Since trying kale chips at Powerhouse Foods in downtown Nanaimo, I’ve been addicted. Needless to say I was delighted when The Book of Kale landed on my desk, as I assumed – correctly – a recipe and directions for making the chips at home would be included.
And so is everything else you could possibly think to ask about kale.
Some things I learned: there’s more varieties than the one sold in the grocery store. Some even come in bright purple.
Ancient Egyptians ate kale, so did Chinese and the Celts, early settler on the British Isles. Author Sharon Hanna digs into the history of the vegetable to unearth its past and why it’s fallen in and out of favour over the centuries.
As for right now, kale is very much in favour for its abundance of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
Plus, it’s incredibly easy to grow, according to Hanna. A belief I’m going to test in the next few weeks in my own garden – if this rain ever lets up.
I’m also going to try Hanna’s 80 recipes included in the book, from simple salads to main dishes. Like any good cookbook, it should not only offer delicious recipes, but also inspire cooks to try new ways of making old ones. I’ve got a recipe for swiss chard manicotti that’s going to get the kale treatment, too.
That is, after I’ve made my first (and second, or possibly third) batch of kale chips.
Author: Sharon Hanna
Published by: Harbour Publishing
Available at: Local bookstores
List price: $26.95
