The Best Kale Salad You’ve Ever Had
The thing I love best about family traditions is the way that they draw people together. In the busyness of the day to day, we all know how easy it is to become disconnected from the people we love. Traditions remind us to pause, to put our attention on the things that we really value, and to enjoy life together!
At the schoolhouse, we get to capture a lot of those special life moments when family and friends come together. It's been a dream come true to see our venue become a gathering place for people of many different cultures and heritages. Each group comes with their own special traditions, but whether it’s a holiday party, a wedding, a birthday celebration, a work meeting or a simple get-together just for fun, the one thing that all the best gatherings have in common is great food!
Our tables are gathering places for friends and family. When we eat together, we create a cherished space where we can pause, reconnect with loved ones, share stories and laugh together. Often the foods that we eat are an important part of our heritage and culture. Foods carry memories and can be a comforting reminder of home and family. So, when we share our favorite foods, we share a bit of ourselves too.
My family loves to share our traditions with others. Of course, we all pass on traditions to our children and grandchildren, but it's also common for my family to invite a friend to join us for a holiday meal or an annual party. I like seeing new faces around our table. Hospitality is an important value for me both at work and at home.
Traditions, after all, are meant to be shared.
Today, I may not be able to gather all of you around the same table, but I'd still like to share a tradition with you in the form of one of my favorite recipes!
Everyone needs a signature dish to share at events or potlucks. This kale salad is my personal favorite. I love it because it's filled with simple and nutritious ingredients. Kale is a superfood, which means it's filled with antioxidants and vitamins that will keep you and your family healthy and strong. It's a delicious food that will leave you feeling great.
Plus, this recipe is so flexible! Most people tend to eat salad more frequently in the summertime, but this recipe is easy to adapt so that it tastes great year-round. You can easily change out the ingredients based on whatever is in season, so it's perfect for pleasing a crowd even in the midst of a Michigan winter (In fact, all those vitamins can be a real boost to your immune system and may even help fight off the winter blues!). Use whatever nuts, fruits and vegetables are fresh and available. I love to use carrots for color, edamame for protein, and some fresh or dried berries to add a touch of sweetness.
Here are a few pro tips to make this salad turn out great every time!
1. Prepare the greens
First, simply tear the dark green leaves from the stem.
Next, roughly chop the leaves (or tear them into pieces if you prefer).
Finally, (and don't skip this step!) massage the kale leaves until they are softened and fragrant. This step breaks down some of the toughness and leaves the kale smooth so it's easier to chew and digest.
2. Select colorful ingredients
You've heard the saying: Eat the rainbow. Choosing fresh foods with a variety of colors ensures you get a wide range of vitamins and nutrients in your salad.
Some of my favorite add-ins are Michigan blueberries, cashews, chopped red onion, shredded carrot, sunflower seeds, edamame, and dried cherries, but the sky's your limit! Get your creative juices flowing and try out any number of nuts, seeds and berries. Your taste buds will thank you!
3. Personalize your presentation
Let's not forget the importance of presentation. This salad is a thing of beauty! Select a beautiful bowl for it's backdrop and your table is well on the way to becoming a work of art.
All the pottery I selected for the video was hand-crafted by my mother-in-law. She is amazingly talented. Using her work adds just another personal touch to this beautiful dish. These pictures remind me that the recipe and the pottery together are precious heirlooms to be cherished and shared with friends and family for generations to come.
This is a great opportunity for you to pull out that precious china or special piece of pottery that you've tucked away and rarely use. If you don't have anything like that yet, consider purchasing a dish that you love. If you want something unique that can be passed on to future generations, select something beautiful and hand-made (Kalamazoo has some incredible local artisans!).
4. Drizzle on the dressing
My homemade vinaigrette adds just the right amount of sweet and salty to pull out the full flavors of the salad. You can toss it in right before your event. One of the greatest things about kale is that it holds up well, even after you add the dressing. This means your salad won't become soggy and lifeless like other greens. You and your guests can keep coming back for seconds (and thirds!) throughout your event and still enjoy that smooth, crunchy texture. If you have leftovers, they also store well so you can have it again the next day.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! Give it a try at your next event. Who knows? It may become a new favorite addition to the menu at all your family gatherings. You can start a new tradition!
From my table to yours, I wish you all the joy and comfort of time spent together with friends and family. Whatever food is on your table, don't forget the value of the precious moments you have together. May your traditions always point you back toward the things you value most.