Raw Vegan Kale Chips

Happy Saturday!  The weekend's here and my sister, whom I haven't seen in 2 years, is here for a one-day visit!  I am so thrilled to be spending time with her!  The last time she saw Skylar, Skylar was just a tiny little baby.  Boy, times have changed!

I am glad that the Coconut Milk Tropical Soaked Oats

and the Flashback Friday Photos were a hit!  I loved everyone's comments, thanks for sharing!  Regarding the passerby who made the beer belly comment about my 8 month pregnant belly, it was one of those times that long after the incident you think of many snappy comebacks but in the moment you are simply so dumbstruck you're at a loss for words.   That was me. 

Today I wanted to share my recipe for Kale Chips.  I've made them in the past, and you can read all about them there, too.  I basically made a "half-batch" last time, but today I made a full batch. 

I want to give shout outs to The Fitness Freak and the Pure 2 Raw Twins for sending their recipe suggestions my way.   The Pure Twins also just hours ago posted another recipe of theirs for kale chips.  The Fitness Freak told me she stumbled on a recipe much like the one I ended up using today years ago on the Gone Raw Forums. 

Here's what I did this time:
Kale Chips
1 c cashews (soaked for a few hours)
1 red bell pepper (de-seeded)
2 Tbsp Lemon Juice (juice of 1/2 a lemon)
3 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast aka Nooch (use 2 Tbsp if you want them milder and less cheesy)
1/2 Tsp Salt
Dash Black Pepper
Optional: 1/2 Tsp of Agave (From The Fitness Freak's recipe and I can definitely taste it.  Just this little bit.  So if you are at all uncertain, don't add it.  But it's that marinara sauce/dash of sugar trick....sometimes a dash of sweet in something savory really enhances the flavor)
Optional: Splash of water if mixture is too thick to blend

Blend all these ingredients together  in your Vita-Mix, Blendtec, or food processor.  I processed my cashews for 30 secs alone, first.  But not necessary.

After blending

Smooth consistency but not perfectly pureed is how I like it

Wash and de-stem one large bunch of kale and tear into pieces and pour the mixture on top

Massage in with your hands & Put on Teflex lined screens to Dehydrate
(last time I made them I didn't have my Teflex screen liners and let's just say the chip coating mixture leaked everywhere.  Not so fun.  I was way more prepared today!)

It's unseasonably hot here today, like 100F.  I don't need a dehydrator, I could just put my kale chips on my back patio table and roll that way.  Kidding, sort of.

But into the Magic Box they went.

It has been suggested to dehydrate at 105 F for 12 hours.  I have a tendency to dehydrate a little warmer and for less amount of time, but that's because I am impatient and want to start munchin' my chips!

....After their time in the Magic Box, I finally got to enjoy!

Thin-n-crispy raw vegan kale chip

Some of them still have a lil of the chunky red pepper action going on because the coating mixture was smooth-ish but not totally pureed as I noted

And if they make it a container, you can put all your chippy's into a reusable container or just devour 2 screens worth at once.  I won't tell.  Promise.  They are savory, cheesy, crunchy, and I totally wouldn't blame you!

Things today were brought to you in VeganMofo spirit.
  


I also wanted to give a huge shoutout and big hug to Naomi of One Fit Foodie who sent me all this loot because I won her recent Give Away!   

I am most excited about this raw bar...

....and these Cocoa Nibs!  But it all looks spectacular and thank you again Naomi, you rock sweetie!

And apparently the post man was really diggin' Averie's house because he also left some Xagave.

There's alot of facts about Xagave on their website such as it's low glycemic index, being sweeter than sugar so you need less, it contains inulin (a prebiotic fiber) so you get the fiber boost.

But what I love about the Xagave brand of Agave (and you all know how much agave I go through...check out this post to see 5 containers from my recent online shopping order!) is that Xagave has 17% of your daily calcium in 1 Tablespoon!  Holy vegan calcium delight!  Drink your milk? No.  Drink your agave?  Yes! 

Yoga Today is Kukkutasana

Tip of the Day:  Go check out this Nuttzo Give Away!  Remember in my post yesterday when I reviewed it, well now you can win some!

Stay tuned for a week in review recap and a couple other goodies..


What are your plans today being that it's a Saturday in the fall?  Any fall festivals going on?  Studying?  Working?  Catching up on your blog reading?  Watcha up to?  I'm going to head out and spend time with my sister now!  Fill me in on your weekend adventures?  Any good Friday night stories you wanna share?  Catch ya later, bloggies...muah!!!!!