Kale
A friend told me about kale while we were working together making custom rings in New York. Curly kale is one of the easiest plants to grow in your garden, it thrives in the cool temperatures, so it is possible to grow a fall and winter crop. It takes about two months and can tolerate temperatures to 20 F.Most of all it is absolutely delicious and nutritious. Kale is a good source of vitamins A and C as well as a good source of calcium 93 milligrams in only a cup!Here are some of my personal favourite ways to eat it;
Cool Kale Saladwash and remove the stems from your kale. Use approximately I generous handful per person. Lay the leaves one on top of another and roll into a cigar like shape. Slice the cigar thinly to get thin shreds. Cook in the top of a steamer for 3-5 minutes until they have changed colour and are tender. Rinse in cold water and allow to completely drain. Meanwhile, crush a clove of garlic, mix with the juice of a lemon or lime, and whisk in and equal amount of high quality olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Dress the kale and either serve immediately or keep refrigerated and allow to marinate for up to a day. The hardiness of the kale does well to create a crunchy delicious salad.Variation mix 1-2 tablespoons of light sesame tahini into the lemon juice before adding the olive oil. This will give you a creamy non-dairy dressing with a Middle Eastern twinge suitable for vegans.
Hot Kale SautePrepare the kale as described above. In a wok, stir fry a finely chopped chilli, crushed clove of garlic and a small knob of crushed ginger. Add the kale, lightly fry until tender, add a squeeze of lemon and soy sauce to taste.
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