My Favorite Kale Salad

Yes,  you read that right. I have a favorite kale salad. Now, it's no secret that our friend Cate Nolan loves kale. So today, I thought I'd revisit a kale slaw I discovered a few years back, just to show her that I'm not a kale hater. In reality, I really do like this salad, however it does take a little time to prep.

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 head kale, stems removed and sliced thin
• 1 large carrot, grated
• juice of one orange
• juice of half a lemon
• salt
• ground black pepper1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1/2 red onion, sliced thin
•  1 slice bacon, cooked crisp and chopped 
• 1 rounded Tbsp. mayonnaise

Place the kale into a salad bowl.

Toss with carrot, orange juice, lemon juice, and salt. Using your hands, rub the acid into the kale. Basically, pretend you're giving it a massage. 

Set kale aside.

Prepare a large bowl of ice water and a saucepan with boiling water.

Place the sliced onion into the boiling water for 15-30 seconds.

Remove and immediately plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process. This removes the bitter taste of the raw onion.

Drain the water and blot the onions with a paper towel.

Add the onion, bacon, olive oil, salt, and pepper to kale and toss.

Add the mayonnaise and mix the slaw well.

Refrigerate until ready to serve. Can be made several hours in advance.

Just look at all those vibrant colors.

This is so yummy, y'all. That citrusy flavor lends just enough sweetness to make it addicting. Making it a perfect addition to your summer salad list. After all, IT HAS BACON! Now how could that be bad?

Here at the ranch, we are between grandkids. One left Sunday and the next group will be in just in time for the fourth. Can you believe it's already the 4th of July? Wasn't it just winter? I'm still working on my menu, so I'm hoping you'll tell me about some of your favorite 4th of July celebration dishes. 

Three time Carol Award finalist Mindy Obenhaus lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, the youngest of her five children and two dogs. She passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she's not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more a mindyobenhaus.com.

A Summertime Fave - Revisiting Kale Slaw

Last week I talked about salads and how, now that the temps are heating up, I 'm eating more of them. So I thought I carry that over and revisit one of my favorite summertime salads.

I will confess that, aside from this recipe, I don't eat kale. However, the combination of flavors in this dish is so good (IT HAS BACON!) and the hint of citrus makes it a perfect candidate to beat the heat.

So here we go...

Here's what you'll need:

l head kale, stems removed and thinly sliced

1 large carrot, grated

1/2 an orange, juiced

1/2 a lemon, juiced

salt

ground black pepper

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1/2 red onion, sliced thin

 1 slice bacon, cooked crisp and chopped (since I don't dare have real bacon in the house, I used a heaping tablespoon of bacon bits)

1 rounded Tbsp. mayonnaise

Place the kale into a salad bowl. Toss with carrot, orange juice, lemon juice, and salt. Using your hands, rub the acid into the kale. Basically, pretend you're giving it a massage.

Set kale aside.

Prepare a large bowl of ice water and a saucepan with boiling water.

Place the sliced  onion into the boiling water for 15-30 seconds.

Remove and immediately plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process. This removes the bitter taste of the raw onion.

Drain the water and blot the onions with a paper towel.

Add the onion, bacon, olive oil, salt, and pepper to kale and toss well.

Add the mayonnaise and mix the slaw well.

Refrigerate until ready to serve. Can be made several hours in advance.

Just look at all those vibrant colors.

This is so yummy, y'all. Though the next time, I think I'll add the juice of the entire orange. That citrusy flavor lends just enough sweetness to make it addicting.

Now it's your turn. How do you feel about kale? What's your favorite way to eat it?

Celebrating the Healthy Way

Mindy here. Hope you all had a marvelous Memorial Day weekend. Ours was quiet, uneventful. Of course, I smoked the slab o' meat Sunday, but was still at a loss for sides. Since I'm enjoying much success with my return to Weight Watchers, I didn't want to splurge too much. I needed at least one healthy, satisfying side. And, thanks to the Food Network, I found it.

I don't know about y'all, but lately I seem to be hearing more about kale than ever. Like it's the latest craze. But when I saw this recipe for Kale Slaw, I knew I had to try it.

Here's what you'll need:

• l head kale, stems removed and thinly sliced
• 1 large carrot, grated
• 1/2 an orange, juiced
• 1/2 a lemon, juiced
• salt
• ground black pepper
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1/2 red onion, sliced thin
•  1 slice bacon, cooked crisp and chopped (since I don't dare have real bacon in the house, I used a heaping tablespoon of bacon bits)
• 1 rounded Tbsp. mayonnaise

Place the kale into a salad bowl. Toss with carrot, orange juice, lemon juice, and salt. Using your hands, rub the acid into the kale. Basically, pretend you're giving it a massage.

Set kale aside.

Prepare a large bowl of ice water and a saucepan with boiling water.

Place the sliced  onion into the boiling water for 15-30 seconds. Remove and immediately plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process. This removes the bitter taste of the raw onion.

Drain the water and blot the onions with a paper towel.

Add the onion, bacon, olive oil, salt, and pepper to kale and toss well.

Add the mayonnaise and mix the slaw well.

Refrigerate until ready to serve. Can be made several hours in advance.

This was so yummy, y'all. Though the next time, I think I'll add the juice of the entire orange. That citrusy flavor lends just enough sweetness to make it addicting.

I know Missy posted a recipe for kale chips not long ago, but have do you use much kale in your cooking? Or is it one of those greens you've avoided, uncertain what to do with it, like I was? Maybe kale is a staple for you. How do you like your kale?