Kale Chips - Tasty, Kale Chips - Crispy, Delicious and Healthy!

I’ll be honest: I’ve never cooked kale.  I am embarrassingly unadventurous about my leafy greens, and not for any particular reason.  Salad and spinach, and that’s about it.  The funny part is that I do love greens, and I’ll order them at a restaurant.  I just don’t cook with them.  And there you have it.

However, all that changed today.  This morning James and I were chatting with our friend and Abingdon Square Greenmarket Manager Craig Willingham, and he gave us this awesome recipe for kale chips.  I’ve never met a chip I didn’t like (except for the fruity chutney ones in Africa, but that’s another story). And so I was inspired to give this recipe a whirl.

We raced back to Bhoditree Farms, but they were all sold out of kale.  So we wandered over to the Manhattan Fruit Exchange at the Chelsea Market.  We picked up a big, deep green bunch of kale and brought it home.  I immediately washed the firm leaves and set about making these chips.  Let me tell you, they were delicious!  The texture is very delicate, and the flavor incredibly robust.

They’re great as a healthy, light, satisfying snack.  I’m sure they’d also be a beautiful and delicious accompaniment to soups and salads too.  Here’s how to make them:

Kale Chips

  • 1 large bunch of kale
  • 1 Tbs. of olive oil
  • Sea salt and pepper to taste.

Heat oven to 350°F.
Wash kale thoroughly and pat dry.
Tear the big leaves into chip-sized pieces, about 2″ x 2″.
Toss in a large bowl with olive oil until leaves are thoroughly coated, gleaming but not soaked.
Sprinkle salt and pepper and continue to mix.
Spread chips on a baking sheet, preferably with a Silpat.  They can overlap, but it should be a single layer.
Bake for 20 minutes or until crisp.
Remove from oven and eat up!

Enjoy!

Local artisanal pickle company Rick’s Picks has launched a new pickle product: Rick’s Picks Hotties: Spicy Sriracha-Habanero Crinkle-Cut Pickle Chips.  I’m here to tell you that these little devils live up to their name.

I like to put hot pickled things on normally bland turkey sandwiches, and I thought these Hotties would be good.  They were great!  I tasted a lovely base of spicy flavor before my mouth caught fire.  James and I drank a gallon of water each because we were out of milk.  As usual with water and spicy foods, it didn’t help at all; we just had to pant and wait it out.  And then we went back in for more.

But I confess that I’m a wimp when it comes to hot spicy foods.  I like it in small doses, and then my tongue raises the white flag.  So I thought I’d bring in some other tasters to help round out my assessment.  Fortunately, we were hosting a party for July 4th.  I put the Hotties into my favorite Take Me Homeware “Saucy” bowl for maximum effect, with a comment sheet next to it.  Here are some of the comments from our guests and fellow pickle tasters:

“I’m a hot/spicy guy who loves hot/spicy anything.  These were great!”

“The hot pickles were fantastic.  Loved them.  Not for sissies!!!”

“Too hot for Texas!”

“Delicious!  Perfect combination of hot and sweet.  Not for wussies!”

“Hmmm…That’s a hot pickle.  OH!  THAT’S A HOT PICKLE!”

For anyone who can stand the heat, I definitely recommend picking up a jar of Rick’s Picks Hotties for your kitchen.  Wussies and Sissies – and apparently Texans – should beware.

Rick’s Picks products are available at the Union Square and Grand Army Plaza Greenmarkets and the Brooklyn Flea, as well as lots of great food stores across the country, including the Manhattan Fruit Exchange in Chelsea Market. Rick’s pickles are not only tasty and innovative; they are a living, briny tribute to the great pickle tradition of New York City.

HEY! Hotties are the Pickle of the Month!  Save $1 on your order on RicksPicksNYC.com!

DiPaula Turkey Farm at the Jackson Heights Greenmarket

Kate McDonough, also known as The City Cook, produces podcast interviews with people from all aspects of the food world.  I love the interview with Schatzie about how to buy a steak – it’s full of funny, colorful stories.  If you are looking for advice on finding a perfect knife, the interview with Norman Kornbleuth is the perfect primer.  Kate’s husband Mark learned about Markets of New York City, and he got it for her birthday.  She liked it enough to invite me to do an interview, which she just posted to  www.thecitycook.com.   It’s so exciting to be one of her guests and talk about all wonderful people and food at the markets.  And I cannot wait to see Kate’s cookbook when it comes out in November!

Last week we launched Markets of New York City at Posman Books in Chelsea Market.  It was exactly what I hoped my Big Fat New York Book Launch Party would be, which is to say, lovely, intimate, delicious, and full of my nearests and dearests.  Starting with my mom, Haydee Seiger, who sported a vintage silk dress for the occasion.  My gorgeous and fabulous sister Andrea Seiger was adorned with her favorite finds from markets all over the world, from New York to Veracruz and Accra.  My perfect and charming in-laws Judy Nicotra-Parker and Marcy and Thom Green showed the love too, as well as my tiny nieces Tessa and Maddie, the adorable little girl in the section on Chelsea Market (p. 169).  And my bestest friend from first grade, Matt Israel, who traveled from Las Vegas despite being in the middle of launching a top-secret new product line.

The markets in the guidebook were well-represented by the wonderful vendors and visionary managers, the very people that make the markets of New York City so amazing and exciting!

