Hippie pasta with pine nuts and kale

Adapted from West Coast Cooking by Greg Atkinson

1 gallon boiling water
2 Tb plus 2 tea salt
1 lb fresh tubular pasta
1/2 cup dried fruit such as currents, cranberries or cherries
1 bunch kale, cut into strips
1/2 c olive oil
1/2 c pine nuts
4 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
1 tea pepper
Grated Parmesan

1. Put the water and 2 Tb salt in a large stockpot over high heat, and when the water coves to a full, rolling boil, add the pasta. Cook until the pasta is just tender, about 7 , then drain it, saving 1 c of the cooking water to pour over dried fruit.

2. In a small bowl, pour the reserved cup of pasta water over the dried fruit, let them stand in the water to soften while you prepare the other ingredients.

3. Put the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat and cook the pine nuts in the oil until they are fragrant and just beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add the sliced garlic and saute until it is bubbling hot but not browned. Add the kale and saute for 2 minutes, or until it is wilted.

4. Drain the fruit and add them to the sauteed kale mixture, then toss the hot greens with the cooked pasta, season with salt and pepper and serve, passing the Parmesan separately.

Spanish Style White Bean and Kale Soup

From Allrecipes.com

Makes 6 servings

3 andouille sausage links

8 1/2 c chicken stock

8 oz dry great Northern beans

1 bay leaf

1 pinch crushed saffron

2 Tb olive oil

1 onion

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

1 Tb sweet paprika

12 oz kale, stems removed and leaves coarsely chopped

1. Bring 2 cups of water to boil in a large skillet. Add sausages and cook over medium heat for 7 minutes each side. Remove from the pan, slice and set aside.

2. In a large pot, combine the chicken stock and dry beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Add the bay leaf and a pinch of salt. Simmer, partially covered, for 2 hours. Discard bay leaf. Remove 1/2 c of the stock to a small bowl. Stir in saffron, and set aside to soak. 

3. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, and brown for about 5 minutes. Remove from the pan, and reduce the heat to low. Add the onions and cook for about 5 minutes, then stir in the garlic and cook for another minute. Mix in the red pepper and paprika. Cook for a few minutes before adding the mixture to the soup pot along with the sausage.

4. Bring the pot to a boil and stir in kale. Simmer for 10 minutes until the kale is tender. Serve. 

Sauted kale

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds young kale, stems and leaves coarsely chopped
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, finely sliced
• 1/2 cup vegetable stock or water (or chicken stock)
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until soft, but not colored. Raise heat to high, add the stock and kale and toss to combine. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Remove cover and continue to cook, stirring until all the liquid has evaporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add vinegar.

Kale & Carrot Salad with Candied Walnuts

Adapted from a recipe in Every Day with Rachael Ray July/August 2013

1/4 c olive oil
6 Tb white wine vinegar
2 tsp honey
1 tsp dijon mustard
10 cups stemmed and torn kale
1 carrot, shredded
1 c store-bought candied walnuts (or make your own!)

In a large bowl, whisk oil, vinegar, honey and mustard. Add kale and carrot, toss and season. Let stand 10 minutes, toss again, then sprinkle with nuts.

Massaged Kale Salad

1 large bunch Dinosaur Kale, remove stems and cut into 1/2 inch ribbons
1/4 tea sea salt
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 c olive oil
1 apple, cored and cut into chunks
1/4 c dried cherries or craisins
1/4 c sunflower seeds

Put kale into a large bowl, sprinkle with sea salt, oil and lemon juice. Using hands, massage kale for 2-3 minutes. The salt and lemon juice will wilt the greens. Toss in apple chunks, craisins and sunflower seeds.

Quinoa and Kale Salad

Ingredients:
1 C Quinoa
1 bunch kale (lacinato or curly --- I also use swiss chard or any other hearty green if I don't have kale on hand)
Handful dried cherries, currants, or cranberries given a rough chop
For Vinaigrette (I don't really measure)
shallot (minced)
red wine vinegar
Mustard
Olive Oil
Salt

Simmer in covered pot 1 cup quinoa in 1 1/4 cup water until water is absorbed (this is less than the normal 2 cups because you don't want the quinoa mushy). Fluff with fork and remove lid to let quinoa begin to cool.
Meanwhile de-stem the kale and cut it into small strips (chiffonade) and wash in a salad spinner.
Make dressing by adding mustard, shallot, vinegar, and salt to a jar and shaking until mixed. Let sit for a few minutes, taste, and if all's well then add olive oil and shake again.
Combine quinoa, kale, chopped dried fruit in bowl and toss with dressing to taste!
I serve this at room temp, but it is still great cold the next day!