Broccoli Chips

Broccoli wha...? Yes, broccoli chips. Just one of the many recipes I found/invented in my efforts to become more domestic and learn how to cook healthy balanced meals.

A while ago, Art brought home a bunch of kale that someone had randomly given him at the gym. He heard about a recipe for kale chips, and I decided to try it on broccoli! I'm convinced it would work on any vegetable, but I'm especially excited about the broccoli version, because I don't like broccoli, but I know it's SO healthy. So I'm determined to find ways to prepare it that make me want to eat it.

Step 1: Chop broccoli into thin-ish slices (10 ounces was barely enough for Art and myself). They don't have to be small chunks, just thin, so they bake through. Once you're done chopping, get them into a mixing bowl.

Step 2: Coat your hands in olive oil/cooking oil, and hand mix the broccoli in the bowl. (I found this to be the best way to lightly and evenly coat the broccoli.) Do this step at least 3 times, maybe 4. You want the broccoli to be just barely coated. Too much, and you'll end up with soggy broccoli, which is the opposite of what you're going for.

Step 3: Lightly coat them with salt and pepper. More hand mixing is required. Less pepper than salt, which I learned the hard way. I mean, they were really good, but quite strong. :) I guess you don't even have to put pepper in. Just salt would probably be fine. Or pretty much any other spice you want.

Step 4: Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. The stems won't be crunchy, but the tops sure will be. And even if they're not, they'll be pretty tasty.

That's all! For the first time in your life, you'll be excited to eat broccoli! Unless you're one of those people who loves broccoli like I love cookies. Which, if I'm being honest, is a little weird. I....I just don't get it...

Oh, But God Is So Good!

This computer screen is about to give me a headache, so I just wanted to quickly say that Art got a second job! His job at the gym is only part time, and though he loves it, he's been wanting to work full time and earn more money.

This second job has already been in the works for a while, but I didn't say anything because it wasn't official until yesterday. But we're both so excited! Mostly because it's such an awesome job, and it's completely in-line with our lifestyle (of CrossFit, and super healthy eating, and all that stuff).

He starts in November, his hours will be during the day, and no weekends. So we'll be getting up at the same time, and getting home around the same time. It's just so perfect!! :D

Pumpkin Cookies Recipe

So delicious, you will eat all of them yourself.

INGREDIENTS:
- 2.5 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 0.5 tsp nutmeg
- 0.5 tsp ground cloves
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 1.5 cups sugar
- 0.5 cups butter, softened
- 1 cup mashed/pureed pumpkin
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 0.3 cups buttermilk (or just milk. Or maybe eggnog, if you're really daring)

PREPARATION:
Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in one bowl.

Mix sugar, butter, egg, vanilla, and pumpkin in another bowl.

Slowly add them together into one bowl. At this point, I added the buttermilk, because the mixture was so thick.

Drop onto a greased baking sheet, and bake at 350F for 15 minutes, or until edges are firm.


You can find plenty of recipes online to make a glaze for these as well, but I thought they were perfect just as they were. Enjoy!