Massaged Kale, Grape & Goat Cheese Salad

So we had already decided yesterday morning, that it would be fun to pick up a couple crab cakes from our fave fish market, Clean Catch for a super simple, delicious dinner and lovely Wednesday night in. I’ve had this beautiful bag of kale sitting in the fridge that our sweet friend Jenny picked up from the Farmer’s Market on Sunday and it needed to be used and decided it would be the perfect accompaniment to our yummy dinner!

Massaged Kale, Grape & Goat Cheese Salad

INGREDIENTS
1 bag farmer’s market kale
1 medium sized organic cucumber
1 cup, organic red grapes, halved
1/2 cup, organic raw slivered almonds (Trader Joe’s)
organic goat cheese, about 2 tablespoons, crumbled
organic grapeseed oil, 1 tablespoon for massaging

DRESSING
extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon
organic apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons
organic, pure maple syrup, 1 tablespoon
squeeze of lemon juice from 1 large lemon wedge
pinch of himalayan salt & pepper

PREPARATION
– remove stems from your kale, cutting straight down the rib of each side of the stem. (I saved my stems & small leaves to throw into a smoothie) Wash & dry your kale in a salad spinner. I also patted dry with a paper towel to be sure to soak up all the water.
– Place kale in your bowl, drizzle your oil into the bowl and begin to massage your leaves until they become soft, saturated with oil & slightly wilted.
– Cut your cucumbers & grapes into halves and toss into your bowl. Slivered almond next, goat cheese last.
– Add your dressing a few minutes before your ready to eat your meal to let all the flavors get all good & yummy!

Yesterday was just one of those days where I could. not. wait. to get home, unwind & hang out with my babe in the kitchen after work. It was just a go-go-go kinda day that left me feeling pooped by the time 5pm rolled around and all I wanted to do was kick my shoes off & get out of my hot, black, tight yoga leggings! lol

Its been a miserable 97-100 degrees everyday here in CLT this week and running around in this type of heat is draining to say the least. It’s the kind of heat that smacks you in the face when you walk out your door + break a little sweat while running errands/walking to & from your car. Ugh

I had 5 sessions yesterday, one being outside + one private that I have to travel to + a chiro appt to get my neck adjusted that’s been killing me ever since I went wake boarding on Memorial Day Weekend. Evidently I’ve had a pretty bad case of whiplash & stubborn me has continued to throw my neck out every time I have a really tough workout. I’ve been having terrible headaches caused by so much tightness & tension in my neck & shoulders and have been in constant pain which has kinda been getting me down. So, given that little glimpse into my day….my happiness to nestle in at home.

After I got home from picking up our scrumptious lump crab cakes, I ran upstairs, kicked my shoes off, took my clothes off and within a few minutes, I was in the kitchen barefooted, wearing nothing but an oversized tank & unders, hanging out with the love of my life, talking & listening to music, sipping on a crisp glass of rosé while massaging a giant bowl of kale & preparing our beautiful salad, and for whatever reason, on this day, this moment just gave me this pure, simple & contented, happy-on-the-inside feeling.