Spinach Chips

My kids may be a little weird but they love spinach. They would eat it all day, every meal if I would let them. Only ever raw though, never cooked. I haven't found a dish yet that makes them want to eat it cooked except this one.

These chips turn out super crispy, but somewhat fragile. I bake them and then leave them on a plate for the kiddos to snack on. They are usually all gone within an hour of me setting them out.

Spinach Chips

2 Cups Spinach leaves (big, healthy looking leaves)
1 Tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
Italian seasoning blend (to taste), I use just a light sprinkle, maybe 1/2 a tsp.
Salt (to taste), a good size pinch will do

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325*F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Set aside.

In a large bowl, put the spinach leaves and then the olive oil and mix it well with your hands without breaking or tearing the leaves.

Sprinkle salt and Italian seasoning and mix well until all leaves are coated.

Take the foil lined baking sheet and arrange the leaves in a single layer without any overlaps. Not all will fit on the sheet this first time. It normally takes me 3 or 4 times to cook them all.

Bake in the oven for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it sit on the baking sheet for another 2 minutes. Using a spatula, transfer them to a cooling rack.

Note:
Do not overcrowd the baking sheet. Every leaf should be equally exposed to the heat.


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Green Beans with Bacon

This is one of those recipes that kind of developed over time. I'm not even sure where the original idea came from, but I've been making this forever and each time it's not exactly the same.

I love french green beans. These are not "frenched" green beans like you can find in cans, but a certain type of green bean. They are long, slender and very yummy just as they are. They are amazing right out of the garden, but you can now find frozen whole french green beans in the frozen produce section and they are nearly as delicious.

Since I normally make this as I go without much thought to how much actually goes in the pan, these measurements are approximate. You can adjust them according to your own tastes.

Bacon Green Beans

1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bag (16 oz.) frozen whole green beans
1/4 cup cooked crumbled bacon
salt and pepper to taste

In a large skillet, over med-high heat, saute the onion and garlic in a little olive oil for about 1 minute. Add the green beans. Cook until all ice is melted and water has evaporated, stirring every 30 seconds (about 5 minutes).

Add salt, pepper and bacon to skillet. Cook an additional 3-4 minutes or until beans are crisp tender.

You can cook them a little longer if you prefer your beans a little more well done.


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