Curly Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallots

Kale is a popular "super-food," full of nutrients and fiber. I like the look of the curly kale, but Lacinato "dinosaur" kale may be used instead. Also, leeks or sweet onion may be substituted for the shallots. This tasty salad is dressed ahead of time which makes it the perfect dish for a pot-luck or party. 

Curly Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallots

Ingredients:

     Salad

6 c butternut squash, peeled & cut into 1/2" cubes

3 - 4 large shallots, peeled and sliced very thinly into rings

3 T EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) divided

Sea salt 

Freshly ground black pepper

10 - 12 c curly kale, cleaned, with stems torn away and torn or cut into bite size pieces

    Dressing

1/4 c freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/4 c EVOO

1/2 t sea salt

1/4 t freshly ground pepper

    Optional Additions

1/3 c toasted pumpkin seeds (or toasted walnut pieces)

4 oz. crumbled Feta or other goat cheese

1/3 c dried cranberries

1.  Preheat oven to 350. Use 2 non-stick baking sheets or line with parchment paper. Spread out butternut squash on one sheet and the shallot rings on the other. Drizzle each with 1 1/2 T EVOO, sprinkle with sea salt & pepper, and toss well to cover. Roast until golden: squash for 45 minutes and shallots for 30 minutes, tossing halfway through cooking time. 

2.  Place kale in 4 quart serving bowl. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients. Pour dressing over kale, and mix with your fingers, squeezing and massaging the dressing into the kale leaves. Let stand for 30 minutes.

3.  Add butternut squash and shallots to the dressed kale and toss. Add any of the optional ingredients at this time and toss again.

Serves 10 - 12 as a side salad or 8 as a main dish.

RIP Stache

    
Stache (short for moustache) appeared at my door in November, 1999. He was a tiny ball of fur with the cutest little meow. Well, I fed him and he never left. He loved me for 14 1/2 years, observing the birth of my son, the death of a husband and marriage to another. He resentfully tolerated various bothersome dogs that joined the family, and he let you know if wanted to be alone.


He would lie on my chest and sniff my face, sometimes patting my mouth with his soft white paws. He loved having his face rubbed, especially his jaws and the front of his ears. One of his favorite things was a vigorous knuckle rub on the forehead. He showed his pleasure with a loud purr.

Stache would be there waiting for my son to come home from school, and they would have their time together. He was a great listener, and he helped solve many of life's problems, big and small. 

Recently, Stache began to lose weight very quickly. He became very lethargic and disinterested in any kind of activity. As it turned out, his kidneys were failing, and they eventually gave up today. 

I miss and grieve for my kitty. Stache, you will always be in my heart. I love you very much. May you rest in peace.

Many thanks to the wonderful staff at Foothill Farms Veterinary Hospital for devotion and to and care of my faithful friend.