What happens when a kale and a brussels sprout make a baby? KALE SPROUTS.

What happens when you roast said kale sprouts in the oven for 10 minutes with a touch of olive oil, salt and pepper? CRUNCHY SPROUT GOODNESS.

Also: the easiest TV Dinner side dish ever.

I bought a bag of these cuties at Trader Joe’s the other day but I heard they’ve also been popping up at area farmer’s markets. So be on the lookout.

B gobbled them right up, too. So ya know they pass the smell test.

Arielle is a nutritionist who has a fun, clean-eating cooking show on Glamour Magazine so she has some great tips for healthy living. My favorite one, which I plan to start doing this week, is for quick smoothies/shakes. She says to prep all of your ingredients — fruits, vegetables, powders, extras — then take all of that (everything you would have in a shake/smoothie except any liquid you might add: almond milk, coconut water, etc…) and put it in single serving ziploc baggies. Then freeze them.

That way the next time you want a quick shake or smoothie but don’t have time to prepare one, you can just grab a baggie out of the freezer and toss it in the blender with your liquid. No chopping, cutting, or measuring… just blending and enjoying.

Genius, right?!

I already keep some fruit in my freezer, but this is a whole other level. One that I can’t wait to be on.

My friend Jackie — famous in these parts for her chia pudding recipe and Vitamix-pushing — gave me the mustard and balsamic idea and once again, Jackie has proven her genius in the kitchen. It’s tangy with just the right touch of spice. The cayenne pepper helps, too. Thanks, Jack!

Use whatever vegetables you have on hand; I had brussels sprouts, onions, mushrooms and a sweet potato, but would definitely try it with carrots and other greens next time.

Stay warm and happy roasting!

We love brussels sprouts in our house: shaved raw in a mustard vinaigrette, roasted with apples, sauteed with shallots in a hash, you name it. And now we can add crispy in a salad to that list. I actually made the mistake of making this as a starter before a big meal, not realizing a) how filling it would be and b) how much we’d love it that anything coming after would pale in comparison. So consider yourself warned: this will be your new favorite go-to salad entree. Next time I may even add a piece of plain grilled fish or shrimp on top.

Oh, and not all of the roasted carrots in the picture below made it into the salad — some were for snacking while I prepared the rest of the meal. Dip those in a bit of greek yogurt and onion dip and hello, heaven. Or you could save yourself the roasting time (about 25 minutes) and just throw ’em in the salad raw. Either way, this one’s a keeper.

Good thing too, cause these are B’s favorite foods — healthy foods, I should say — lord knows he loves himself a good chocolate chip cookie. But at least making him what he loves isn’t a chore. (It never is, honey!) Want a cute/fun TV Dinner Rewind? Of course you do! Lookie here — it’s the same thing I made him last Valentine’s Day, the first time I ever really cooked for him. Different sauces, different styles, but you get my drift.

But tell me — how do you prepare scallops and brussels sprouts? Leave me a comment and I’ll try your recipe on B next! For now, check out my version after the jump — and enjoy!