eZ CheezE Crunchy Kale Chipz (Spicy & Non Spicy Recipes)

A great friend of mine is up here visiting/working for the week from San Diego, and she asked me to teach her how to make my "famous" kale chips.  It's been awhile since I made them...and WOW they turned out to be the best batch I have ever made.  Or maybe they just tasted like the best because I haven't had them in 3-6 months? Who knows..either way they are bomb diggity good!  You are probably thinking if they are that "famous" why on earth would I have not made them in so long?!??  I grow curly kale in our garden every summer but it didn't occur to me that I could easily grow this crop in the fall for winter harvest too.  Talk about kicking myself this year! 2012 will definitely be the year I start growing Kale 2 seasons out of the year in our organic garden.

Before going Paleo I used to be a HUGE tortilla chip addict - they were always my down fall.   The only thing I found that would curve the appetite for the crunchy tortilla chips was my kale chipz.

My husband who HATES kale prepared pretty much anyway and believe me I try to get creative in my cooking methods to change his mind on this nutrient dense green veggie....LOVES kale this way!  WINNING!

I have two recipes below - non spicy & spicy version for your tasting pleasure.  They are both equally delicious in my mind.  You can't stop with just one...you'll keep going until they're done.  Enjoy!

CheeZe Kale Chip Ingredients:  
4 Bunches - Organic Curly Kale
4 Cups Raw Cashews  - Soak 2 hrs prior in Water & Drain/Rinse just prior to use
3 Organic Red Bell Peppers - Chopped
5-6 Cloves Garlic
2-3 Organic Lemons - Juiced
1/4-1/2t Cracked Red Pepper (optional)
4T Nutritional Yeast (Non Paleo Peeps) - Adds a Zesty CheeZe flavor
or
4T Brewers Yeast - Lewis Labs (Paleo) - Optional
1T Onion Powder
1T Garlic Powder
1t Cumin
1/2-1t Sea Salt - To Taste

SpicE CheezE Kale Chip Ingredients:  In addition to all of the above ingredients add the following.
1-2T Sriracha - Organicville Brand(my favorite) - OPTIONAL
1t Chili Powder
1t Chipotle Pepper Powder
1/2t Smoked Paprika

Directions: 

• Rinse & Dry Kale 
• Pull off the stem and thick stem/vein up the middle of the kale so you are left with only the green part of the Curly Kale from each side.
• Tear kale into 2-3inch pieces and set aside in a large mixing bowl. 
• In a Vitamix or Food Processor add all of the ingredients listed above - EXCEPT the kale
• Taste the mixture and see if it needs more seasoning/sea salt to your liking.
• It should be a paste like consistency but smooth
• Put the cheezE cashew mixture into the large mixing bowl w/ the kale 
• Massage the kale with both hands and really work the mixture onto the kale leaves
• Lay kale chips out individually on your dehydrator racks until full
• Dehydrate for 12-18hrs at 105-110F

• Enjoy!