topic Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It? in Community Chat

KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

NoelSeven — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:09:05 GMT

In spite of all the publicity on the nutritional benefits of kale, the recipes everywhere you look that feature kale, I avoided it.

I remembered trying it a long time ago and not liking it, but I finally gave it a shot last night in a new recipe, and because TJoe's now carries fresh kale in bags, cleaned, cut up and ready to go.

We really liked it! It was basically a stir-fry with chicken Italian sausage, kale, and pasta. Garlic, a little chicken broth, S&P and a little red wine for additional flavor. I thought DH might turn up his nose, but he loved it!

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

Topaz Gem — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:13:03 GMT

I'm embarrassed to say that I've never tried it. I plan to one of these days, as I keep hearing about the health benefits. People seem to either like it or hate it. Glad you found a recipe where you could tolerate it; your stir fry recipe sounds really good.

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

lulu2 — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:15:26 GMT

Not a fan. It's kind of bitter. I do throw it in soup.

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

Cranberries — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:15:43 GMT

I've never tried it. It doesn't look appetizing to me.

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

Free2be — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:17:19 GMT

Hi Noel! My grocery deli makes a "Super Food Salad" with kale that is delicious. I've copied the ingredients and made it several times: Kale chopped small, grapes, walnuts, grated carrot, red onion, cherry tomatoes, chopped apple with skin on with a light dressing like raspberry which adds just enough flavor without overwhelming the others.

Also last time at Costco I bought a bag of "stir fry" greens and carrots in the refrigerated room -- delicious. Comes with stir fry sauce. Just added grilled steak strips for a meal. 1 bag easily makes two meals for two or three.

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

NoelSeven — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:17:41 GMT

On 6/9/2014 Topaz Gem said:
I'm embarrassed to say that I've never tried it. I plan to one of these days, as I keep hearing about the health benefits. People seem to either like it or hate it. Glad you found a recipe where you could tolerate it; your stir fry recipe sounds really good.

Thanks! It may be awhile before I venture into a raw kale salad, but I'm going to find ways to add it into our diet.

Here's some good info from WebMD:

The Truth About Kale

Kale, also known as borecole, is one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet. A leafy green, kale is available in curly, ornamental, or dinosaur varieties. It belongs to the Brassica family that includes cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, collards, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.

What makes kale so exceptional? Here is why it's a superstar vegetable -- and ways to work it into your diet.

Kale is a Nutritional Powerhouse

One cup of chopped kale contains 33 calories and 9% of the daily value of calcium, 206% of vitamin A, 134% of vitamin C, and a whopping 684% of vitamin K. It is also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus.

Kale’s health benefits are primarily linked to the high concentration and excellent source of antioxidant vitamins A, C, and K -- and sulphur-containing phytonutrients.

Carotenoids and flavonoids are the specific types of antioxidants associated with many of the anti-cancer health benefits. Kale is also rich in the eye-health promoting lutein and zeaxanthin compounds.

Beyond antioxidants, the fiber content of cruciferous kale binds bile acids and helps lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease, especially when kale is cooked instead of raw.

Super-Rich in Vitamin K

Eating a diet rich in the powerful antioxidant vitamin K can reduce the overall risk of developing or dying from cancer, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vitamin K is abundant in kale but also found in parsley, spinach, collard greens, and animal products such as cheese.

Vitamin K is necessary for a wide variety of bodily functions, including normal blood clotting, antioxidant activity, and bone health.

But too much vitamin K can pose problems for some people. Anyone taking anticoagulants such as warfarin should avoid kale because the high level of vitamin K may interfere with the drugs. Consult your doctor before adding kale to your diet.

Kale might be a powerhouse of nutrients but is also contains oxalates, naturally occurring substances that can interfere with the absorption of calcium. Avoid eating calcium-rich foods like dairy at the same time as kale to prevent any problems.

Eat More Kale

In summer, vegetable choices abound. But during the cooler months, there are fewer in-season choices -- with the exception of kale and other dark, leafy greens that thrive in cooler weather.

To find the freshest kale, look for firm, deeply colored leaves with hardy stems. Smaller leaves will be more tender and milder in flavor. Leaves range from dark green to purple to deep red in color.

Store kale, unwashed, in an air-tight zipped plastic bag for up to five days in the refrigerator.

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/the-truth-about-kale

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

Surfnturf — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:17:44 GMT

I love kale. I think it's mild as far as greens go, and the only type I like.

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

winamac1 — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:19:00 GMT

I don't like it, but my husband likes it. It is extremely healthy! It has tons of calcium and most veggies don't have a lot of calcium. It's bitter. I prefer broccoli.

