Kale & White Bean Soup

Dinner is served.

Happy Monday! It's cold, isn't it? As it gets closer to March, I start to itch for Spring. This is not unlike most people, but I'm not into Winter sports and cabin fever is catching up. I'm dying for the light, crisp meals that mild weather brings, but I'm also in need of a warm up. As with most of life's dilemmas, Martha Stewart has the answer, and she offered up a delicious Kale & White Bean Soup. It feels like a Winter meal without all the heaviness.                              

I realize this is my second kale-related post, and I think it's important to mention that it is a coincidence - I'm not obsessed with kale. A while back I was loving it sautéed with lemon, garlic and butter, until I found a caterpillar in my dinner. Although I've been trying to be less intimidated by bugs, especially considering food is grown in dirt, the experience put me off salad for a while. It seems I've come back to kale with a vengeance.

A big pot of vitamins.

This recipe is so simple; with just 6 ingredients, the only hassle is remembering to soak your beans overnight. You could serve this like Martha, with a big piece of crusty bread, or like me, with shaved parmesan and a sprig of fresh parsley. Yum.

Get the recipe here.

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Warm Winter Quiche

The final product:
winter quiche and greens

How perfect is Quiche?

It’s full of protein, super versatile and it reheats well – I would consider it a fridge staple.

I feel that most people see Quiche as a Spring or Summer dish, but it’s amazing served with a side of greens on a chilly Winter evening. In most cases, all you need are a few pantry staples. Flour, oil, eggs, milk and salt are the perfect backdrop for any flavour combination. Any blend of vegetables, herbs, meat or cheese will do. Whether you want to get creative or just use up what's left in the fridge, Quiche is the answer.

Prepping some of my ingredients:
baby kale, shredded oak, eggs, garlic.

I haven’t seen this much snow on the ground in years. Of course it's snowed, but it hasn't stayed the way it has this year. This Winter feels like the real deal. I’ve been in total hibernation mode and that is being echoed in my kitchen, so I created a Warm Winter Quiche with wilted greens to amp up my energy level. Kale, Swiss Chard and Spinach are the stars of this dish, but the pan-roasted garlic and melted Oka had my kitchen smelling warm and inviting.
Toss some mixed greens with a little olive oil, salt and pepper while your Quiche is cooling. Pour yourself (and your guests) a glass of wine. Now, your Quiche is ready to slice and serve. Enjoy!

Get the recipe here.

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