Perfect Cranberry-Kale Salad

I really wish I'd taken a picture--This colorful salad is certainly a dazzler. It just looked so wonderful, my fork seemed to dive in on its own, and just kept diving until the dish was devoured!
I say this low-glycemic and gluten-free salad is "perfect" because it is, unarguably, without fault. Steamed kale is a superfood among superfoods (one cup of kale contains just 36.4 calories, but provides 192.4% of the daily value for vitamin A, and 88.8% of the daily value for vitamin C). Kale is also currently in season.
Dried cranberries and cherry tomatoes offer sensual texture, Omegas 3 and 6 fatty acids, and other essential antioxidants, while the almonds offer protein, monounsaturated "good" fat, and can lower your chance for heart attack. In fact, just like the kale, the almonds in this ideal little salad guard against cancer, offer an impressive serving of antioxidants, calcium, folic acid and more magnesium than oatmeal or even spinach. The dressing is so simple and easy--everyone has the ingredients on hand. And, it is delicious, gorgeous, colorful and kid-friendly. You have no excuse--make this salad today!

1 bunch steamed kale, finely chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup almonds, slivered
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

Separate kale stalks and steam briefly until wilted yet tender-crisp. Chop finely and place in a large bowl. Add tomatoes, dried cranberries and almonds. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. Pour over salad, toss gently, and serve. Serves 4 as a side dish, or 2 as an entree.

Food Fact! Kale is a leafy green vegetable that belongs to the Brassica family, a group of vegetables including cabbage, collards and Brussels sprouts. Kale offers more nutritional value for fewer calories than almost any other food, and is in season from the middle of Winter through early Spring, although it can be found in the produce department year-round. The glucosinolates in kale have been found to decrease the risk of a wide variety of cancers, including breast and ovarian cancers, and activate detoxifying enzymes in the liver that help neutralize potentially carcinogenic substances, making it a wonderful choice for detoxification. One cup of kale also supplies 93.6 mg of calcium and is an impressive source of folic acid, making it an ideal staple for pregnant and lactating women.