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

MomOf4 — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:19:34 GMT

Hi Noel!! Never tried kale but your recipe sounds yummy!! I might have to try that.

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

straykatz — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:19:54 GMT

I lik eit in soups and stir fries...it doesn't get as slimy as spinach.....have also put it in green smoothies too but find the earthy taste not very appealing unless I add some honey or other type of sweetener.....but I love.....love.....love kale chips when I have the time to make them!

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

BeckiWV — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:20:14 GMT

It is not bad. It's not my favorite green, but I will eat it.

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

NoelSeven — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:21:06 GMT

On 6/9/2014 lulu2 said:
Not a fan. It's kind of bitter. I do throw it in soup.

Good idea, soup! Just got the ingredients for a tortellini and spinach in broth soup I'm going to make this week, I'll add kale

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

Irshgrl31201 — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:21:08 GMT

I love kale and eat it almost every single day. I usually have it in a smoothie once a day along with lots of other foods (berries) high in antioxidants.

I also make my own kale chips. It took a while to get them the way I wanted but now I have it down.

I also have it sauteed in a little olive oil and garlic, put it in soups and much the same way you do in with pasta. My husband loves it also and if we don't have kale then we have spinach for dinner almost every single night. I really love them both and actually crave them. This thread is making me hungry for a little sauteed spinach with a little olive oil, butter and garlic. I could eat that stuff every single day.

I find people sometimes don't like the first way they try it and give up. Sometimes it takes a couple of different cooking variations to find a way you will like it.

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

Marienkaefer2 — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:22:07 GMT

I grew up eating kale, as my parents grew it in the garden...along with Swiss chard and escarole.

I tear it up in little pieces or chiffonade it and put in salad,soups, or saute the way you did, Noel.

There are different varieties of kale. Some are less bitter, to me, at least.

We are inundated with it here at the Farmers markets.

My favorite local restaurant makes what they call a Brutus Salad...roasted kale, garlic. Super good, especially if you love garlic!

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

Moonlady — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:23:03 GMT

I buy a big bag of chopped kale at Wegmans, and toss some on top of frozen ravioli meals I prepare. Then I clip the bag and throw it back into the freezer to use when I prepare more. It's also good to add to frozen soups as they're being reheated.

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

sunala — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:23:44 GMT

I bought kale once and made kale "chips."

Really, don't waste your time.

Trust me

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

NoelSeven — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:24:13 GMT

On 6/9/2014 Free2be said:
Hi Noel! My grocery deli makes a "Super Food Salad" with kale that is delicious. I've copied the ingredients and made it several times: Kale chopped small, grapes, walnuts, grated carrot, red onion, cherry tomatoes, chopped apple with skin on with a light dressing like raspberry which adds just enough flavor without overwhelming the others.

Also last time at Costco I bought a bag of "stir fry" greens and carrots in the refrigerated room -- delicious. Comes with stir fry sauce. Just added grilled steak strips for a meal. 1 bag easily makes two meals for two or three.

Thanks for all that information, Free, I basically don't know what to do with it. I like the idea of a chopped salad, which I haven't made before. DH and I both have blueberries on cereal every morning, another power food, and sliced apples with the skin on every afternoon.

I will definitely look for the Costco stir-fry greens, thanks for mentioning it

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

Irshgrl31201 — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:26:20 GMT

On 6/9/2014 Marienkaefer2 said:
I grew up eating kale, as my parents grew it in the garden...along with Swiss chard and escarole.

I tear it up in little pieces or chiffonade it and put in salad,soups, or saute the way you did, Noel.

There are different varieties of kale. Some are less bitter, to me, at least.

We are inundated with it here at the Farmers markets.

My favorite local restaurant makes what they call a Brutus Salad...roasted kale, garlic. Super good, especially if you love garlic!

It was a staple growing up in my house too so I just kept fixing it the way my mom did which I already knew I liked. She was big on all kinds of greens as well and I still love them sometimes with just a little vinegar is the way it taste the best to me.

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

NoelSeven — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:26:36 GMT

On 6/9/2014 winamac1 said:
I don't like it, but my husband likes it. It is extremely healthy! It has tons of calcium and most veggies don't have a lot of calcium. It's bitter. I prefer broccoli.

It kind of smelled funny, too, but once it was mixed in the stir-fry it was delicious and no odor. I'm with GeoBushSenior, I cannot take broccoli. I try and try, and always gag a little. I'm shocked by myself, because I love most veg.

Re: KALE: Like It Or Leave It?

NoelSeven — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:27:30 GMT

On 6/9/2014 wookie said: I love kale. I think it's mild as far as greens go, and the only type I like.

Do you have it mostly in salad, wookie?