Kale with white beans, truffle oil and garlic bread crumbs

I made a delicious kale that I wanted to share with you. It can be eaten either hot or cold and it a snap to make.

2 Tbs. olive oil
3-5 cubes frozen garlic
5 C. chopped fresh kale. I found a bag of freshly chopped kale at the supermarket. If you can't find kale, Swiss chard will work too.
1/2 C. vegetable or chicken stock
kosher salt and pepper to taste
1 12oz. can of rinsed white beans
1/2 C. toasted almonds
1/2 C. Italian bread crumbs
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
drizzle truffle oil (optional BUT amazing!!)

Heat a large nonstick pan on medium high heat. Add olive oil and frozen garlic. While the garlic melts, rinse kale and add to the pan. Cook for 30 seconds then add stock. Continue cooking for approximately 5 minutes or until kale starts to cook down. While the kale is cooking, add the rinsed beans and stir to incorporate. Add a good pinch of kosher salt and pepper.

Reduce heat to medium, cover and continue cooking for another 6 minutes.

While the kale cooks, toss bread crumbs, garlic salt and 1 Tbs. olive oil. Toast in a small pan until they turn golden brown, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.

Before serving kale, drizzle truffle oil, add almonds and top with toasted bread crumbs. You can also add a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese and a few red pepper flakes.

Vegan stuffed zucchini

My friends are coming over for lunch today and one of them is vegan. I had a few zucchini in the house so I decided to make quinoa and brown rice stuffed zucchini.

Here's the recipe: The stuffing is delicious eaten as a salad or can be stuffed into zucchini or red bell peppers.

This recipe makes 3 cups of stuffing/salad

Finely dice 1/2 purple onion, and saute in 2 Tbs. of olive oil in a large nonstick pan on medium high heat for 5-7 minutes or until onion begins to brown. Add a good pinch of kosher salt and pepper. While the onion cooks, grate 1 whole zucchini and add to the pan. Continue cooking until zucchini has softened. Add in a small pinch of dried thyme, 1/2 C. toasted pine nuts and 1/2 C. golden raisins. Stir to combine and remove from heat.

I had leftover quinoa and brown rice, you can add either or both or even couscous. I added in about 1 1/2 C. total of mixed brown rice and quinoa with another tsp. of olive oil. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. You could also saute a few finely diced mushrooms with the zucchini, and a drizzle of truffle oil would be delicious.

Remove the mixture from the pan and add 1 Tbs. of olive oil, 1 C. of bread crumbs and 1/2 tsp. of garlic salt. Cook until breadcrumbs turn brown, about 1 minute. Watch these closely and stir frequently as they brown very quickly. Remove from heat so they don't burn.

I washed and sliced 2 zucchini in half lengthwise, and using a grapefruit spoon hollowed out the center of the 4 pieces. Preheat oven to 425. Line a cookie sheet with either a Silpat mat or aluminum foil and add the zucchini boats. Fill each boat with the stuffing and top with toasted bread crumbs. Cook in the oven to 10-12 minutes.