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Healthy Option

KALE SALAD with LEMON VINAIGRETTE

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What is your go-to when you really don’t want to cook? Maybe I should back up a bit. What are the staples in your fridge or pantry? The items you know you can always make a meal out of in ten minutes or less? My staples include kale (don’t roll your eyes at me), chickpeas, tortillas and eggs. At my laziest, I will toss together a kale salad. The toppings vary as far as which cheese or seeds I might sprinkle on top but I always include chickpeas for protein. My other go-to quick meal option is a breakfast taco. I live in South Texas and down here, there is no room for not loving breakfast tacos.

I get it that there are plenty of people who don’t like kale. Heck, there are plenty to mock it and shout their hate for kale from the rooftops. However, I think those people either haven’t actually tried it OR it wasn’t prepared well for them. In raw form, it can be really tough and fibrous. If the stem isn’t removed, you’ll feel like you’re gnawing on a tree branch. HOWEVER, if prepared well, it is delicious and has lots of nutritional value. At the very least, it is worth trying. If you still don’t like it? Hey, more for me!

Tips

  • I created this recipe as a side salad. However, you can top it with chickpeas, a hard-boiled egg or even grilled chicken to turn it into a meal.
  • To make this recipe go even faster, you can use a store-bought vinaigrette instead of the one I created for this salad.

Kale Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

My go-to salad recipe – perfect as a side salad or turn it into your main dish.
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Course Salad

Ingredients
  

  • 5 large handfuls kale, destemmed and torn into pieces
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup shaved parmesan cheese
  • 2 Tablespoons roasted & salted pepita seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

For the Vinaigrette

  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Place kale, lemon zest and salt in a large pan with 1 tablespoon of water. Sauté 2-3 minutes or until kale is bright green and slightly tender. Remove from heat immediately and put kale in a medium bowl.
  • Toss kale with pepitas, parmesan and red pepper flakes until ingredients are evenly distributed.

For the vinaigrette

  • For the vinaigrette: whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl. Drizzle over salad as desired.

LEMON HUMMUS with ROSEMARY PITA CHIPS

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I’m an introvert… most of the time. We all have our moments of being outgoing, right? I have no problem taking charge during appointments at work. I can lead a camp song like I was born to do it. Even public speaking doesn’t bother me much. Growing up though, I was a painfully shy child. I can remember hiding behind my parents’ legs or behind furniture just to avoid interacting with people. Even now, my natural instinct is to cuddle up at home and watch a movie or spend time with my family. But life really is about balance. I have extrovert friends who I know I can call at the last minute when I really want to get out and do something. I don’t think those friends even realize how much they help me to break out of my routine and reach for my goals.

A few months ago, I heard about a new group here in San Antonio called Florecer Femme.  This is really a community of women who support and encourage one another to flourish and become strong female leads of their own lives.  When I saw they were having a launch event last November, I immediately knew that I wanted to go. I connected with one of my extrovert friends and we purchased our tickets to attend the event. Then it happened, my friend ended up not being available to go with me. The introvert in me panicked a little bit and made up excuses for not going alone. I ultimately channeled the outgoing side of my personality and boldly walked through the doors of that event all on my own. I’m not saying networking in a room full of people who brought their own friends was easy but it was definitely doable and it formed some relationships. Here I am, six months later, creating light refreshments for the latest Florecer Femme event.  I hope that my own experience can give you courage to walk confidently into whatever might be intimidating you and take charge of your own path. Make those connects, start that project, ask for that promotion. However you are looking to grow, I believe you are capable!


For the Florecer Femme event, I served Lemon Hummus with Rosemary Pita Chips (seen below), Rainbow Fruit Salad, and Honey Date Nut Bars. If you have tried these recipes, I’d love to hear from you! You can comment below or tag me on Instagram @sliceofhoney #sliceofhoney.

Tips:

  • If you don’t have a food processor, you can blend the hummus in a blender just don’t go overboard or you’ll liquefy it.
  • For the pita chips, you can use dried or fresh rosemary. If using dried, you’ll want to add a little extra to make sure you get the full flavor of the herb.

Lemon Hummus

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Ingredients
  

  • 15 oz can chickpeas, drained & rinsed
  • 2 Tablespoons tahini
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • zest & juice of 2 small lemons

Instructions
 

  • In a food processor, blend all ingredients until smooth.

Rosemary Pita Chips

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Ingredients
  

  • 2 whole wheat pita breads
  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon flaked salt
  • 1 teaspoon paprika

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.  
  • Cut pita bread in half so that you have single layer rounds then cut each round into 6 wedges.
  • Place wedges on a sheet pan and brush each wedge lightly with olive oil.
  • Sprinkle rosemary, paprika and salt over wedges. 
  • Bake 6-7 minutes or until golden brown and lightly crisp.
  • Let cool before serving.