The kale is coming along nicely in this fall garden spot and new recipes are coming with it. I know many people don’t like kale, but you really can’t taste it much in these three breakfast/brunch style dishes. Besides, just check out the benefits God provides in this superfood!

Kale Benefits

Kale is high in potassium. A 3rd of a cup provides 385mg, and new research says it is safe for people with chronic kidney disease. According to the USDA, kale provides a wonderful supply of the recommended daily amounts of vitamin C (130%), vitamin A (25%), and Calcium (20%).

God also placed amazing antioxidants in this beautiful plant! Studies show kaempferol, present in kale, has anti-inflammatory, anti-neoplastic, cardio and neuroprotective properties. (1). He also provides quercetin, a flavonoid that provides oxidation protection for low density lipoproteins, decreases platelet aggregation, and relaxes vascular smooth muscles. All of which, is good news for those of us looking for heart protection.

The Lord is good to all,
    and his mercy is over all that he has made.

Psalm 145:8-10 ESV – The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow – Bible Gateway

Incorporating Kale in Easy Meal Preparation

The best part of this super food is it can be incorporated in our weekly meal prep. Plus, it grows easily in backyard gardens to be enjoyed most of the year.

One way I love to use kale is in a kale salad, with apples and beets. I then top it with apple cider vinegar and olive oil dressing. Other ways I like to use it, is in an omelet, muffins, or quiche.

I hope you enjoy these dishes as much as I do.

Kale Omelet

1-2 Cups Chopped Fresh Kale

1/4 Cup Fresh Onion

4 Large Cage Free Eggs

1 Tbs Olive Oil

2 Adelle’s Chicken Apple Sausage (No nitrates!)

1 Tsp Shredded Romano Cheese

1 Tsp Fresh Lemon balm

Sauté the onion in the olive oil, add the chicken apple sausage chopped into small squares. Add the chopped kale until just wilted. Beat the eggs in a cup add some milk or almond milk. Move the meat/vegetable mixture to the side of the skillet. Add the eggs to the skillet and cover with a lid. When the egg looks cooked through, scatter the meat/vegetable mixture over it and fold into two omelets. Top with fresh chopped lemon balm or herb of your choice and a little shaved Romano. So delicious!

Kale and Apple Sausage Muffins

Sauté 1 tablespoon of onion, 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms, and 1 chopped Adel’s Chicken Apple sausage link in a skillet and cook until mushrooms are tender. Add 1 cup of fresh or frozen chopped kale. Divide the mixture into 6 muffin tins. Place 6 eggs into a blender and blend with 2 ounces of almond milk, salt, pepper, a sprig of fresh rosemary and 3 chopped basil leaves. Pour mixture over vegetables and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Separate the meat/vegetable mixture into 6 muffin tins, cover with egg mixture and bake at 350 until eggs are done, about 15-20 minutes. Top with fresh herbs and shaved Romano.

Gluten free, Paleo approved (depending on your milk and cheese choices) and low carb.

Kale & Apple Sausage Quiche

Sauté 1/2 cup onion, 1 clove of minced garlic, and 6 button mushrooms until tender. Add 1 chopped, nitrate and nitrite free apple sausage link, and 2 cups of fresh chopped or frozen kale in a skillet with 1 tablespoon of ghee or olive oil, until tender. Add 2 cups of cooked Quinoa. Set aside. Mix 6-8 eggs in a blender with 2 ounces almond milk, fresh herbs, a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour over vegetable and quinoa mixture and cook 1-2 minutes.

Making sure your skillet is oven safe, transfer it to the oven to bake at 350 for about 10-15 minutes or until eggs are done.

References:

Crocetto F, di Zazzo E, Buonerba C, Aveta A, Pandolfo SD, Barone B, Trama F, Caputo VF, Scafuri L, Ferro M, Cosimato V, Fusco F, Imbimbo C, Di Lorenzo G. Kaempferol, Myricetin and Fisetin in Prostate and Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Nutrients. 2021 Oct 23;13(11):3750. doi: 10.3390/nu13113750. PMID: 34836005; PMCID: PMC8621729.

Turkey Pecan Salad

Don’t you love a special day of the year dedicated to focusing on just being Thankful!

Although, every day is an opportunity to share gratitude individually, as a nation our hearts and minds are focused on that one special day to give thanks. How do we teach the little ones in our lives thankfulness?

We can offer to load a sack of groceries into the car for someone with small children in the grocery store parking lot. We can smile at a lonely elderly person. Maybe even share some leftover turkey with our widowed neighbor.

Not only do small acts of kindness instill a sense of gratitude in our little ones, but also those we serve. The love of Jesus is sewn into the hearts at the end of every act of kindness. It is a beautiful thing to behold. Look at the following scripture on thankfulness:

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples! (Psalm 105:1)

So share a little love and thankfulness with some friends today with that leftover turkey. Here’s what you’ll need for a twist on turkey salad.

Cranberry Pecan Turkey Salad
3. CUPS Leftover Turkey
3. Finely diced stalks celery
1. Tbsp. finely chopped onion
1/2. Cup finely chopped pecans
1/2. Cup. Cranberry sauce
2 Tablespoons Greek yogurt or mayonnaise

Combine all ingredients, store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Enjoy!

It’s a wonderful day for warm houses, hot ovens, and fresh bread. Giving thanks for God’s goodness and saying a prayer for those without today.

