Caribbean-Style Kale and Bacon

We are a bunch of tired puppies! Between work, extra work (prepping for workshops we're giving in San Diego and Tampa over the next few weeks), and kid's activities - it's been a busy week.

Tonight we came home from the soccer field tired, bruised (yeah, playing soccer in crocs ... admittedly, not a great idea)... and hungry. It was 7:30, but thankfully we had a plan:

SteamyKitchen!

No, it's not a ventilation problem (though we have that too!). It's a blog that's billed as "fast, fresh, and simple". We discovered it while scrolling through Babble.com's Top 100 Food Mom Blogs. Full disclosure, we were searching for our nomination (we're currently #63 in the free-agent, nominate your favorite blog category -- so there was a LOT of scrolling going on!)

SteamyKitchen is #12. Overall. Like, in the big Top 100 "you should really check out these foodie blogs" list. She's up there with several others we like, such as Smitten Kitchen (check out her Oat and Maple Syrup Scones) and the Pioneer Woman (gotta love a woman who cooks pork butt in Dr. Pepper!)

We cruised through SteamyKitchen and found a recipe that we knew we'd like because it involves kale (in season right now) and bacon (always in season!). And the bonus? It's only 3 steps, so fast and easy.

Caribbean-Style Kale and Bacon

(apparently I was so tired - and hungry - that my hands were shaking while taking this picture)

Ingredients

• 4-6 slices bacon, roughly chopped (we used more... like the whole package)
• 1 Vidalia onion, diced
• 8 cups chopped kale
• 1 cup coconut milk (we used lowfat. you know, to make up for all that bacon!)
• 1 cup broth (chicken, vegetable or beef)
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt (1/4 teaspoon table salt)
• freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. In a large saute pan over medium heat, cook the bacon until just begins to crisp. Add the onions and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

2. Add the kale and saute until wilted, tossing with the onion and bacon, about 5 minutes.

(Wait! Where's the bacon?!?)

(oh... there it is. Whewh!)

3. Pour in the coconut milk and broth and continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Reviews:

Chef Tanya -- Very tasty and so easy. I love kale, but would have never thought of cooking it with coconut milk.

Jason -- Everything's better with bacon. Seriously, everything.

Miranda -- I hate bacon. (clearly, this kid was FedEx!)

Olivia -- I love bacon! The kale, eh...

Hannah -- What do we have for dessert? And how much of this dinner do I have to eat to get dessert?


When I was growing up I remember bacon as a breakfast-only ingredient that occasionally made p.m. appearances on Breakfast For Dinner night. It wasn't till my sister-in-law Robin made us very tasty bacon-wrapped green beans that we realized there was a whole Bacon World out there to explore.

Like Bacon-Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Cream Cheese and Almonds

and Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf with Brown-Sugar Ketchup Glaze (does that one come with an automatic referral to a cardiologist?!?)

And Bacon Pie?!?

(Think we'll skip that one)

What's your favorite bacon recipe? How 'bout the strangest bacon combo you've ever seen?