Why I Probably Shouldn't Be a Blogger

Because I cook a super yummy dinner and think to take pics after I've taken a bite ... And I only have my cell phone handy ...

Woops!

I'll tell you about it anyway.

We're eating meatless more often here in the Roady hood. It's actually rather easy! In the last two days, the only meat I've had is 2 ounces of chicken. I could never give up cheese though. Neeeevvvverrrrr..

Creamy White Bean Pasta with Crispy Kale Chips

serves 6+ (trust me, we have left overs coming out of our ears)

Ingredients

• Olive oil cooking spray
• 2 heads of kale, spines removed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Pint of cherry tomatoes, halved
• Package of whole wheat pasta
• One can of white beans (canellini) 
• 1-2 cups pasta water reserved from cooked pasta
• 2 tbsp. Shaved parmesan/romano/whatever you like and more for topping
• Sea salt
• Fresh cracked black pepper

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400 F
• On a baking sheet, spritz kale with cooking spray and sprinkle lightly with sea salt
• Mix the kale around so all of it is covered with the oil and salt
• Bake in the oven for 12 minutes, turn, then bake for another 10 minutes
• Meanwhile, boil water to cook pasta according to instructions (salt the crap out of the water, that's the ticket)
• Add oil to a large saute pan over medium high heat
• Once heated, add garlic and saute until just starting to brown
• Add cherry tomatoes and stir occasionally for about 5 mintes (basically don't let them stick/burn)
• Season lightly with sea salt and plenty of black pepper (don't go too heavy on salt, you will be adding cheese and pasta water, which will be salty)
• Once cherry tomatoes are super soft and have given up a lot of their juices, add the can of beans (with liquid) and cup of pasta water
• Stir well and let simmer for 1-2 minutes
• Add 2 tbsp of parmesan cheese, stir until melted
• Dump the pasta in the saute pan (oh, ps, make sure to use a big pan) and toss
• You may need to add more pasta water depending on the shape of noodle you choose (I used spaghetti shape and only needed 1.5 cups of pasta water total)
• Serve with kale chips on the side so people can crumble them over the noodles along with more shaved cheese

This was so decadent and tasty and BONUS: vegetarian!

Whole wheat (fiber!), protein (for your gigantic muscles!), garlic (good for your heart! my dad said "good for your breath!") , tomatoes (lycopene! antioxidant!)

The kale chips won't really keep unless you leave them out uncovered, so plan ahead. 

I have a job interview tomorrow. And I will say no more as to not jinx it.

Tomorrow I'm cooking out of a very old and once super popular cookbook. (70's... hippies... my mother)

I promise to take pics!