So Good Pineapple Dill Kale Salad

IMG_3986Last week pineapples were on sale everywhere……So I bought 5. Don't judge 

And I bet I am not the only one that got overly excited at $1.50 pineapple and bough themselves a few. We will just call ourselves opportunists.  Now we have plenty of pineapples and don't have to pay  the $4 a piece prices. (Justification)  

But if you don't have a pineapple laying around, you must go get one. (Maybe if your lucky, there might still be some sales going on) because you must make this salad. I am on a mission to make everyone I know eat it because, for lake of a better way to say it…….It will rock your world.

Dill and pineapple are a serious match made in heaven. Pineapple, with its sweet, tangy, citrusness  and dill with it's super fresh earthiness. Mixed together with a few other helpers to create a fresh, clean, chunky, tangy, over the top, flavor. I could stop right there, but toss in a handful of lentils, some creamy avocado and a bed of kale…It's like the best spring time, celebration on you tongue, happiness in you tummy, kind of salad.

A salad that will make you smile. (and maybe buy  5 pineapples) 

IMG_3941 Stuff for the goodness. We got the kale, some avocado because all salads should have avocado and some cooked lentils because, well, all salads should have lentils (or beans or nuts.. so you could totally something else) Then a few sprigs of fresh dill, a clove of garlic, red wine vinegar, salt and a bowl of chunked up pineapple. IMG_3962The pineapple, dill, garlic, red wine vinegar, a splash of water and a pinch of salt get blended in a blender or whatever blending device you use. Go as smooth or chunky as you like, I recommend going smooth, but leaving a little chunk, like half blended.

The prep is done, now compile.  Kale in bowl, top with lentils,. Toss on avocado chunks, and, last but not least, the blended pineapple dill mixture.IMG_3967So good……So so good.

Happy Friday!!

-C

So Good Pineapple Dill Kale Salad

Serves Two

  • 3 cups washed and chopped Kale
  • 1/2 a avocado, diced
  • 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
  • 1-2 springs fresh dill
  • 1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
  • Salt 
  • 1/2 cup cooked lentils (or any bean or nut will do)

Note. No fresh dill? You can use dried, just sub in 1 teaspoon for the fresh and after blending with the pineapple, let sit a little longer to really let the flavors meld together. 

Place pineapple, dill, pinch of salt, vinegar and garlic into a blender or whatever you own that blends and blend stuff together, leaving it a little chunky. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.

Kale goes into a bowl and add the lentils and diced avocado. Pour the blended pineapple on. Toss around. 

Now eat.

Chocolate Covered Lemon Cake Bites

IMG_1631    IMG_1553   TGIF!!!! For reals, because Monday-Thurday were monster days. And now that its friday, I can dig a hole and hide in it until it's at least 30 degrees with some sunshine. (I might never get to come out.)

A few things I will bring in my hole:

  • food (lots of food and coffee, lots of coffee)
  • a soft blanket and pillow
  • a few books, preferably with pictures, on farming and gardening (think spring!)
  • the entire series of the Fresh Prince of Bel-air and a device to watch it on
  • toothpaste (I can use my finger to brush my teeth)

But before I leave for my hole in the ground, I made these little cake bites to get my people through the weekend. Sweet little lemony bites of rich dense cake dipped into bittersweet chocolate. (I am just so nice)  They have all the pleasure or cake without the need of a fork and are much easier to give away then a big slice of cake. Plus, they are fun to make. My little sister helped and did most of the chocolate dipping. Then she and another little used their mouths to clean up the chocolate mess. It was an afternoon of chocolate all over the kitchen fun day. 

So make some bites to have and to share. Or if you, like me, are digging a hole to hide in, make a batch of bites to bring with you. That's the beauty of cake covered in a harden chocolate shell, they travel really well.IMG_1417Simple lemon cake stuff. Flour, baking powder and salt whisked together, Sugar and soft butter in a bowl. An egg, some vanilla, milk, and of course, the lemon. 

To make the batter, cream the soften butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Zest lemon(1 big or 2 small) into bowl with the juice of the lemon(s), the vanilla and the egg. Beat until combined. Now beat in the dry and then the milk. Keep beating for another minute until all mixed. Batter should be light and fluffy.

Batter goes into a greased and floured  9x13 baking sheet and stuck into a 375 degree oven for about 30 minutes (You can use a 9x9 baking pan. Just bake fir another 10 minutes and you will end up with thicker bites). Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes and flip to remove cake from baking sheet. Cut cake into small pieces (I cut 4x6   to get 24 bites) and place bake into sheet and into freezer (I stuck mine outside, it was -2 degrees ) for at least 2 hours. 

IMG_1477Frozen bites ready for the chocolate coating… Bittersweet chocolate chips and a little bit of coconut oil. Melted together all nice and shiny smooth.IMG_1509Now dip and slather those bites in the melted chocolate. 

