The New Kale?

I recently read an article questioning if grass-fed steak is the new kale. I don't argue that grass-fed meat is preferable, but I'm not sure the two are comparable. If you google 'the new kale' all sorts of replacements pop up. Whole Foods is pushing collards like a drug dealer. I've never been a fan of the veggie-of-the-moment trend. What's the benefit of replacing one green with another? Eat them all! It's no secret that there is a celebrity life cycle. One minute they're hot and the next we are over them and onto someone new...sorry about that, Jessica Simpson. However, if veggie trends encourage people to eat more vegetables, I'm all for them. Given that kale is apparently no longer "in", I'm going to have to go with swiss chard as the new It Girl. See below for an easy, tasty, nutrient-packed recipe that makes kale chips sooo yesterday.

Chard Chips

What you need:

1 bunch swiss chard
1-2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
Any seasoning you prefer (red pepper flakes, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, etc.)

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. Rinse swiss chard in cold water being sure to remove all grit in hidden crevices.
4. Remove the stems of the swiss chard by folding the leaf in half and cutting along the rib. Cut the leaves into 3 inch pieces.
5. Dry the leaves thoroughly. If they are still wet when they go into the oven they will not crisp. Using a salad spinner followed by a pat down with a paper towel is effective. 
6. In a large bowl, toss the leaves with just enough olive oil to lightly coat them.
7. Lay the chard out on the baking sheets in a single layer with some room between the leaves.
8. Sprinkle the leaves with kosher salt and any other combination of seasonings you are using.
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes rotating sheets halfway through. If not crisp, continue to bake checking frequently.
10. Let cool for a minute or two and mangia!

If you feel bad for dropping Jessica Simpson like yesterday's news, you can prepare kale chips using the same steps above and enjoy the two together.

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