Upgrade Your “Salad”

Farmer’s Market finds make the perfect salad. Upgrade your salad for something fresh, different and a little bit exciting. The walnuts and quinoa add crunch and texture to the salad, while the fresh mint, fizz kale, apples and strawberries add a layer of freshness and a straight-from-the-garden taste. Toss the ingredients together with some olive oil and white balsamic vinegar and viola! A deliciously upgraded summer salad.

Ingredients (makes 1 salad).

• 1 c fizz kale, washed, spines removed and chopped*
• 1/4 c fresh mint leaves, washed and loosely packed
• 1/4 c cooked red quinoa
• 5-6 medium strawberries, washed hulled and quartered
• 1/4 of a medium apple, thinly chopped
• 1/4 c shredded carrots
• 1-2 T chopped hazelnuts
• White balsamic vinegar
• Olive oil

*NOTE: I’m not exactly sure what this type of kale is. The kale leaves were extremely thin and fine. I bought it at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market because it was great to sauté. It has a subtle taste — not as “green” as the more common curly kale, and cooks down like spinach.

Directions.

1. Chop mint leaves.
2. Cook quinoa based on package’s directions.
3. Combine chopped mint, quinoa, apples, carrots, strawberries, kale, and hazelnuts in medium-sized bowl. Toss salad.
4. Drizzle with  olive oil and white balsamic vinegar.
5. Eat and enjoy!

 My mystery kale, fresh strawberries and fresh mint from the Ithaca Farmer’s Market. (Also pictured are a bouquet of flowers, fresh basil, and homemade salsa.)