SLACKER!

Well, my goal of trying 50 new recipes in 2012 is - uh - not going well. I'd like to think that, at 38 weeks pregnant and with crippling pelvic pain, I have a good excuse for this. I miss it, though - there is nothing quite like trying something new. I've tried a few things, but usually do not have the gumption to pivot all over the kitchen with my camera, snapping shots.

However.

You must try roasting kale.

This is not new to me; I tried it last year. However, I've been addicted to this stuff since the new year. Addicted! I mean, look at those crispy green leaves! Delicious.

It's so easy. Buy some kale. Tear off the leaves (not the stalks; they're tough). Wash and dry (I use a salad spinner). On a baking sheet, toss kale with oil and whatever you like for seasonings. I usually use a bit of oil and some cooking spray to cut down on the fat, and all I put on mine is salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Stick it in a 350 oven for 10-15 minutes or until they're crispy. SO GOOD. Seriously - the texture of them is this delightful crumbly, crispy wonderfulness.

You can do the same thing with broccoli with equally delicious results. I toss fresh broccoli florets with oil, salt, pepper, and garlic, roast them, and then toss them in a bowl with a splash of lemon juice and some parmesan cheese. Oh, so good. They will go into my meal rotation along with roasted harvest vegetables, which I get addicted to every fall.

I've also been slack on posting my "Let's Do 52" photos, so let's recap:

Week 4 was all about perspective. I took this shot of some wintry berries clinging to a branch, and I took it from right beneath it, looking up to the sky through the rest of the branches.



Week 5 was "self-portrait with a loved one". This was a quick-and-dirty shot; I put my camera on top of my entertainment unit, smoothed my hair down, clicked on the timer, and got into position. Yeah, not a lot of thought, but I liked it anyway.



Week 6 was "linear". Pretty self-explanatory:


Week 7 was "pretty ugly", or finding beauty in unexpected places. I loved this one and the different entries. Luckily for me, we had a gorgeous hoar frost last Thursday that lasted all morning, so I took some photos of dead leaves and bare branches that actually looked totally transformed with that thick layer of spiky frost. I also made the group's "Pick of the Week" for this shot:


Finally, week 8 was "simplicity". Here are some decorations I put up: $1 crepe paper from the dollar store. My kid and I were celebrating one of his stuffed puppy's many birthdays. Amazing how something so simple can make a kid so happy.


I am hoping it won't be long before I am posting photos of another family member!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a pan of roasted kale waiting for me in the oven.