Baked Kale Chips

Alright--I admit it. I made these because they've been kind of "trendy" lately. I wanted to know what all the hype was about! But I was pleasantly surprised by their flavor, and the crunch-factor was great. A bit strong in taste, they're certainly not for everyone, but if you're new to kale? Give these a try. They're fun.

You'll Need:
One bunch of kale--around six ounces
About 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
Sea Salt

To Make:
Wash your kale, laying it out on a clean towel to dry thoroughly.
One leaf at a time, gently "rip" the leafy part away from the more coarse, center part of the leaf, tearing into bite-sized pieces as you go.
In a medium bowl, toss the bite-sized pieces of kale with about 1 Tbsp. olive oil.
Spread the kale onto parchment-lined baking sheets in a single layer. You'll need two baking sheets.
Sprinkle the kale with sea salt, and then bake for about 20 minutes at 300 degrees.

Store your kale chips in an air-tight container to preserve their freshness and crunch.

Gooey Green Slime

Today, we made a batch of gooey, green slime. It was a big hit, and kept the little guy entertained for quite some time! Making the slime didn't even take ten minutes, which is a WIN in my book. Quick, homemade toddler entertainment? You betcha!

Anyway.

I couldn't help but pass this recipe along. If you make your own slime, will you let me know how it turns out?

You'll Need:

Equal parts {I used one cup of each} starch and Elmer's-style glue. The cheapie stuff will work just fine!
Food coloring {you choose the color! for a pale, slime-like green, I mixed three drops of yellow with one drop of blue}

To Make:
Pour glue into a medium glass or metal bowl.
Mix food coloring in with a metal spoon.
Add a bit of starch at a time, mixing each time you add more. I was able to stir the starch in until I had added about 1/2 cup, and then needed to knead the mixture by hand so that it would incorporate well.
The last time I added starch, I panicked a bit because I thought I had overdone it with the starch and ruined my slime. Simple kneading the ball of goo remedied the problem though!

Store your slime in an air-tight container when not in use. Because we made our slime for the first time today, I cannot tell you how long it will last. Look for an update later!

NOTE: This was a big hit with my three-year-old! He did manage to get a bit onto his jammies, which I'm sure will wash out, but use your best judgement around upholstery and things. This is a sticky, messy kind of fun!

Liquid? or Solid? {make an oobleck}

Have you ever heard of an oobleck? I hadn't either. Until I stumbled across the idea on, of course, Pinterest!

An oobleck is a "non-Newtonian fluid." When it is being poured, the oobleck acts as a liquid, and when force is applied, it acts like a solid. That, friends, makes for some serious toddler fun! Lots of giggles and gasps came from our kitchen while the little guy played with his bowl of... stuff.

I really think you should give this a try. It's so simple to make, and guaranteed to entertain even the choosiest of little ones. How simple?

Mix two cups of CORN STARCH with one cup of WATER.

{add a couple of drops of food coloring to the water if you'd like.}

Yep--that easy! It's hard to stir and blend, but go with it. Work it into a consistent mixture with your hands, if necessary.

Call the kiddo{s} in, pass out some spoons, and go for it. Also suggested: try punching or smacking the oobleck!

Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

I put this salad together last night while I was working on dinner so that I'd have something other than graham crackers to munch on during the day. It was so simple, and could definitely be altered to suit your tastes. Use this recipe as a base, and then add or subtract as you'd like... perhaps some corn or diced avocado? Pine nuts? Sunflower seeds? Tomatoes? Anything goes, really!

You'll Need:
1/2 Cup Quinoa {cook according to package directions}
1 Can Black Beans {drained and rinsed}
1 Red Bell Pepper {diced}
1 Small Onion {diced, and I did not add a whole onion as I prefer less raw onion}
Cilantro {I probably used 1/3 cup, stems removed and chopped}
Olive Oil
Lime Juice
Chili Powder
Salt

To Make:
Cook quinoa according to package directions.
Transfer quinoa to a medium bowl, and add the black beans, diced red bell pepper, onion, and cilantro.
Drizzle a bit {and I do mean a very small amount! nobody likes oily quinoa!} of olive oil and lime juice over the mixture, stirring to combine.
Season lightly with chili powder and salt, tasting to see if the flavor suits you.
Store in an air-tight container in the fridge.

I like to dip my salad with tortilla chips, but it's also great on its own, or served over lettuce.

This post shared at: Traditional Tuesdays