Baked Parmesan Kale Chips

Kale is one of the vegetables that is packed with nutrients but it can be a challenge to get kids excited about eating it.  One of the best ways I have found to prepare kale is by baking them into crispy kale chips.  My daughter loves them because they are crunchy like potato chips (a rare treat in our house).  There is the added bonus of it being a snack that they can help make!  I love having my daughter help prepare food and I get her involved whenever I can.  It gets her excited about trying new things and it's a nice way to spend time together.

For those who haven't tried making kale chips yet, it is one of the easiest things to make.  It takes about 20 minutes total and this is all you need:

Ingredients

kale

olive oil

salt

pepper (very little, if any)

parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Tear the kale into chip sized pieces (they will shrink during the baking process).  Use enough to make a full layer on your baking sheet.
2. Pour about 1 Tbsp of olive oil in the palm of your hand.  Rub your hands together and toss the kale until the leaves are shiny with a thin layer of oil on them.  Sometimes, you may have to pick individual leaves up and rub them in the palm of your hand to get them coated.

• This is a great step for the kids to help with.  It's a little slimy and they have fun making the leaves get shiny.

     3.  Spread the kale evenly on the baking sheet and season with salt and pepper to taste.
     4.  Using a microplane, shave the parmesan cheese directly over the pan until the kale is evenly coated.

     5.  Bake at 350 for 10 to 15 minutes.  This is the tricky part.  There is a very short window between undercooked and burned.  Keep a close watch on them and take them out when they are just crispy.  Towards the end, use tongs to gently stir them around.

Store in a bag or airtight container for up to a week.  Eat and enjoy!