Kale, Date and Almond Salad

Hi friends!

Cooking school has been... the bomb. I love it. Although, it's a bit like when you are 13 years old and your mother forces you to attend Dance class. You love it but you just don't want to go. Every Sunday I only want to go to the farmers market, hike, do pilates, make smoothies, and take a good hour to simply sit on the couch and stare at the wall (do you ever have those days?). Well, my mother isn't here but, Ryan is. I go, I learn, I smile.

Last class we learned about cooked veggies and fruits. A heavenly 'Carrot and Sweet Potato Puree' entered my mouth. I couldn't figure out how anything could taste so good and be so light and fluffy in texture. It tasted like pillows. In my mouth. It was divine.

Prior to that, we made 12 different salads... yes, twelve. One, a Kale Salad Recipe that has forever changed my life. Seriously, it's that good. So good... i shall provide you with this secret recipe. Shhh...

Salads Galore

Sweet potato Puree, botton left and orange. Accompanied by the rest of our vegetable concoctions. 

Kale is a superfood and one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Yes, the planet. It is packed with the antioxidant (cancer fighting properties) vitamins, A, E, K. The high fiber content helps to bind bile acids (think of bile as the body's soap; used to break down fats) and helps lower cholesterol (by carrying out the bad fats) and reducing the risk of heart disease.

The key to kale is massaging it. Massage the dressing into the kale, massing being a fancy word for smushing and rubbing the dressing into the kale. Let it soak the goodness and up and the kale will  decrease in size.

Kale, Date and Almond Salad

1 bunch curly kale, washed, stemmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 cup dates, pitted and sliced
1/2 cup blanched and slivered almonds, toasted
1/2 an apple, julliened

Dressing
1/4 cup honey
1/8 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 green onion (optional)

Blend all the dressing ingredients. place kale in a bowl and pour the dressing over the kale. With your hands, massage the kale and dressing for about 2 minutes. The kale will darken in color and reduce in size by half. Add the dates, almonds, and apple, to finish. 

Notes: I find this salad to be very sweet and to make it healthier I use 2 tablespoons of honey instead. This dressing makes a lot of dressing and i wouldn't be surprised if you could use two bunches of kale. Also... I add veggies-baby tomatoes, cucumbers, anything. Enjoy, just the way it is. You will love it.