Farro, Kale and Bean Soup

Update: This recipe made the Top 9 Today! I want to thank all of you so much for your buzz. 
 
The week of kale continues! It was FREEZING today. When Craig and I left the house to go to work this morning it was 6 degrees! Winter officially arrived it's not fun. When I got home, I was craving something warm and comforting, like pasta. Unfortunately, despite having a months supply of homemade sauce in my freezer, I had no pasta at all. This is a very rare occurrence. So, I decided to clean out my cabinets and see what I could throw together. I ultimately decided on an Italian flavored soup filled with the healthy trifecta: beans, greens and whole grains. This simple vegetarian soup is filled with nutty farro, creamy beans and kale. It's a great way to make a filling meal that is low in calories while packed with protein and fiber. Topped with some yummy parmesan, it made for a warm and hearty dinner.

Farro takes a bit of time to cook, but this soup is pretty hands off. You basically just throw everything together and let it simmer for a while. You can certainly substitute any type of green you have on hand, escarole or rabe would be really good as well. I am most excited about the leftovers, the flavors will intensify in the fridge overnight. This should keep in the fridge for 3 days.

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Braised Chicken with Kale and Beans

The week of kale continues! Today I decided to make an economical as well as healthy meal. I got some tasty chicken quarters and decided to braise them with healthy beans and kale to make a complete, one pot meal. I love to braise tougher, fattier cuts of meat, because the long cooking time and low temperature breaks down the collagen in the meat, making it unbelievably tender and flavorful. To add flavor without calories, the chicken is braised with fennel and garlic in red wine. Such simple combinations can lead to amazing flavors. When braised, fennel loses some of its bitterness and get a meaty, complex flavor. Make sure to eat this with some crusty bread because the sauce is so incredibly delicious you will want to drink it!

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Delicata Squash with Kale and Potatoes

Happy New Year! This is my first post of 2012! As much as I love the holidays, I am excited to take a break from excessive celebrating and get back to some healthy eating! I have dubbed this week the week of kale. Since kale is one of my favorite veggies and an incredibly versatile ingredient, I wanted to show you some unique ways to prepare and enjoy it. Personally, I usually like it raw, but it's a bit of an acquired taste. So I decided to kick off a healthy 2012 with some new and interesting kale recipes.

This dish is a hodgepodge of incredibly vitamin rich ingredients. You start with roasting some creamy delicata squash and fingerling potatoes and then toss that with crunchy kale and radicchio. The heat of the roasted squash will wilt the greens, making a warm, flavorful salad that I top with a light lemon vinaigrette. Radicchio has a slight bitterness, which is offset nicely by the sweet and creamy squash. This dish is light and flavorful while also being absolutely packed with fiber and vitamins. Most importantly, it's simple and easy to prepare.

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