So, I’ve been buying kale whenever I go grocery shopping lately. Because I’ve been feeling like I buy the same old vegetables all the time: the lettuce, the peppers, the tomatoes, the carrots, the frozen broccoli, the spinach, and, if I’m feeling adventurous, the cucumber….ahem.

Also, I’ve heard that DARK leafy green vegetables are WHERE IT’S AT — and not just your usual spinach and lettuce. It’s all about the COLLARDS and the KALES. Packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, they are! So, I’m starting with kale.

I’ve been buying it weekly for several weeks now, and it always just rots in my fridge because I’m too lazy to take on the KALE ADVENTURE. But, this week, I was determined to use my beautiful bunch of organic kale….

KALE CHIPS!!!!!!!!!

Kale chips, Gorgeouses. They are FABULOUS. They’re crispy and tasty and, WHO CARES WHAT I HAVE TO SAY when I have THIS EVIDENCE:

Monkey, aka PICKIEST-EATER-ON-THE-PLANET, LOVED her “chips”! Need I say more….

INGREDIENTS:

1 bunch kale
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

1. Remove the stems from the kale.

2. Cut or tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces.

3. Toss leaves with oil, salt, and pepper — making sure all are covered.

4. Place the leaves in a single layer on a lined/lightly greased baking sheet.

5. Place in the oven for anywhere from 4 to 15 minutes (every recipe I’ve seen says something different, but I baked mine for about 12 minutes). Time really varies here — depending on how wet your leaves are, how big you make them, etc.. Just make sure the kale becomes crispy but not burned. Serve immediately and ENJOY!

GRAPES, BEAUTIFUL GRAPES! Maybe it’s just this batch I bought today. I. DON’T. KNOW. But, MAN, I’m addicted now. And, THANK GRAPES, these grapes totally got me through this evening without noshing like I usually do AS SOON AS the kids are FINALLY in bed (and what a time I had tonight trying get them to bed — INSANITY).

Anyway, there’s a little twist to this treat….

As soon as I brought these delicious, bulbous, juicy orbs of SWEETNESS home from the grocery store, I washed them, placed a bunch of them in two ziploc bags and threw ‘em in the FREEZER. About 9 hours later, here I am. Mmmmmmmm. Just popped one in my mouth, and it was DEELISH.

Best part of all? No guilt.

FROZEN GRAPES, Gorgeouses. Try it. You will love it. And, your body will thank you.

One thing that I’m really proud of myself for is KICKING my candy habit. I used to be a CANDY-O-HOLIC. I LOVED candy — anything from jujubes to winegums (mmmm…), jelly beans, those corn kernel thingies, skittles, you NAME IT. My WORST addiction, though, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, were Licorice Allsorts….

Oh. Ma. GAHHH. I used to eat these by the GINORMOUS BAG. I LOVED them. Couldn’t get enough of them. Something happened about two years ago, though — someone must have hypnotized me or something — because I went from being a total addict to a total I-CAN’T-EAT-THAT person. The idea of eating candy just doesn’t make sense to me anymore. Chocolate, at least, has calcium in it…? (MILK chocolate…?) Antioxidants? But, candy has NADA. Zilch. Bazoomba.

So, non-candy-eater that I am, I was really pleased to run into THIS confection at the supermarket yesterday….

And, NO, no one’s paying me to post this. I just like to share a good thing when I see it! Anyway, NIB LOVERS, these are ESPECIALLY FOR YOU — and I know you’re out there. They’re made of, like, 100% healthy ingredients, NOTHING ARTIFICIAL. BRILLERS. They feel like Nibs. They taste like Nibs. BUT, THEY AIN’T NIBS.

If you have a NIB or candy addiction, check these out. They’re a WAY-LOWER-CALORIE and WAY-BETTER-FOR-YOU alternative, AND, they taste good.

I’d give you some of mine, but they’re gonzo. Monkey and I ate ‘em all….