It’s the New Year and so many of us are thinking “I gotta do betta” Lol! I have reached the point in my life where I don’t even set myself up for failure during the holidays. I mean…I’m going to eat that fudge and those mashed potatoes…and that pie. I am.

But the new year gives us a chance to reset a bit. Or at least give it a good try.

Kale isn’t on everyone’s list. It wasn’t on mine for a long time. I don’t think my dad ever heard of kale in his 82 years. I know he wouldn’t have eaten it.

But I have come to like kale and while at a family wedding last Fall our resident Chef in the family (yes he’s a real chef) was casually putting together salads at the after wedding get together. I paid attention.

This kale salad is easy and also really tastes good if you have the kale taste buds. Give it a try and let me know if you decide to add it to your recipe box.

Ingredients

Fresh kale
Dates, chopped
Almonds, chopped and toasted
olive oil
lemon juice
honey

salt to taste

(goat cheese…optional)

Put your fresh chopped kale in a big bowl. Pour about a tablespoon of olive oil over the kale and massage it. Yes, massage it. Apparently this step helps take the bitterness out of the kale and also softens it up.

Chop fresh dates (from the produce section) and sprinkle over the kale.

After toasting your almonds, sprinkle them over the kale.

In a small bowl mix olive oil, lemon juice and honey. You can eyeball amounts that will be appropriate for the amount of kale that you have in your bowl. I used about 1/4 cup of olive oil, a couple tablespoons of honey and squeezed a whole lemon. (I like lemon). You can play with the amounts for the dressing to suit your taste and the size of your salad.

I had some goat cheese on hand so I sprinkled it over the salad and I loved it. If you like goat cheese, give it a try!

Kale Date & Almond Salad

Course: Appetizers, Brunch, Recipes, Salads

Ingredients

• Fresh kale

• Dates, chopped

• Almonds, chopped and toasted

• olive oil

• lemon juice

• honey

• salt to taste

• (goat cheese…optional)

Directions

• Put your fresh chopped kale in a big bowl. Pour about a tablespoon of olive oil over the kale and massage it. Yes, massage it. Apparently this step helps take the bitterness out of the kale and also softens it up.
• Chop fresh dates (from the produce section) and sprinkle over the kale.
• After toasting your almonds, sprinkle them over the kale.
• In a small bowl mix olive oil, lemon juice and honey. You can eyeball amounts that will be appropriate for the amount of kale that you have in your bowl. I used about 1/4 cup of olive oil, a couple tablespoons of honey and squeezed a whole lemon. (I like lemon). You can play with the amounts for the dressing to suit your taste and the size of your salad.

Notes

• I had some goat cheese on hand so I sprinkled it over the salad and I loved it. If you like goat cheese, give it a try!