Passionate for plants..especially edible ones. Vegetable and herbs of all kinds find there way into my kitchen. The produce section, farmers market, is a world of color, shape, aroma and texture. Explore along with me as I experiment, ponder, taste and savor the foods of a vegetable lifestyle. I love having a herb and vegetable garden... and encourage anyone with a bit of land or a pot to try. Of course, these days you can't think of food or farming without considering being green or eco.

Dehydrated Kale Chips with Cashew Cheese




Kale
Fresh from the Farm

Hilltop Hanover Farm on Yorktown Heights, NY




Washed and Spun





Dry and ready to be tossed with the 
Cashew Cheese sauce.

Break the leaves in half...leaving big pieces.
I like to remove the lower leaves from the stem.





The three key ingredients.

Nutritional yeast - 1/2 cup.
Raw Cashews  - 2 cups
Pepperdews (or red peppers can be used) - 1 cup

For 2 bunches of kale use
1 cup of cashew cheese sauce.




 Add the cashews and cover with water, add the pepperdews, nutritional yeast, sea salt and a pinch of cayenne. Blend until creamy...adjust to your taste.

Pour over the raw kale and mix with your hands...it needs to get in the folds of the leaves. 



I used my Excalibur Dehydrator...every kitchen should have one.



Racked and ready to dry.



3 trays with Cashew Cheese.

The bottom rack is just olive oil, salt, pepper 
and garlic powder.

I start out with the dehydrator on high for the first 2 two hours
Then adjust it to mid way for the rest of the time.

This batch seemed to take longer than previous
batches...with any drying, you need to keep
checking. The chips are done when they are crunchy.

Questions about dehydrating?  Just ask.



Kale chips can be done in a oven also...but be careful not to burn them.  Turn the oven on high and get it real hot...then turn it off...when it get to about 200 degrees...place the tray of kale in the oven and put the oven back on to the lowest temp. possible...Keep checking...you might have to turn the oven on and off...so as to not over bake the chips.

Steep the perfect herbal tea

The best way to steep or infuse an herbal tea is to use loose herbs...not teabags.

Use a mason jar.
For tea that is for sipping or drinking... fill a quart jar about an eighth to a quarter with herbs.



Fresh dried herbs.
I used Chamomile and Peppermint.

Fill to the top with boiled water.

Let steep for at least 10-15 minutes.

Strain and keep up to three days in the refrigerator. 


If making it for medicinal purposes...It actually is better to steep the chamomile and peppermint
separately and then mix. The Chamomile are flowers and do not need to be steeped too long ...10 minutes.
Peppermint is a leaf and can be infused longer...a few hours. Also fill the half way with the herbs. This will make a stronger brew. Do not sweeten if using for digestion. 

Steep some chamomile separately and add some fresh squeezed apple juice...very yummy!!
or some honey or agave...drink it chilled or on ice in the summer for a refreshing tea.

Chamomile to relax.
Peppermint for digestion and better breathing.
A great basic blend.





Starting to infuse.






You can see the chamomile flowers start to hydrate...something you 
will not get from a tea bag.

Find an herb store near you or order online.

You will see how expensive buying tea bags can be and how little you get.