One of my favorite things to do is walk into the kitchen, take out a pile of Kale or similar greens and start cooking. I usually have no idea what is going to come out of the pot at the end, but it always surprises me how tasty it is. The secret to this game is keeping a wide variety of canned ingredients in the cupboard. Things like all variety of beans, corn, coconut milk, vegetable stock, and pre-made sauces like Tikka Masala simmering sauce, Thai curry pastes, Italian red sauce, or even various flavors of soup flavoring. All of these things can be purchased in vegan, gluten free, organic versions at a good natural food store.

Then it is time to turn on the electric wok and start cooking. I almost always start with dicing an onion, and water or oil sauteing it with the beginnings of flavor i.e. Salt and Pepper and sometimes herbs that match what ever sauce I decide to use. After the onions are soft, I add enough water to steam the greens for 15 minutes or so and then add the flavoring sauce I have chosen followed by the greens and usually a can or two of my favorite beans or crispy tofu. Mix it all up and turn the heat down to medium, put on the lid and let it steam until tender. Depending on the quantity of cooked greens I end up with, I will either serve the dish by itself or offer a starch to bulk it up a bit. Gluten free pasta, brown or black rice, or quartered and boiled new potatoes have all been used for this purpose.

Throw away your fear and start creating. It is fun, especially if you have a beautiful sous chef as I do, and you won't believe how delicious your kale will be when you get done.