Psalm 107:1-9

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Lemon Blueberry Scones

The recipe:

2 Cups unbleached organic flour

3 Tsp aluminum free baking powder

1/2 Tsp salt

1/2 Tsp Cream of Tartar

Zest of One whole lemon

1 Tablespoon Honey

1 ounce plus 2 tsp extra virgin organic olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

1/2 Cup sliced blueberries

Whisk the first 5 ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. (Save blueberries to fold in last.)Set aside. Then combine the following wet ingredients in a large measuring cup. Add the olive oil work into flour until incorporated well. Combine the Honey lemon juice, milk, and egg. Add this to the dry ingredients. Mix until if forms a soft dough.

Gently fold in blueberries (I used a handful of fresh blueberries, sliced 4 ways (after slicing I folded gently in a paper towel to remove as much liquid as possible).Place the dough onto a flour surface and gently knead about 10 times.

Shape into a log, and cut into triangles.

Place on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 425 for 10-12 minutes.

Brush with honey butter when they come out! (I melt 1 tbsp butter, add 1 tbsp honey with lemon zest)I developed this basic scone recipe with olive oil when reading the bible. You’ll notice in the readingtheir sweet breads had olive oil in them. So, what’s good in the bible and what’s good in the garden, is always good for me.

Chicken Tortilla Soup.….AIP style….minus peppers, tomatoes, corn and tortillas. I could not tell the difference! 🙂

Here is what I did on my preparation day.

I washed and peeled 3 carrots and one beet. I put them in a saucepan with 1 clove of garlic and 1/2 onion 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add three cups of water, bring to a boil and simmer until vegetables are tender. Let them cool, then puree in a Nutribullet store in the fridge until ready to use. (This is my substitute for tomato sauce)

Soup:

2. Chicken breast cubed

1/2 onion (optional)

1 small zucchini chopped

1 yellow squash chopped

1 clove garlic minced.

1 carrot chopped

3-4 radishes sliced

1 stalk of celery chopped

2 teaspoons poultry seasoning

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp margoram

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 box 32 oz. chicken broth plus two cups water.

2 Cups Pureed Beat/Carrot Sauce

Sauté chicken and seasoning with heated olive oil, salt and pepper. (Or use leftover rotisserie chicken) Add onions, garlic, and chopped vegetables. Add your pureed beat mixture and the broth.

Granted, at this point the pot looks like something from a horror movie. Don’t be alarmed! 🙂 The colors and flavors meld together nicely as it simmers.

Bring to a boil and simmer until vegetables are tender. About 30-40 min.

I wanted to add a cup of jicama to this, but there was none at the grocery store. It would be nice in this soup though.

What’s in the garden is good!

Psalm 19:9-11 New International Version (NIV)

The fear of the Lord is pure,

enduring forever.

The decrees of the Lord are firm,

and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the honeycomb.

By them your servant is warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

Yes, the word of the Lord is sweeter than honey!

Soothing a burdened spirit, His word lifts our eyes towards Him. And just as a tickling cough is coated well with a spoonful of honey, our hearts are coated daily with His truth!
Enjoy this apple honey coated Scone recipe for a lift of the taste buds and a reminder of God’s sweet truth. Because what’s in the garden is good!

Cinnamon Apple Scones

2 cups flour

3tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Add 2 tsp cinnamon

pinch of salt

whisk together and set aside

Stir in one ounce plus 2 tsp organic olive oil. (It will look like coarse crumbles)

Finely Chop 1 small apple

1/2 cup walnuts

Add to dry ingredients.

In a cup add:

3/4 cup milk

1 egg

1 tbsp. honey

Add to dry ingredients and mix until well blended. Turn out onto floured surface to knead, about ten times. Shape into a log shape and cut into small triangles. Bake in 425 degree preheated oven for 10- 12 minutes. Melt 2 tbsp. butter, add 1 tbsp. honey and brush on each scone when it comes out of the oven.

“Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him.”

Psalm 147:1

A sweet testimony of true pride is the faith of the elderly.
I admire the sheer tenacity of the lady in front of me standing on trembling limbs to sing praises to our God. Witnessing an arthritic hand raised in humble adoration stirs my heart. Worship is as close to her heart as breath. Those shaky legs hold her up for every hymn. She is taking delight in the meeting place.

Joy is present, in spite of a spine unnaturally curved, due to degenerative disc disease. Pain appears to be forgotten as the glory of praise abounds in her very stance. She refuses to sit for even a moment, as the worship session extends.

I see confidence in the hope of a better place in her determination. She will not allow physical weakness to hinder her praise time. She obtains victory in receiving the grace to endure. Life hasn’t been perfect, and perhaps extremely trying. However, the hope is clear, her faith in Jesus Christ has brought her through the struggle. Paul puts it this way in Romans:

“Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has given it to us. (Holman Christian Standard Bible, Romans 5:1-5 ).

Hope emanates from the shaky voice meeting each note of praise with heartfelt joy. It is grace that enables her trembling legs to withstand the hour long praise service. Flourishing strength in the presence of affliction is a site to behold in her small stature.
She has confidence, knowing, this shadow of a body, and all it’s complications, will give way some day. Her joy among believers will join the the souls that never die as she looks forward to being welcomed into glory.
Taking pride, for eternity, in glorifying the One who saves.