Kale

Kale is another one of those great vegetables like chard that we should try to eat as much as possible.  But also like chard and possibly even more so it is not the easiest vegetable to eat.  But I believe that if you don't like a certain vegetable you just have to find a way to cook it that helps you like it.  When my parents came to visit this past weekend they shared two really great recipes for Kale.  I seriously love these recipes and can't wait to get to the store to buy more Kale so I can cook them again. They are both wonderful sides but I could eat the salad as my main dish.

This first one was given to my mom from one of her friends who got it from a friend but my Mom made some really great changes to it that make it even better.

Kale Salad with Oranges

1 bunch kale

1 T olive oil

1/4 t kosher or sea salt

1 lime, juiced

1 t balsamic vinegar

1 T red onion, finely chopped

1 orange, peeled & sliced

*I don't think it would hurt to double everything in this recipe for 1-1 1/2 bunches of kale.
 
Chop or tear kale leaves into small pieces discarding the thick stem. Steam kale for 5-6 minutes just to soften it. Drizzle the kale with olive oil & sprinkle with salt. Massage the kale with your hands to soften it, then allow it to sit for 5 to 10 minutes. In a small bowl combine lime juice, vinegar and onion. Pour over kale and toss. Add the orange. Allow to marinate for 10 minutes. Serves 4.

*optional- you can also add other greens to this salad such as broccoli florets or water cress.  Just steam them with the Kale. We added water cress to the salad pictured above.

Kale Chips

This recipe was given to my parents by my Aunt Linda.  It was so good.  You can eat these as a side or a snack anytime.  I can't wait to eat it as my movie snack.  I LOVE THEM.

1 bunch of Kale
1 T olive oil
salt *optional

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash and strip leaves from the thick stem and rib. Dry in a salad spinner. Drizzle olive oil over leaves and massage into them. Either lay out whole leaves onto a cookie sheet or you can tear them into individual pieces. Sprinkle with a little salt.  Bake for about 9 minutes until they are crunchy.

 *we should have removed more of the stem then we did in the picture above.

Now go eat you some Kale!