Nut & Butter Kale

With the cold setting in and flu season among us a lot of people start to worry about falling ill. There are those precautions that all of us know; get the flu shot, cover our mouths when we couch, get enough sleep and last but not least eat well. Most people think in order to eat well you need to slave away all day, or at least a good portion of it, and that simply is just not the case. A balanced diet with fruits and vegetables can stave off many of those germs that seem to make an appearance this time of year.

This kale side dish provides an excellent combination of minerals and vitamins; because of this most people would agree should be on our plates, at least every now and again. It does not hurt that it takes little time to prepare.

Ingredients:
2 cups chopped kale, stems removed
1/4 cup sliced almonds or pine nuts
3 heaping Tbsp. Butter or margarine
1/4 cup water

For this dish first toast the pine nuts in a hot pan until they begin to brown and set aside. Bring the water up to a boil in either a pan or a large pot at which point add the kale for a few minutes until it begins to soften. Drain the water from the pan leaving the kale. Add back the now toasted pine nuts and add remaining butter. Heat through and serve.

When it comes to leafy greens, which one is best? We have heard for years about the advantages of spinach and currently kale has made its’ claim to fame. Swiss chard and collard greens while not as well noted, also has considerable nutritional benefits. After spending some time reading up on the nutritional value of these different vegetables, to put it simply, if it is leafy and it is green it is good for us.

Kale is one vegetable that is packed with minerals and nutrients and because of this it is something we should all consider putting in front of us every now and again. This recipe is certainly one that could easily be considered weekday friendly. As the cold temperatures come our way again a healthy diet can help prevent us from getting sick. As much as we would all love to curl up in bed and hide from the outside world for a week, the majority of us would much rather do so with a good book rather than a box of tissues.