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Ah, kale. How do I love thee? Let me enumerate the methods.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my stove can reach. And also my wok.

I love thee sautéed with a hint of garlic and soy sauce.

I love thee to a level of spice that would top the Richter scale, lightly steamed with lots of chili peppers, ginger and chopped almonds.

I love thee purely, in the raw, with avocado and lemon and olive oil, with a passion that stems from our first encounter oh so many years ago.

On my hectic workday mornings, I love thee all stirred up and blended in a smoothie.

I love thee when I crave something snacky, all coated in a cheezy sauce. And, I have no doubt, I shall but love thee even better after dehydrating.

Yes, there are infinte ways to enjoy kale, and I never tire of the frilly, flirty, leafy green chameleon. Kale is the Meryl Streep of green leafy vegetables; you can dress it up in an endless number of guises, it easily takes on the accent of any country on the globe, it’s comfortable exhibiting countless incarnations–but underneath it all, it’s still essentially the same, every time.

Kale brings to mind my friend Babe’s mother, who used to pad from bedroom to bedroom each night as she tucked in each of her four children. After pulling up the covers and smoothing her child’s hair, she’d lean over and whisper, “I love you the most.” That’s how I feel about kale. No matter what the meal, no matter how it’s prepared, that’s the one I love the most.

And now, there’s a new favorite kale in town! As a subscriber to the McDougall newsletter, I came across this salad recipe tucked inobtrusively behind the savory lentil spread, spicy garbanzo pinwheels, and balsamic strawberry dressing this month. What appears at first a mild-mannered, simple and uncomplicated dish belies the underlying complexity and subtle layering of flavors in this recipe. And once again, the dressing is the true star of the salad. It’s so good that The HH and I ate an entire head of kale this way!

I’m thrilled to have another raw kale salad to recommend. It’s so quick and easy, it’s crazy simple. A perfect way to add fresh greens to your meal–or make it the meal itself, as we did.

Just like a great poem, this one’s destined to become a classic.

Today’s Question: What’s your go-to recipe for a quick, reliable summer salad?

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Hail to the Kale Salad (adapted from the McDougall Newsletter, June 2010), suitable for ACD Stage 1 and beyond RickiHeller.com After polishing off the entire bowl, it occurred to me that the kale would have been spectacular if spread on a teflex sheet and popped in a dehydrator (or cookie sheet and low-temperature oven) to make my own kale chips. I’m saving that for next time (but let me know if you try it!). For the salad: 1 head of curly green kale, washed, dried and stems removed For the dressing: 1/2 cup (120 ml) raw or regular natural smooth almond butter 1/2 cup (120 ml) water 2 Tbsp (30 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice (about one lime) 1-2 cloves garlic, minced, to your taste about 1/2 inch (1.5 cm) piece ginger, peeled and minced 5 drops plain liquid stevia 1/4 tsp (1.5 ml) red pepper flakes 2 Tbsp (30 ml) sesame seeds, raw or lightly toasted Finely chop the kale and place in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients except for sesame seeds. Pour the mixture over the kale and toss well to coat. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve. Makes 4-6 side servings or 2 main course servings.

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Last Year at this Time: Lucky Comestible 5(3): Confetti Quinoa and Wild Rice Salad

Two Years Ago: Minted Peach and Corn Salad (ACD adaptable)

© Ricki Heller

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