I would like to thank the brilliant and kind people from The Little Bookroom.  And the wonderful artisans who set up our mini-market:  Miss Wit, Off the Mat, Rocks & Salt, ShayaNYC, and Take Me Homeware (Check their websites to see where they’ll be each weekend!)   The delicious platters of food were contributed by Amy’s Bread, Buon Italia, and Manhattan Fruit Exchange in the Chelsea Market.  And thank you to Sohung Tom of Sohung Designs for my killer dress!  Thanks also to Time Out New York for helping promote this event out of all the amazing things going on in the city every single day.  And, of course, my darling husband James Wesolowski was the one cutting up the bread, taking photos, and being the wonderful man he is.

Thank you everyone who showed up in person and in spirit (that would be my sister Leslie, who was in the middle of giving final exams)!  I will remember and cherish that evening forever.

markets-nyc-cover_2

Tuesday, May 11 – Official Publication Day!

Markets of New York City goes on sale online and in bookstores today!

Thursday, May 20 – Publication Party! You’re Invited!

Book signing and reception from 6 pm – 8 pm (Bonus – Meet my mom, Haydee, to whom the book is dedicated.)
Posman Books at Chelsea Market
9th Avenue at 15th Street, Manhattan (A, C, E, 2, & 3 Trains to 14th Street)

Refreshments will be provided by Chelsea Market shops, including Manhattan Fruit Exchange, Chelsea Wine Vault, Buon Italia, and Amy’s Bread.
Five artisans representing several of the markets featured in the guidebook will be selling their handmade items as well:

Shaya NYC:  Fine Handcrafted Jewelry
Miss Wit Industrial Light and Tragic: Tee Shirt Designs
Off the Mat: Soaps, Scents, and Accessories Inspired by Yoga
Rocks and Salt:  Handmade Hats an Accessories
Take Me Homeware:  Unique Handmade Ceramics

Saturday, May 22 – Markets of New York City Celebrates Handmade Brooklyn!

Meet many of the vendors featured in the guidebook at this full-day event especially for Brooklyn!   Book signing from 11 am – 5 pm
Brooklyn Indie Market, Details on Yelp.com
Smith Street & Union Street, Brooklyn (F & G Trains to Carrol Street)

I wanted to do something to honor a colleague who died in the earthquake in Haiti, Gerardo Le Chevalier. So, with permission of his family, we will be collecting donations for Doctors Without Borders at “Celebrate Handmade Brooklyn” in Gerardo’s memory for their ongoing work in helping Haiti recover from the disastrous effects of the earthquake earlier this year.

Markets of New York City (Little Bookroom, 2010)

I am so excited for the launch of Markets of New York City: A Guide to the Best Artisan, Farmer, Food and Flea Markets (Little Bookroom, 2010), I can barely stand it!  It has been such an incredibly rewarding experience to explore, shop, eat, and get to know the wonderful, dedicated, and talented entrepreneurs at the amazing markets throughout the boroughs.  Please come out, have some fun, and show your support for these fantastic institutions that give so much character to our fair city!

Weekend of May 1 & 2Pre-Publication Launch at Brooklyn Lyceum’s Spring Food & Craft Market

Get an advance copy of the guidebook!  Many of the vendors featured in the book are offering generous deals and discounts with your book purchase!  Book signing from 11 am – 4 pm on Saturday & Sunday
Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 4th Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn (R Train to Union Street)

Many of the wonderful vendors featured in the guidebook and blog are also going to be at the Lyceum, and they are offering awesome special discounts with your book purchase:

Alison Tauber: $5 off one shirt

Bacon Marmalade: Discount on Jars or Baked Goods

Fine and Raw Chocolates: Chunky Bonbon 2 for $10 (regular price $7 each)

Lovely Day Designs: 20% on total purchase

McFlashpants : 10% discount on total purchase

Meow Meow Tweet: $1.00 off total purchase

Miss Wit Tees for Good Times: 15% on total purchase

Nordea Soaperie: Free 1.5 oz Body Polish with $45 total purchase

Off the Mat: 20% discount on total purchase

Pumpkin and Honey Bunny/P&H Soda and Syrup Inc.: $.50 off purchase of sodas and greeting cards

Rocks and Salt Design: 10% discount on hats

Sour Puss Pickles: $1.50 off a jar of Green Tomato Relish

Take Me Homeware: 20% discount on total purchase

Virginia Kraljevic Illustrations and Cards:  20% discount on total purchase

Yona’s Gourmet Delights: $1.00 off your purchase of any two combos

Thursday, May 20 – Publication Party! You’re Invited!

Book signing and reception from 6 pm – 8 pm (Bonus – Meet my mom, Haydee, to whom the book is dedicated.)
Refreshments will be provided by Chelsea Market shops, including Manhattan Fruit Exchange, Chelsea Wine Vault, Buon Italia, Amy’s Bread, and more!
Posmans Books at Chelsea Market
75 9th Avenue at 15th Street, Manhattan (A, C, E, 2, & 3 Trains to 14th Street)

Saturday, May 22 – Markets of New York City Celebrates Handmade Brooklyn!

Meet many of the vendors featured in the guidebook at this full-day event especially for Brooklyn!   Book signing from 11 am – 5 pm
Brooklyn Indie Market, Details on Yelp.com
Smith Street & Union Street, Brooklyn (F & G Trains to Carrol Street)

[On a sober note, I wanted to do something to honor a colleague who died in the earthquake in Haiti, Gerardo Le Chevalier. So, with permission of his family, we will be collecting donations for Doctors Without Borders at "Celebrate Handmade Brooklyn" in Gerardo's memory for their ongoing work in helping Haiti recover from the disastrous effects of the earthquake earlier this year.]

I’m only going to have one first book launch in my life, so please come out and help me make the most of it!