POST 5: A Way With Kale

Kale has driven me mad in the past. Now I have found a way to prepare it that makes it an absolute must in my salads.

This is what you need to do:

Strip the leaves off the woody stalks, which you discard. Dunk the leaves in a sink full of water and wash them thoroughly to remove the grit. Spin in a salad spinner till dry and spread on a clean tea towel.

Now go attend to your emails. About an hour or so later, enlist a pair of idle hands that may be wandering around the house doing nothing. At least nothing of value eg. your partner, husband or teenage child. Place the kale in a largish salad bowl and pour a liberal glug of extra virgin olive oil into it. Set the timer on for 7 minutes and put those idle pair of hands to work massaging the kale. Yes, I mean massaging the kale. Rub it till it wilts, changes colour and shrinks to about a third of its volume. Taste the leaves, they are delicious.

An easy & quick way to prep Walnuts:

I buy walnuts by the kilo. It costs less. Spread the lot out on an oven tray and roast them in a hot oven till they start to change colour. Be careful as they burn easily so use your timer. Cool them completely and chop the lot finely. Put them in an airtight box and store in the fridge. They will last forever.

Put a salad together in a jiffy:

Now open your fridge and check what vegetables you have. You can use your Nicer Dicer to finely chop red capsicums, an apple or some grapes, cucumber, celery and throw in a diced ripe tomato for good measure. Add a few tablespoons of walnuts, a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Add as much kale as you like. Store the balance in the fridge. It will stay yummy for 3 days maximum. After that it will go high.

Kale is a super food. Yummy and packed full of nutrients. Hide it in pasta if the kids turn up their noses at greens.

My mother had such an interesting rule when we were young – “If you don’t finish what’s on your plate you don’t leave the table”. We quickly learnt to eat and enjoy everything 😊