One Yummy Kale Salad

Up until about three years ago, I always considered kale to be that super stiff, dark green plant that comes as a decoration or space-filler on your plate - it was definitely not to be eaten. And then I discovered kale chips. Oh, yum.

And now I *look* for recipes with kale in them so that I can enjoy kale in yet another amazing way. My most recent discovery was served to our family up at our cabin this winter. Delicious. I have to share.

And, if you're in my boat from years ago, thinking kale is way to green and nutritious-looking to actually taste good, try this {or kale chips} before you completely cross it off your list.

Super Yummy Kale Salad

Salad:

1 bunch kale of choice

Craisins - chopped

Sunflower seeds - toasted {optional: with vegetable-based "butter" & lightly salted}

Dressing:

Lemon zest

Lemon juice

Olive oil

Salt

Pepper

You'll notice there are no real quantities listed out. That's where YOU come in. Play around with what tastes best to you. If you're new to kale, you may enjoy more craisins &/or seeds in your salad. I love lemon so I prefer more lemon than olive oil, but you could be different.

If kale is not new to you, how do you enjoy it best? I'd love to try it your way!

.enjoy

molly

P.S. Kale is an incredible source of vitamins A, C & K, as well as fiber, magnesium, and a boat load of antioxidants. It's worth getting to know.

Mommy & Baby Birds in a Nest

I love getting requests from people - Thank you! Recently, I've had many requests from people for more birds in nests. 

For the most recent addition to Cookie+Curly's website, I got a little carried away when making the nest {yes, they're all handmade} and I made a big one, suitable for a mommy and baby, not just one bird. So...

I hope you like it! I just love how it came together. So sweet.

The only other available mobile with a nest at this time is this one in yellow, grey and white:

I hope to get more out to you soon, but I have a few great new fabrics that I already have in the making for you so hold tight for those first. In the meantime, if you'd like to order a custom mobile in your favorite style, please email me and we'll get something going for you.

Please note: My custom order capabilities will slow down in about 4-6 weeks when our Baby#3 comes so get your orders in now!

.enjoy

molly

Scrumptious Granola Packed with Goodness

So... Yes, I haven't been blogging. Sorry.

Being pregnant, having two kids already and wanting to be a hands-on, creative mom, running a business, trying to keep a clean house, and attempting to stay physically active... Oh yeah, and being a wife :) has made me re-set my priorities a bit and sadly Cookie+Curly's blog has been set a little lower than I had hoped. 7 weeks now until Baby#3 so we'll see how I do. I'm hoping to be better, and I'm starting now...

This post includes one of my favorite recent recipes: 

A Scrumptious Granola Packed with Goodness

My friend, Jessica, is an amazing go-getter in the kitchen and she loves trying new things, as do I. She forwarded along her delicious granola recipe, which I completely LOVED, but I couldn't help but doing a little experimenting. I think I have my version dialed in and here it is:

Ingredients:

4 c oats

1 c raw sunflower seeds
1 c raw pumpkin seeds

1 c wheat germ *

1/2 c shredded coconut

1 c blanched almonds

1/2 c canola oil

1/2 c honey

1/3 c brown sugar

1/4 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp vanilla pinch of salt

* OR 1/2 c wheat germ + 1/2 c ground flax
* OR 1/2 c wheat germ + 1/2 c ground flax + 1/2 c chia seeds

* OR 1 c wheat germ + 1/2 c chia seeds

Directions:

1} Mix spices and liquids together in a small saucepan and simmer for a few minutes.

Two things to note here:

a} If adding chia seeds, add them into the liquid mixture once in a syrup state. This keeps them sticky and minimizes "loose" chia seeds in the mixture once it's done. I like it all clumpy together.
b} You can mix in any seeds/nuts in the dry ingredients. The more you add though, the more canola oil/honey you will need. 

2} Then mix with dry ingredients and bake on parchment paper. 325 F for 15 minutes, stir, then another 15 minutes. It will look slightly underdone when you take it out, but that is fine - it will burn if you leave it in any longer! It will finish crisping up while it cools.

We recently had the pleasure of delivering a huge jar of this granola to the local firehouse and were told they really appreciated getting healthy food from people.

Deliver some to your local firehouse and tell them Cookie+Curly sent ya! :)

enjoy.

molly