoofykids:
quote:
Originally posted by MannaMe:
Would swiss chard make good chips?

Probably, but it's not as hearty as kale. Kale gets pretty fragile, so I would imagine chard would be even more fragile.
Actually I'm looking/touching both and I would say Swiss Chard is much more fragile and more juicy for lack of a better word. Kale seems dryer, crunchier and tougher! I had only ever tried Kale chips but not Swiss Chard. I guess I could experiment to know for sure. I do love Swiss Chard steamed w/ lemon and seasalt or stir fried w/ garlic. Yummy!
 
Posted by scorpiogirl (Member # 31907) on :
 
James,

on second thought do NOT try the beets. You have so slice them really thin... I don't know if I want you cutting up your fingers anymore than you already have!! Sheesh! Scary!
 
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
 
Marz - I agree! That's why I'm excited to try the dehydrator method. It has 9 trays! I think basically I can make 9 times more than I did in my oven. The only annoying thing is that it takes 6-8 hours in the dehydrator... But also the chips are healthier because they're raw.

Scorpio - I agree. But another problem with the beets is that they're blood-red, so it'll be difficult for me to distinguish between my blood (from cutting myself) and the beets! [Big Grin]

On a more serious note - I have to remember to not share these with anybody, because since they're raw, my blood could possibly infect other people. I thought about that yesterday too, because 250F might not be hot enough to kill all the microbes. I might even be healthy now and non-contagious... but it's better to be safe.
 
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
 
Well, if you're getting blood on them, I'd worry about serving other people raw food, but once you get better about not cutting yourself, I wouldn't worry.

I didn't worry about serving my family raw food that I had prepared, but in the rare occasion I cut myself, I was VERY careful about it.

Beets are great .... I cut them thin, but I cook them in the oven to make "chips". Mmmmm.

Scorpio, that's what I'm thinking about the chard. Once all that water gets out, they might be too fragile.
 
Posted by scorpiogirl (Member # 31907) on :
 
You know I LOVE dehydrated foods b/c for some reasons they are much tastier? Like the flavors are so much more intense to me.

I used to dehydrate persimmons (but that's very high in sugar). I might give pineapple a go. They are high in enzymes. Plus I love the smell of pineapple. Makes me happy!

Thanks James I'm excited about this again b/c I know it's soo much better for our health then cooking our foods. And I am not a fan of RAW food. So this is a perfect compromise.

Six I will try the Swiss Chard after I get my dehydrator and then I'll report it. This is so much fun!!

James Halloween is over so you will have too wait until next year to serve people your blood! [Wink]
 
Posted by jlp38 (Member # 27221) on :
 
Alice - all I remember was he said you have to be careful not to use too much oil or they'll get soggy. Spritz it on lightly if you have a spritzer.
 
Posted by MannaMe (Member # 33330) on :
 
I wonder how beet greens would taste?
 
Posted by Fuel1212 (Member # 29312) on :
 
James you are a man of many talents.

If I would have known you were cooking on LN...?

First juicers.. now food dehydrators .. I need another job jeesh

many thanks
Fuel
 
Posted by Dawn2137 (Member # 27238) on :
 
Did I do something wrong when I made mine, because when I tried it they were TERRIBLE!

They had too much salt for one, but even working around that they were bad. :/ Do they even need salt? I never use salt for anything else.

Maybe I'll try making them again? I SO wanted to enjoy them!
 
Posted by Kudzuslipper (Member # 31915) on :
 
OMG!!! if only one thing comes out me discovering I have Lyme, was to discover kale chips, then it "may" be worth it.

Hubby's late...I decided to try them tonight instead of tommorrow...used old fashioned kale used a little garlic olive oil salt and pepper... they taste like spicy potato chips!

a little too thin, can't see dipping..but still good. has anyone stored them for the next day or two? or do you have to eat them right away?

tomorrow, I'll try the red kale.
 
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
 
I've never had them last a day or two .... we eat them right away, LOL.
 


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