Kale Chips

For all you chip-lovers out there (myself included), and for all you moms out there looking for new ways to get veggies into your kids (myself included again): please do the world a favor and try Kale Chips!  They are incredibly easy to make, and they are tasty and fun to eat.

So it is this simple: Buy Kale at the store (I do two bunches just for my husband, son and me), wash it and dry it off the best you can.  Rip the leaves from the stems, and rip them into 'chip-sized' pieces, then give it a light coating of olive oil.  Put it on a baking tray, salt and pepper it (quite a bit of salt here) and bake it at 400 for about 20 minutes, or until it is toasty brown on the edges.  Now, eat.

Bacon-wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

One of my and my husband's all time favorite game-day or snack food is jalapeno poppers.  With cream cheese, not cheddar. I came across a recipe for these crustless poppers a few years back (I don't even remember where) and it has been an all-time favorite since.  I made these for our little SuperBowl get together this past weekend and figured these definitely belonged on the food blog considering they are a delicious snack food that I make again and again.

What you need:
10-15 medium jalapenos
1 package regular cream cheese
1 tub onion/chive cream cheese
1 large granny smith apple
1-2 package long-cut bacon 

So simple:
First cut all the jalapenos in half lengthwise.  I leave the stems intact because it just makes for easier pick-up and holding once you get to the eating part.  Gut out as much of the seeds and ribs as possible, unless you like some heat.  If you like heat, just take the seeds out and don't worry so much over the ribs.  

Next, dice your granny smith into very, very small pieces. You could grate the apple too if you wanted, but that kind of brings out too much juice (I think).
Now, mix your apple with both of your cream cheeses. The reason one is onion/chive, is because the original recipe called for you to chop your own onion or scallions to add in.  I got lazy once I realized I could just buy the premade onion cream cheese. :)  Feel free to get all regular cream cheese and do your own onions or scallions if you want.

Finally, fill the jalapenos with the cream cheese and apple mixture, then wrap them with bacon.  If you LOVE bacon, use one entire piece of bacon for each popper.  If your jalapenos are on the small side, go ahead and cut the bacon in half and use just half a piece. 

Bake them in the oven at 375 for about 30 minutes or until the bacon is crispy and the cream cheese has browned on the edges.  Once you take them out of the over, let them cool for a few minutes and then dig in!