Oh what a lovely sister I have.. Look at her dunk….. like a boss!IMG_1498Fully coated and placed on a rack for the chocolate to harden. I  ended up sticking the rack in the freezer for 10 minutes…They harder really fast in there.IMG_1543

And now you have some it, bites of cake covered in chocolate. 1 bite, 2 bites…5 bites. Eat however many you want because its Friday and because there small little bites and just because you can.

Now if you need me, I'll be in my hole. 

-C

Chocolate Lemon Cake Bite

  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoons salt
  • 1 cup  white sugar
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) soft butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 large or 2 small lemons
  • 2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil

Add butter  and sugar to a large bowl and beat on medium unit light and fluffy. Ass in vanilla egg, the zest of the lemon and the juice of the lemon. Beat to incorporate. Now beat in the dry and lastly the milk.

Grease and flour either a 9x9 pan or a 9x13 baking sheet. dump batter in and smooth out.  Stick in oven and bake for about 3o minutes or until a toothpick stuck into the middle comes out clean. Remove and let cool  for a few minutes on a  wire rack. Flip cake to remove from pan. Cut cake into bit sized pieces, 4x6 is a good size, and place back on baking sheet and stick into freezer for at least 2 hours.

When cake bites are as good as frozen, get the chocolate ready. Take the chocolate and the coconut oil and either melt in a double boiler or the microwave. Mix until smooth and make sure to full incorporate the oil. Now remove the cake bites from the freezer and dip each bite into chocolate, trying to full coat all sides. Stick onto a wire rack or a parchment lined pan to harden. They can be stuck back into the freezer to harden faster.

Once chocolate has harden, your good to go!

Leftover Friday!

IMG_4352 Oh boy we made it! Ate our way through another Thanksgiving. I hope yours was a good as mine, lot of family and friends…an abundance of pies, and lot of warm lovely goodness.

So now what?? Is there a butt load of laundry waiting to be washed and the floors are in need of mopping after dropping that pie? Are you eagerly anticipating the departure of your quests, in-laws, or your own departure from your current digs?  Or are you just plan looking forward to getting your house clean and life back to normal? (I hear that).Maybe you are the guest and are dreading the day after food and booze hangover and don't want to be rude, but don't want to get out of bed. Well you are in luck cause I have declared this day, the day after Thanksgiving, Left Over Friday!

I always feel the great build up to any major holiday, get to the day, have a wonderful time, then feel the crash. My house is messy. I have used all of my clean dish towels and every dish and pan is in the wrong place in the kitchen. .I really need a rug for the front door to collect snow.(my floor is nasty) and the refrigerator looks like a food bob went off inside.  There is so much to do and I need a break. For those who spend the week(s) before thanksgiving gearing up, planning, and stressing out about producing this one great feast for this one day of the year, I am suggesting to you and myself that we take this day to let it all out. A day of decompression. Go head, let everyone eat leftover pie for breakfasts. Why not stay in  your pjs all day reading and drinking coffee.  Maybe like me, you feel like cleaning. Go for it, but why not slap on some sweet tunes and a hit that stack of dishes dancing with no expectations. If you don't get to all those pots, well there is always tomorrow. Say you are a guest, then maybe you try not to be demanding of your host(s) but suggest a hike or even a movie. And if you want to go shopping, well that one is on you. If it makes happy to shop with a bunch of crazy people, then go to town. Whatever you do today, just remember to take it easy.Do what makes you feel good.. It's ok to take a break, to let things be, to enjoy your friends and loved ones, but let them take care of themselves and you take care of you.

Now Saturday..well there is no excuse. We both know that leaving those pots any longer and they might not ever be right again. You might not want you littles eating pie for breakfast lunch and dinner for the third straight day. Maybe you should do the laundry so you're not using your bath towels to dry the dishes. And anyway, its time to start planing for the next major holiday craziness. Hey, I know I am already excited! Today I might even dig out some Christmas decor…but with no pressure, just cause I want to!

Take care of yourself and enjoy today.. Left Over Friday!!!!!!

Just a few ideas for the Thanksgiving leftovers…….

  • Mashed potato pancakes..Add an egg and a 1/4 cup of flour for every cup of mashed potato. Season with salt and pepper
  • Cranberry sauce and rolls….Spread the cranberry sauce on a toasted roll
  • Squash Soup….Throw into a big pot with a little veggie stock or water, even a bit of curried powder would be nice
  • Roasted Veggie Salad….Toss veggies together with a touch of vinegar and add to a bed of green.
  • Smashed stuffing cheese sandwich.…2 cups of stuffing and 1 egg. Mix and separate into 2 balls. Smoosh them down and cook each side in a frying pan. When both sides are cooked through, place a bit of you choice or cheese on one smash and top with the other. Let melt.
  • Turkey wrap…add a scoop of hummus and stick into a wrap with some greens
  • Pie yogurt…..Mix a slice into a cup of plain yogurt
  • Sweet potatoes… Save them. I'll give you an amazing recipe tomorrow for a Sweet potato Coconut custard. It will blow you mind!