This week I ventured out to inspect the Kale I had sown late last Fall. They are going great! A few on the out ends were no longer covered with the leaf mulch showing healthy seedlings going strong.
I usually use Kale in soups for that extra nutritional punch and flavor. I now have a new recipe to add to our meals, courtesy of Big guy bites. I rarely watch television, so it was a delight to catch the episode again being aired this week on the food network.
Here for all my fellow gardeners, is a most exquisite Kale salad recipe worthy to the addition of your garden produce recipe box. Not your average salad. It seems fitting to an early spring lunch or dinner side. I can see myself tweaking this a bit being my husband is not a fan of the dried cranberries. Maybe I will use Golden raisins which are my prefernce. I detest the dark raisins. You will not find those in our home. Only box's and box's of the golden variety.

Kale salad with Marcona almonds & a sherry Vinaigrette
Sherry Vinaigrette:

• 2 oranges
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
• Squeeze of lemon juice
• 
  

Kale Salad:

• 1 bunch fresh kale (about 1 pound)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup Marcona almonds, roughly chopped

Directions

For the sherry vinaigrette: Peel the oranges with a sharp knife. Remove the segments by cutting between the white membrane of each segment. Squeeze out the 2 tablespoons of juice and reserve. Combine the olive oil, vinegar, juice and mustard together. Season with salt and pepper and whisk vigorously. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice.

For the kale salad: Remove the tough stems from the kale and discard. Finely slice the leaves into thin ribbons and toss together with the cranberries and vinaigrette. Serve on a platter scattered with orange segments and sprinkled with the almonds.

I am cheating this evening with some Organic Kale purchased from the local health food grocer to accompany our Broccoli & chicken Alfredo pasta. My kale crop has been bumped up in seeding size just so i can serve this salad more often.
Bon Appetit!