The sweater may be the weirdest part of the pic.
Just like Mutt & Jeff (or Martha & Snoop), sometimes delicious food comes in very interesting duos. Combinations that on first look, may sound intimidating.For example:
Kale & Brussels sprouts.
IKR?!? (that’s I know right, for our older crowd. And by older I mean the above 15 crowd. Which is the crowd who finally clued me in to what both IKR and SMH means.) (How many of you are googling right now? Old people, SMH, young people, Mutt & Jeff) (Triple parentheses. You poor readers.)
While it may sound, um…interesting, this combo makes for a mean green salad with a ton of personality.
Not only that, but it is a truly nutritious and versatile way to enjoy two vegetables which, I have heard, can be a little scary. (Heck, my Dad calls brussels sprouts bitter little death-balls. Nice, Dad, real nice.) Chew on this: brussels sprouts are being touted for their ability to help burn fat, thanks to the presence of Indole-3-Carbinol, which increases the production of adiponectin, a hormone which helps your body access and burn fat.
BAM. Eat your brussels sprouts.
When you choose bright green foods (NOT the fruit -by-the-foot or key lime pie ‘varietal’), you are also in for an amazing dose of chlorophyll. Despite how it may sound, this is a good thing. Chlorophyll has been shown to stimulate the growth and maintenance of lean muscle tissue-what lifter wouldn’t want that?!
Both kale and brussels sprouts are cruciferous vegetables. Cruciferous veggies like: arugula, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, radish, and turnip; are packed full of vitamins and minerals your body craves, and can not naturally access in processed foods. These include, and are not limited to, Vitamins A, C, E, and K; Folate, Calcium, Manganese, Zeaxanthin, and Lutein. (I’ll stop now before they sound too healthy to eat!).
Many leafy, cruciferous greens are in season in our area, and are sure to be abundant at the Farmers’ Market near you. If you will recall, one of the ways we know to drastically improve our eating is to choose local, seasonal produce.
Stop at the Downtown Westminster Farmers’ Market (click here for more info!) this Saturday on your way to play Hooverball at King’s Park! (I know you will already have a cooler with you, so stock up on fresh, local produce for the coming week!)
Really, his unlikely duo should be called a dynamic, delicious duo. Make a giant batch of this salad and take it to your memorial day bash this weekend. It is easy to make, super refreshing, and won’t taste near as healthy as it really is.
Mean Green Salad
(Big shout out to Jocelyn G and Andrew PdM for introducing me to this idea!)
Ingredients below will serve approx 8
**For best flavor, salad needs to sit for at least 30 minutes prior to eating**
For Salad:
2 cups Shredded Kale
2 cups Shredded Brussels Sprouts
2/3 cup Fruit of choice; chopped (Fruit is optional. Pineapple, pear, or strawberries are all great choices)
*Use food processor with the shred attachment (aka the easy way!), or chop finely with a knife*
For Dressing:
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2/3 cup White Balsamic Vinegar
1 Tablespoon Adobo Seasoning
1/4 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
Directions:
- In a LARGE bowl, toss shredded kale and b.sprouts.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients together until combined.
- Pour dressing over veggies.
- Work dressing into veggies, either by ‘massaging’ it in using clean hands, or any other creative way you can think of. (You want the dressing to ‘soak into’ or ‘marinade’ the greens.)
- If adding fruit, stir into massaged greens.
Let salad sit for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Flavor and texture get better the longer they are together, so don’t be afraid to make a day or so before your Memorial Day picnic!
Enjoy and Happy Memorial Day!
(And any more takers on Part Uno of our sugar discussion, you have until next week to comment/question/etc!)
Until Next Time…
Mallory
One Response to “Unlikely Duos”
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WESTMINSTER STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
Thanks for posting, Mallory. I’m not a fan of the brussels sprouts, but just got kale in my CSA share. Going to have to try this!