KALE!!!!

[KarenB]

I buy baby kale for my birds. My local grocery store started carrying it about a month ago in nice containers, pre-washed. I like it better than the large, coarse variety. I roll the leaves up together and chop it up finely and mix it in with the egg food and sprouted seeds. The birds love it. I've never had much luck offering lettuce, and I've offered it whole, chopped and everything in-between. Kale is where it's at, man.

[Corkysgirl]

I wish they sold baby Kale here! We have a giant garden but I don't dare give my birds vegetables from it even though it's completely organic because my old girl bird got that eye infection every year immediately after I give her rainbow chard (They LOVE rainbow chard) from the garden. I really believe it's from the chicken manure we use...though it's organic. I think it's an organism in it and her weakened immune system couldn't handle it...and now I'm just paranoid. So...I purchase my greens...and living where I do, I'm limited. But I love to give them whole romaine lettuce leaves and watch them play tug of war with them. I never thought to mix the greens with the egg food. Thanks for that KarenB. That might work for some of my fussy birds that won't eat greens. They will at least get some in them that way.

[KarenB]

Corkysgirl, In all honesty, I started mixing everything together to make feeding time a bit faster and take up fewer bowls. As it is, I use fifty million bowls every morning, and fifty-five million was just too much.

[delray]

KarenB corkysgirl I've tried kale, and I do not like the taste at all lol but my birds do seem to love it! I put the kale and that's it! The kale is all eaten! Time to go get some more kale!

[delray]

Also, I clean the kale and put pieces into the clip I don't chop it up unless I am mixing I with other things.

[KarenB]

I love kale personally. One of my favorite ways to eat it is in:

SEVEN BEAN, KALE AND ITALIAN SAUSAGE SOUP

4 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion
4-6 cloves garlic
4 cilantro seasoning cubes, broken down to powder (Knorr)
2 bay leaves
1/2 manzano pepper
2 cups dried bean mix (butter beans, navy beans, pinto beans, black-eyed peas, red beans, yellow lentils, green lentils
- or any combo of beans you like)
8-10 cups chicken stock (I use homemade, but any will do.)
1 package sweet Italian turkey sausage
1 large bunch kale
juice of one large or two small limes

Soak beans, covered, overnight in the refrigerator, or soak in very warm water in a covered container on the counter for
four hours. Start by chopping onion and garlic. Remove seeds and veins from manzano pepper and discard, then rinse flesh
well and dice. You can use more than half if you prefer more heat. One half of the pepper is just enough to give it a nice
flavor without being painful. Rinse beans until water runs clear, drain. Heat large stock pot on medium high, then add oil
and heat oil. Add onions, garlic and pepper to oil and saute until tender, about five to seven minutes. Add beans and chicken
stock. Heat to just before boiling and then add bay leaves and cilantro powder. Bring up to a boil, stir, then turn down
to a low simmer and cover for an hour to an hour and a half, or until beans start to become tender. While beans are cooking,
remove veins and stems from kale and discard. Break kale into bite-sized pieces and set aside. (I usually do this when I
first bring it home from the grocery store and save in covered container until I'm ready to use it.) In a large non-stick skillet,
cook the sausages until done (where the internal temp is 165 degrees or more). Turn every so often to get a nice char on each
side. Slice sausages into bite-sized pieces. When beans are done, add the cooked sausage pieces, kale and the lime juice.
Cook until kale is wilted and beans are cooked through. If too much of the broth has evaporated, add water. Add salt, if
desired, but not until after the soup is done. I have found that it is not even necessary to add salt. Enjoy.

[delray]

KarenB thanks!!! That sounds like a recipe my family would really like! Maybe then I would like kale. I did just take one nibble when we were cleaning it for the birds, so if it's cooked... I would probably like it better. My mom is always looking for new things to cook! I will tell her.

[KarenB]

delray, Yeah, it's much better cooked if you're using the large mature leaves. I've tried the raw baby kale in a mixed greens salad, and it's okay for me....but I like raw greens, so.......

[Corkysgirl]

That sounds good Karen. I'm sure going to need some recipes for all this Kale. We grow dried beans too. Delray, you will like it in soup because the taste is dispersed more and then you'll get used to it...can build up to it more and more. Definitely cooked is better!

[delray]

Kale salad in camp?!?! Lol! It was actually better with dressing! That's so funny.

[Corkysgirl]

Haha Karen...I just saw your post about the 50 million bowls. I don't know how I missed it. I can imagine you would have that many. You keep having population explosions in your menagerie! It's a good thing! Yes, mixing is becoming the theme here too these days.
@delray I had to laugh when I saw that delicious plate of Kale. The very thing you hate they serve you. If you didn't already acquire a taste for it after today, then rest assured when you get older you may change your mind. I hated a lot of foods at your age that I love now.
I remember when I was at camp they served "creamed chipped beef over toast." I cannot tell you in nice words how much I hated that "stuff!" Oh the memories!

[delray]

Corkysgirl lol! It actually tasted ok! Way better with dressing! Lol and you're right about me probably loving kale when I get older! I am having a great time at camp too! The art teacher gave my cousin and I pie! And no other counselers got it! Lol I feel honored!

[Corkysgirl]

delray I'm sure you're very loved at camp! Yum, pie! I'm happy to hear you're having a great time. I'm sure the kids are enjoying you also!

[delray]

Thanks corkysgirl ! That means a lot! I think the kids like us lol! ;) it's really fun and it teaches me responsibility!

[delray]

and I enjoy giving the kids a great camp experience!