Did somebody say kale chips? Nope! Collard green chips! Kale chips have been gaining more popularity over the years, however, there is a denser leafy green that can create a thicker more substantive chip, and that is collard greens. Collard greens are a part of the brassica oleracea family, which makes them relatives of Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower. The name collard is derived from the Middle English word colewort, which means “cabbage plant” and could explain the naming of the side dish coleslaw!
Although collard greens are grown year-round, they have a peak season which is the first quarter of the year … how convenient for late February! Collard greens can tolerate both cold and hot temperatures, but believe it or not, collard greens actually benefit from frost as it helps to produce sweeter leaves. When buying collard greens look for no yellowing, spots, or wilted leaves. Collard greens should have firm leaves and stems. Store these delicious greens in a kitchen towel in the refrigerator making sure not to wash them until you are ready to cook. Collard Greens will keep in the refrigerator for at least three days.
Now let’s talk about the benefits, shall we? Collard greens have a dark green pigment and this tells us that they contain nutritious antioxidants. The dark leafy green vegetable family delivers several nutrients to support and promote our health. Some of these nutrients include vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, folate, vitamin K, magnesium, calcium, iron and potassium. To highlight a few: Vitamin K specifically works to support healthy blood and bones and Vitamin A can help to support immune health, skin, and vision. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers “4 Tips for Kid-Friendly Leafy Greens” — you can take a look at www.eatright.org.
Collard green chips are a quick and fun snack to make with a preparation time of just five minutes and a cook time of 15 minutes. It is also safe and appropriate for kids to participate in preparing. Studies have shown that kids are more likely to try new food when they helped prepare it, so why not give it a try? Below is a recipe to try and is one that I have tried myself, and to my surprise, it was a hit. I personally sprinkled some sea salt, garlic and Parmesan cheese with my recipe, but you can get creative and utilize anything that tickles your taste buds!
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.