Happy Friday to you! I hope you are having a good week. This is what I’ve been up to:
After my post on Wednesday morning, Alan and I joined an organized hike in our area that we had never done before. I thought what better way to celebrate his birthday and another year on this planet than to be outside and active? Although I don’t really consider myself “outdoorsy,” being that I’ve never camped or traveled in an RV or anything like that, I have found in the past six months or so that I absolutely love hiking.
This particular hike is unique in our area because it is on private land and you have to sign up two weeks ahead of time to be cleared to go on it. The weather was unseasonably warm on Wednesday, with clear skies that allowed some great photo ops:
The big rock is called Whaler’s Rock which brought up the sad reality that whales were once hunted in this area. Our guide said that local villagers back then hated it because the blood of the whales would color the whole bay. Such a sad story, but I am thankful that whale hunting no longer goes on locally. A group of families actually built structures and lived on this rock for about 10 years:
The hike was probably less than four miles total, but it was rugged terrain and we stopped to identify many different types of wildflowers on the trail (I realized later I didn’t take any pictures of flowers because I was so entranced by the ocean). Before we turned around, we reached a historic lighthouse and more gorgeous beach scenes:
Apple Pie Kale Chips:
At the risk of having too long of a post, I want to share one more new recipe with you this week. This one is for Apple Pie Kale Chips, which was my first attempt at a sweet or dessert kale chip. Oh my goodness, you must be warned, these are delicious and highly addictive!
I started off by washing and drying one bunch of kale leaves and making the sauce that I poured over the leaves:
The sauce is made with apples, macadamia nuts, walnuts, cinnamon, dates, nutmeg, vanilla, water, and lemon juice. I find that kale chips are best made in the dehydrator, and they take about 24 hours total drying time:
Here is the recipe:
Print
Apple Pie Kale Chips
Yield: 4-6
Category: Side dish
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeIngredients
- 2 medium bunches of curly kale leaves, washed and dried
- 2 medium gala apples, chopped roughly
- 1/2 cup raw macadamia nuts
- 1/2 cup raw walnuts
- 2 teaspoons Ceylon cinnamon
- 4-6 Medjool dates
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon freshly-squeeze lemon juice
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
Instructions
- Combine ingredients (except kale) in a high-speed blender and process until smooth. Place the kale leaves in a large mixing bowl and pour the sauce over the leaves. Use your hands to make sure the leaves are coated evenly with the sauce. Spread the kale leaves onto three dehydrator trays and dehydrate at 115 degrees F for 24 hours, turning once during the drying process.
Dessert kale chips = success!!!
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Gorgeous views, Carrie. If I live near this, I’d try to hike every day! We have some nice hiking trails here, but not nearly as nice as this. And with snow that got dumped yesterday (and today), hiking won’t happen for a while. 🙁
Thanks for the shout-out for my raw burrito. 🙂
Oh my! What gorgeous photos. I want to be there RIGHT now soaking up the sun and munching on those apple pie kale chips. 🙂 What a brilliant recipe!
Hello 🙂
Totally agree with Gabriela – the hiking pics are absolutely stunning – what a great way to make a birthday memorable. Ooh yes, I do like the sound of the kale chips – I wonder if you could make a similar snack in the oven (considering that I haven’t got a dehydrator…)
Thanks for hosting this event!
Thanks, Sandra! Unfortunately, I don’t think the oven works well at all for making kale chips, although some people would disagree. However, it is worth checking to see the lowest temperature setting of your oven. If it can get to as low as 130 or so, then I would try it. Just keep an eye on them so they don’t get too brown or burned.
Thanks Carrie – I shall investigate 🙂
Carrie, what differences have you noticed between oven and dehydrator? I’ve only tried oven-baked kale chips.
Oh wow! The apple pie kale chips sound DELICIOUS!!! thanks for the recipe!!
Dessert kale chips? LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! Would you like to share this at Raw Foods Thursdays? It’s so creative!
http://www.glutenfreecat.com/2013/04/raw-foods-thursdays-41013/
This week I shared by Banana Bread Protein Bites. Great for pre-workout or mid-afternoon lulls! Have a great weekend!
Heather
Done! Thanks for the invite, Heather! 🙂
Oh my goodness Carrie – that is the most beautiful hike ever!!!! What beautiful scenery. I wouldn’t have been able to tear my eyes away from the ocean.
Your kale chips look delicious! Your quinoa salad is on my to-make list this week =)
Carrie, Thank you SO much for all of these recipes! I can’t wait to try them. My family and I just started Dr. Furhman’s 6-week plan and it’s been rough finding really delicious meals. All of these on your website look awesome! Thanks!
Oh, those sound awesome!!! So very excited with all the entries this week! Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂
Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com
Thanks, Cindy! 🙂
That scenery is absolutely beautiful. Wish I could go on a nice hike like that,
Kale chips are in the dehydrator right now and already smell delicious! The sauce is yummy so I’m sure the final result will be as well. Thanks for another exciting recipe!
Ohhhh, let me know what you think, Trish! Some people have thought I’m crazy for having made such a recipe, but I thought think they are delicious!!! 🙂