Baby Kale Salad with Root Vegetables & Apple
Packed with crisp carrots, rutabagas and kale, this super-healthy salad from Food & Wine is incredibly refreshing.
Ingredients:
1 large bunch baby Lacinato kale (about 2 pounds)
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
¼ cup, plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon zest
¼ cup lemon juice
1 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 medium carrot, julienned
1 tart apple, peeled and julienned
1 cup peeled and julienned rutabaga
2 scallions, thinly sliced
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Method:
1. In a large bowl, massage the kale with the vinegar, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and 1 teaspoon of salt. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk the lemon zest and juice, soy sauce, honey and remaining ¼ cup of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Toss the carrot, apple, rutabaga and scallions with the kale. Add the dressing and toss again. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
Garlic Butter-Roasted Cremini Mushrooms
Roasted with capers and garlic, this simple dish is a real show-stopper.
Ingredients:
½ pound mushrooms, such as Cremini, halved lengthwise if large
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 450° with rack placed in middle.
2. Toss mushrooms with capers, garlic, salt and several grinds of black pepper in a small 1½- to 2-quart shallow baking dish.
3. Top with butter and roast, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender and golden and bubbly garlic sauce forms below, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Serve immediately.
Meyer Lemon & Thyme-Infused Olive Oil
A wonderful gift for family, friends and neighbors!
Ingredients:
1-2 cups high-quality olive oil
Small bundle of fresh thyme stems (leaves still attached), thoroughly washed and dried
Rind of 1 Meyer lemon
Method:
1. Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan.
2. Add the thyme stems and lemon rind and allow to steep several minutes in the oil (oil temperature should be 180°).
3. Cool, strain the oil of thyme and lemon and then pour into a resealable container until ready to use.
Meyer Lemon-Garlic Kale Salad
Tossed with a sweet-tart citrus dressing, this salad is fresh and bright and pairs nicely with just about any main dish.
Ingredients:
1 large bunch Lacinato kale, greens removed from thick stems, washed and patted dry
1 cup slivered almonds
⅓ cup Meyer lemon juice
1½ cups olive oil
4 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
Sea salt
Method:
1. In a small skillet, toast almonds until golden brown and fragrant. Set aside to cool.
2. In a bowl, combine the lemon juice and 1 heaping teaspoon salt. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Using the flat side of a knife, crush the garlic cloves and add to the dressing, setting aside to steep.
3. Working in batches, cut the kale into thin ribbons and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle with the almonds. Remove and discard garlic cloves from dressing. Pour half the dressing over the salad and toss. Taste for both dressing and salt, adding more as needed. Serve within 1 hour.
