Growing Kale

I grew kale for the first time this year. It grows so well from seed. I chose Dinosaur kale and Red Winter kale. I've read that if kale goes through a frost that it is sweater and better tasting. I think I will plant kale this fall and over the winter since the Bay Area doesn't get snow but some freezing and frost.

We have been juicing a lot so I knew that I wanted to add kale to my garden. Amelia and I go out in the backyard to pick kale leaves for our green juices in the morning. She loves helping.

 

{Dinosaur Kale}

{Red Winter Kale}

Besides green juices we enjoy kale chips, sauteed kale, Portuguese kale soup and kale salad. 

Kale Waldorf Salad

4 cups finely chopped raw kale

2 large crisp apple like honey crisp, pink lady, or fuji, chopped

1 cup thinly sliced celery

1/2 cup toasted walnuts, chopped

1/2 cup golden raisins

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2-4 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

salt to taste

Add the chopped kale to a big bowl. To the bowl of kale, add one and half of the chopped apples, sliced celery, 1/4 cup of walnuts, and 1/2 cup raisins. To make dressing, add to blender, 1/2 of one of the chopped apples, 1/4 cup of the toasted walnuts, 2 tablespoons golden raisins, mustard, vinegar, 2 tbsp water and salt to taste. Blend until smooth. Add more water if it wont blend well. Pour dressing over kale salad and toss well. Chill for about 30 minutes.

  

This garden box was a an experiment. This side of the house doesn't get much sun so I was surprised to see the kale growing so well! It has actually done better here than in the other areas of the garden. You can see that the alyssum flowers have spread to my vegetable boxes. Those flowers will grow anywhere and spread like crazy.