Chipolte Chicken & Kale with Bacon

If you're not reading Chrissy Teigen's blog So Delushious! you should be.  Right. Meow.  See, I even linked it up for you in that sentence for those of you too lazy to look to the right, scroll down to my favorite blogs section and click on the link there.  Anyhow, for those of you wondering who this girl is, Chrissy is a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, engaged to John Legend, but most importantly she is a HUGE foodie with a hilarious attitude/sense of humor.  And she has some fantastic recipes.  One of them being this fabulous chipolte marinade that I have fallen in love it.  (See that, another link right in the paragraph - I'm just making this too easy for you guys).  It's spicy, it's hot and I usually have to bring a box of Kleenex along to blow my nose when I'm eating because all of your senses are engaged in this fiery dish.

The first time I made this I overdid it and made too much, or so I thought.  I froze a tupperware container full of it and have been spreading this chipolte love ever since.  Grilled shrimp, chicken, fish....it's deliciousness knows no bounds!  Tonight it was chicken - bone in.  I marinade some legs and thighs in the sauce and then put fresh thyme, parsley and ground pepper on top.

Bake it at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Delicious, simple and flavorful.  Read Chrissy's blog and do yourself a favor and always keep some on hand and ready to cook!

About the kale.  Kale is a funny thing.  It's a lettuce; a leafy green.  You've probably passed it a million times at your local market or grocery store but have never bought it.  Well I highly recommend you go out RIGHT NOW and buy some!  Why you ask?  Because I'm going to give you the recipe for my best friends ah-mazing Kale with Bacon!  I will admit that I had never had kale before he made this for me and was amazed at the flavor - it quickly has become one of my favorite sides of make and do yourselves all a favor and try it (oh and you have to call it Craig's Kale so he gets the credit he deserves)!

Craig's Kale with Bacon

INGREDIENTS:
* 2 slices of raw bacon (or 4 if you're obsessed with bacon like I am)
* Chili flakes
* Kale - cut into 1/2" strips
* 2 tablespoons of minced garlic
* Sea salt
* Pepper
* 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
* 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock

DIRECTIONS:
1) Cut up the bacon into larger chunks and cook them over medium-low heat with chili flakes for flavor until crispy.
2) Put bacon a paper towel and set off to the side
3) In the same pan combine kale, garlic, salt and pepper and saute for 2 minutes
4) Add in chicken/vegetable stock and white wine vinegar
5) Simmer kale until all the juice is evaporated
6) Add bacon back in shortly before serving