Curly KALE and MEATBALL Soup

THE RECIPE

Kale is a popular vegetable, a member of the cabbage family. There are many different types of kale. The leaves can be green or purple in color, and have either a smooth or curly shape. The most common type of kale is curly kale. Kale is very high in nutrients and very low in calories, making it one of the most nutrient dense foods. Important vitamins and minerals are found in kale. I have used curly kale in this delicious soup recipe.

INGREDIENTS:
                     
2 White onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 tbsp Olive oil
250g Curly kale, roughly chopped
1200ml Chicken stock
4 tbsp Parmesan cheese grated

MEATBALLS
250g Minced Pork
1 clove of Garlic, minced
1 Egg
100g Flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

2 tbsp Olive oil for frying
Salt and black pepper

Brilliant BANOFFEE Fool

THE RECIPE

I have always enjoyed a banoffee pie, this is a take on that using the same ingredients, but this is much easier to put together and just as impressive.

INGREDIENTS:

6 Plain digestive biscuits
25g Butter, melted
2 Ripe bananas
1 tbsp Lemon juice
150ml Double cream
150ml Custard

For the caramel
100g Butter
100g Brown soft sugar
1 Can of Condensed Milk

Grated chocolate to decorate

OATS about YOU?

Being aware of the compelling health benefits of oats and being an avid fan of porridge (oatmeal) as a breakfast staple, I was only delighted to accept a recent invitation to visit Flahavan's family mill in Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford.

Oats were one of the first cereals cultivated by man. They were to be found growing in ancient China as long ago as 7000 BC while the Greeks are believed to be the first to make porridge (oatmeal) from oats. However, it was the Romans who not only introduced oats to other countries in Western Europe. The best quality oats grow where there is light fertile soil, where the climate is temperate and there is a rainfall of over 60cm (24") a year.