Happy Friday y’all! Lets dive right into things, shall we?
Have you ever tried kale chips? Most people make them by drizzling with olive oil, sprinkling with salt and pepper and baking. I’m not knocking that way, but I found those to be so-so. I can never get the whole chip consistently crispy. Then I bought a dehydrator from a friend for $30 and my world changed.
Not only would the entire chip be crispy and delicious, I also discovered this recipe for cool ranch kale chips and it is PHENOMENAL. I made 2 bunches of kale worth yesterday and David and I finished them off in 15 minutes. I HIGHLY recommend making them this weekend.
In other news, I tried spinning for the FIRST TIME ever yesterday.
I’ve always been intimidated by the class, but I walked by and there happen to be a free bike and Holly, the teacher, roped me in. My legs were feeling in within the first 60 seconds and I was so scared. By the end, I was drenched in sweat, my legs felt like jelly and I was still jamming to the tunes. It was great! And since you control the resistance, no one knows if your resistance isn’t exactly where it should be (which mine never was). I may be a few years behind this trend (what’s new?), but I’ll certainly be going again.
Thank you for all the book feedback on my facebook page. There are some great suggestions and I really want to read Unbroken and 1929. Both appeal to my inner history geek. However, I’ve also heard a lot of great things about Sarah Jio, so next up, I’m choosing to read
Seattle, 1933. Single mother Vera Ray kisses her three-year-old son, Daniel, goodnight and departs to work the night-shift at a local hotel. She emerges to discover that a May-Day snow has blanketed the city, and that her son has vanished. Outside, she finds his beloved teddy bear lying face-down on an icy street, the snow covering up any trace of his tracks, or the perpetrator’s.
Seattle, 2010. Seattle Herald reporter Claire Aldridge, assigned to cover the May 1 “blackberry winter” storm and its twin, learns of the unsolved abduction and vows to unearth the truth. In the process, she finds that she and Vera may be linked in unexpected ways…
It sounds like a page turner and it happens to be Julie’s book club read for February, too.
Finally, don’t tune out yet, I have to introduce to Jessica Reinhart.
Jessica is currently going to school to become a certified health coach and her goal is to work with children and families to help instill healthy eating habits at an early age, a topic obviously close to my heart.
She reached out to me because she currently has her first program in the works and will be teaching a young class in DC about healthy eating beginning later this month. Each lesson will consist of a short nutrition lesson along with an activity and end with the children making a healthy snack on their own.
Isn’t that great??
However, since she is starting all of this on her own, paying for the costs are up to her, and she could use our help! She has a modest goal of $250 to help cover the cost of food and other items for the kids. If you are interested in helping, even if it’s just $5, check out Jessica’s RocketHub page to donate and help Jessica teach young kids how fun and delicious eating REAL food can be.
Have a great weekend! 
Erica says
That book looks great! It’s next on my list, now!
Karen says
Those Kale Chips look amazing, I still have to try making them. Isn’t spin wonderful. Around 5 years ago, I took spin 3-days a week and was in the best shape of my life. I want to start taking it again but until I am fully working from home, it’s hard to get there so it’s home workouts and outside for me. Have a great weekend.
Nicole @ Fruit 'N' Fitness says
I think what Jessica is trying to do is amazing! I do not have kids but am horrified when I see grocery carts at the store filled with nothing but processed junk food and kids under 5 who are already severely over weight. I checked out her website, does she have a twitter or facebook? I would love to share this with others.
Oh side note I love Kale chips! I don’t have a dehydrator but there pretty good baked in the oven.
Jessica says
Hi Nicole!
Thanks so much for the kind words! I do have a twitter account @jreinhart11. I really appreciate you sharing this with others! 🙂
Jessica
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
This post makes me want to run out and buy some kale ASAP. Oh, and a dehydrator! 😉
I have heard GREAT things about that book. It is on my “to read” list.
blackhuff says
Well done on the spinning class. You have more guts than me. I’m scared :/
Susan @ Real Life Travels says
Isn’t Holly great! I haven’t taken a class of hers but she was Nate’s PT for a long time. She’s so sweet.
emily s says
So funny! I am about to start Blackberry Winter….my sister gave it to me for Christmas
Parita @ myinnershakti says
So excited (and a little jealous) about your Spin class! I went 2-3 times a week when I lived in Tampa and LOVED it! One of my favorite workouts ever. I know it’s a little intimdating from the outside in, but once you’re in there it’s so much fun!
Maria says
Yay! So happy you chose Blackberry Winter. You won’t be able to put it down. I just got chills thinking about it 😉
Katie says
If it has a satisfying ending please let us know! I want to check out a spin class I just haven’t gotten to one yet! And I bake kale chips but they have to be re-baked if you are planning on eating them a second day. I would be interested in a dehydrater but what else do you use it for?
LKNColby says
I have yet to do a class at the Y for spinning but I can’t wait! I used to do it all the time- it’s such an amazing workout. Also on my list is a dehydrator too.. I want to be able to make apple, banana , and kale chips..mine always burn in the oven:/
Belinda says
Unbroken was quite possibly one of the best books I’ve ever read. I usually read fiction, suspense/mystery stuff, but that was a great true story. I also really enjoyed No Easy Day, very interesting read. I also love spin class in the cold weather when I don’t want to ride my bike in the cold. One of the best sweat workouts around and fun with the loud music. Happy friday!
jade says
I read the Blackberry Winter and although I really liked it overall, there were some parts that were just, I don’t know, the author’s writing style just irritated me for the dialogue part – and a few other things too but I don’t want to spoil anything about it! It was a quick read so I got over the dialogue pretty quickly.
stefanie says
Well I just added a couple of books to my list! Yeah for good reading!!
christina says
No way. The last blog I commented on was talking about that book too. We’ve all got to read it!
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
I’ve never been a superfan of kale chips. I like them, sure, but they are sort of something I could take or leave. However, that all changed when a friend in Austin made some ranch flavored kale chips for a culinary school event. I about DIED. I’ll have to check out this recipe and see if it is similar. 🙂
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
Oh, I also went to my first spin class (sort of ) recently, and I definitely never kept the resistance exactly where I was supposed to…did have fun though. But, MAN was I sore. [No wonder they make padded shorts for biking…]
Amanda Perry @ Sistas of Strength says
Between this and the spaghetti squash you have me feeling like I am missing something major with cooking. I tried kale chips twice and they just burnt and tasted nasty. Watery spaghetti squash and burnt chips = no good.
Jessie says
Wishing your friend Jessica the most amazing luck w/ this new journey she is about to embark on <3
Jessica says
Thanks, Jessie!! So excited for this opportunity!! 🙂
Liz @ iheartvegetables says
I love Kale chips! I don’t have a dehyrdator so I just make them in the oven.
and that’s so cool about Jessica’s mission!
Karen says
Hope you had an amazing weekend. I wanted to tell you that I have been drinking ACV & honey for three days…it’s actually not that bad and I found organic raw/unfiltered at TJs. Thank you so much for the advice as I have been dealing with a cold for the past month and hopefully by drinking this it will help out.