Cooking Creations by Ali - Easy to make Recipes!
Crunchy Kale Salad
Serves Four
Kale is a superfood with lots of vitamins, minerals, and iron. There are many varieties of kale such as curly, dinosaur, and black to name a few. Each one has it's own distinct flavor. I love the combination of nuttiness, tartness, and bitterness. Cut out the center rib before chopping the kale, as the rib has a hard and woody texture. Be sure to use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. My favorite is arbequena from the Olive Oil Store.
Ingredients:
1 large bunch kale, ribs removed, chopped
1 lemon juiced and zested
1/3 cup roasted and salted pumpkin seeds 1/3 cup shredded parmesan reggiano cheese 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Directions:
Combine all ingredients until well blended.
Italian Salad
Scrumptious Tips
Light and flavorful pomegranate balsamic vinegar is what sets this version apart from traditional Italian salads. Pomegranates are rich in vitamin C and immune building antioxidants, and are considered a "super fruit". Make this salad even more colorful and flavor diverse by adding green olives and yellow grape tomatoes. This is a delicious, light dish full of fresh flavors, and can be enjoyed for either lunch or dinner.
Ingredients:
Salad
1 head romaine lettuce, chopped 1 bag shredded carrots
1 red pepper, chopped
1 hot house cucumber, chopped 1 pint organic cherry tomatoes
1 jar pitted kalamata olives, drained and rinsed
Vinaigrette
1 garlic clove
A dash of sea salt and black pepper 1 tbsp local honey
1 bunch fresh basil
1 bunch fresh curly parsley
1⁄2 tsp dried oregano
1/3 cup pomegranate vinegar
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
Directions:
1. Assemble salad ingredients together.
2. Blend all items for the vinaigrette in the food processor until it emulsifies. 3. Toss vinaigrette into salad.
Ali Kaplon, a certified personal chef, wrote Seasonal Farmers Market Favorites to inspire others to explore their towns' local markets to find fresh, seasonal produce and other artisanal foods to incorporate into well-balanced diets.
For more delicious recipes, tips & tricks and more, visit Cooking Creations by Ali and buy her book - Seasonal Farmers Market Favorites! This book offers quick, simple and culturally diverse recipes and promises healthy, flavorful meals for every season of the year. Take meal planning and cooking to another level by using the best ingredients from your local farmers markets!