Vegan Recipe - Tossed Kale Salad

Welcome to the first Friday of the month and my favorite feature on Reduce Footprints ... Recipe Day! Each month we share a delicious dish with you. Why? Because our food choices are one of the easiest ways to live green. Choosing plant-based meals, even once a week, can dramatically improve our impact on the earth. But put those thoughts right out of your mind because ... as you'll see ... we're simply talking about good food.

This month's guest chef is my friend JC of The Accessory Lady. Some of you might know her from Change The World Wednesday ... she participates often. Or, you might have read some of her "green" posts from Meet & Greet Monday. JC is a very talented designer ... she makes beautiful & unique accessories, most of which are made from Eco-friendly materials. She's also a photographer ... her photos take every day scenes and turn them into something magical. As you'll soon find out ... she also cooks, creating delicious and healthy meals. JC is not vegan but many of her recipes, which she posts on her blog, are meatless. I've often thought that she puts the same care in her cooking that she does in her artistic endeavors ... the foods are healthy, delicious and visually appealing.

JC has very kindly agreed to share a recipe with us today. It's "star" is kale ... one of my favorite greens.


Tossed Kale Salad

This super easy recipe was a hit at my last gathering so I hope you enjoy it!

-2 large bunches of steamed kale
-1/4 teaspoon of sea salt
-1/2 teaspoon of agave or any other sweetener you like
-1 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil
-1 teaspoon mustard (dijon or polish mustard preferred)
-1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
-1/4 teaspoon of garlic salt
-1/4 teaspoon of marjoram

Rip medium size pieces of kale away from the stems and steam for 15 minutes. While the Kale is steaming, mix all the condiments until the vinaigrette is emulsified and well blended.

Toss the warm kale in a large bowl and mix in the sauce (vinaigrette) until it's well coated.

Can be served warm or cold and it makes a great side for 4 people or full serving for 2.

Makes a delicious leftover as the flavor intensifies when it marinates or it can also be used as greens for sandwiches!

JC is a handmade accessory designer and photographer from Brooklyn, NY. You can find her creations and blogs at:
Accessory Designs: http://theaccessorylady.com (Coupon: FALLINTOFALL - save 25%)
Accessory Designs Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/theaccessorylady
Photography: http://onedayoneimage.net (Coupon: ONEDAY20 - save 20%)
Photography Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/onedayoneimage (Coupon: ONEDAY20 - save 20%)


Doesn't that look great? I hope that you and your family will give it a try.

If you have a vegan recipe which you'd like to share, please send it to me HERE. And for all the recipes we've shared so far, be sure to visit our recipe page using the tabs at the top of this blog ... or by clicking HERE.

Vegan Recipe - Kale & Onion Stir-Fry

When we were at our farmer's market last week, it seemed that every booth had kale ... which I adore. A particular bunch of Red Russian Kale drew my attention ... it was so beautiful with it's purplish, red ribs. So, of course, I had to have some.


Kale is so healthy, with it's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is high in fiber, beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin and calcium. It also contains sulforaphane, which is believed to have potent anti-cancer properties, particularly when chopped or minced. In the vegetable world, kale is a nutritional powerhouse!


Nutrition aside ... I just think it tastes good.


The following recipe is simple, using only 5 ingredients, and can be prepared quickly. I hope you and your family will enjoy it:


KALE & ONION STIR-FRY

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. fresh green kale
• 2 onions, sliced
• 2 tbsp. rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp. sugar

Preparation:

1. Clean kale and remove ribs. Coat a wok or skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Heat on medium-high. Add kale and onions. Stir for 1 to 2 minutes.

2. Add rice vinegar, soy sauce and sugar. Reduce to medium and stir until kale and onions are crisp-tender.

3. Enjoy!

As always ... I would love to hear from you!