Greens Galore!

Yesterday my lovely roommate Mia came home with a wonderful surprise to share with the house that weighed about 20lbs.. No, not a puppy (like we need more animals in our house)... No, not chocolate (although, how sweet would that be!)... GREENS! All sorts of greens... in all sorts of shapes an sizes... kale, bok choy, mustard greens, parsely, dill, peppers, lettuce, cauliflower and the list goes on. Mia took a trip out to One Straw Farm for work and was coerced by Joan, the farmer, to take home with her as much as she could carry. The four or five huge, heavy bags that little tiny Mia carried home with her on the shuttle literally covered our dining room table when emptied out. Check it out.

Now I understand that not too many people would be as excited as us to recieve this bountiful bouquet of greens, but this was like Christmas morning for us and after we neatly organized everything into piles on our table (courtesy of OCD Mia) we couldn't wait to dig in. I know greens may be unfamiliar and even frightening for people, as most of us Americans are not eating many green leafy vegetables on a daily basis and are consequently missing out on all the beneficial nutrients that these vegetables provide. As a soon to be nutritionist, this makes me very sad!! So I'm here to show you that there are a countless number of ways to incorporate greens into your daily diet. Fear not the greens, my friends, but start embracing them! Tis the season!
Here are 8 simple and delicious ways to incorporate greens into your life.

1. Throw greens into soups/stews: this works well for any kind of green and almost any kind of soup that could use an extra boost of color. We added our greens to a hearty chili and it was delish!
2. Kale Chips: A healthy, crunchy snack that is a definite crowd pleaser.
3. Cook greens with eggs: Nothing like a veggie omelet in the morning to get your day going.
4. Mix greens into pasta dishes/casseroles: Add some green goodness to your next batch of mac n' cheese or pasta dish by boiling some greens right with the pasta water for the last few minutes.
5. Combine greens with beans: Not only do they rhyme, but beans and greens also taste fantastic great together! You culd do mexican black beans and greens or mediterranean chickpeas and greens with tomatoes.
6. Go RAW: Lighter greens like lettuce and spinach can definitely be eaten raw in salads, but so can heartier greens like kale and mustard greens. Just dress with lemon juice and some sea salt to help wilt the leaves a bit, and mix in some of your favorite toppings (raisins, almonds, onions, etc).
7. Keep with southern tradition: In the south, collard greens (or a combination of greens) are slowly cooked down with ham hocks and a splash of vinegar. If you don't have ham hocks, just sautee with bacon or ham pieces for extra flavor.
8. Keep it simple: Sautee whatever greens you have on hand with garlic and onions in a little bit of olive oil, and there you have a great side dish!

Any other suggestions? How do you like to eat your greens?