Simple Kale Salad {w/ recipes}

Have you noticed that kale has been all the rage lately? It seems like everywhere you turn, someone is raving about the benefits of kale: everything from lowering your cholesterol to preventing cancer.

And what's not to love? Kale is nutrient rich and delicious. It is packed with calcium, vitamin A, C, and K, and fiber.

I love to add it to my morning juice, hearty soups, sautee it with a little olive oil, bake it to make dried kale chips, and use it in a salad, like my recipe today.

When you're eating kale raw it's important to make sure it will be tender and fresh enough to be palatable. Kale has a tendency to be tough sometimes, but if you buy organic and look for leaves that are small with narrow stems you should be able to avoid that problem.

Simple Kale Salad
adapted from Moorea Seal

juice from 1 lemon
2 T olive oil
1 clove of garlic
pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
1 bunch fresh kale

1. Whisk lemon juice and olive oil to form a vinaigrette.
2. Mince garlic, or use a ceramic grater plate, and add to the vinaigrette. Add red pepper flakes if desired. 
3. Wash and chop kale leaves, removing stems. Toss with dressing and enjoy.

What is your healthy go-to vegetable?