Kale Salad

monica’s kale salad

every wednesday, i have a standing walking date with my friend monica.  the whole time we walk we talk about everything that is going on in our lives but, inevitably we end up on the subject of food. well, the last couple of weeks she told me about this salad she created, so i had to get the recipe! of course she doesn’t quite have the recipe written down so, i came up with my own measurements and directions.  of course you can tweak it to your taste buds.  it is a kale salad that has hints of a caesar salad minus the heavy dressing. i’m so in love with kale and can’t get enough dishes with the vegetable.  my poor family is so nice to go along with my food obsessions!  well, maybe they act supportive to me and in their free time they are secretly devouring unhealthy food!  :o)  anywhoo, here is the recipe that i came up with, i’ll have to make it for monica and see if it measures up to her salad!  the great thing about this salad is that it holds up days later and actually soaks in the flavors more.  the kale seems to do well despite it’s wilted leaves.  

salad dressing:

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

salad:

7-9 stalks of kale

breaded topping:

3/4 cup seasoned croutons (crushed)

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

1/8 cup pine nuts

directions:

strip the kale off the stalks and rip up into bite size pieces.  i had heard on America’s Test Kitchen, that you should massage the kale.  so i did just that, it appears to soften the kale leaves so that they aren’t so tough.  

here is the kale i use. there are few different kinds.  use the one that you prefer.